2026 Preview: TL Hanna Yellow Jackets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions through July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe"><em>Simply head to our subscription page</em></a><em>&nbsp;and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 was another strong year that saw TL Hanna finish 10-2 and as region champions. But it ended in heartbreaking fashion with a third round playoff loss to Indian Land at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They know they have a talented group heading into 2026 and the season opener on the road against White Knoll, it's something that they are keenly aware of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We played great last year but we didn't make as far as we wanted to make it so that's something we want to improve upon and just keep pushing,” senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791514' first='Carson' last='Cole'] </strong>told us at last month's Prep Redzone Media Day at Fountain Inn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets return only two starters from a unit that averaged 34.5 points per game in 2025, and will be replacing their starting quarterback. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791460' first='Will' last='Mayfield'] </strong>is penciled in as the signal caller, and having a guy like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791455' first='Brock' last='Cole'] </strong>(pictured above) back in the backfield as a leader especially in the Wing-T offense that the Yellow Jackets will help.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I really tried to step into the running back room as <strong>Emari Nance</strong> did before me. He was a really good leader and led me to be a really good runner and I try to lead everybody in the room as well as get the whole offense on track,” Cole said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets return only two starters from a unit that averaged 34.5 points per game in 2025, and will be replacing their starting quarterback. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791460' first='Will' last='Mayfield'] </strong>is penciled in as the signal caller, and having a guy like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791455' first='Brock' last='Cole'] </strong>back in the backfield as a leader especially in the Wing-T offense that the Yellow Jackets will help.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I really tried to step into the running back room as Emari Nance did before me. He was a really good leader and led me to be a really good runner and I try to lead everybody in the room as well as get the whole offense on track,” Cole said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Building that cohesiveness along the offensive line with tentative starters like junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817291' first='Tristan' last='McCauley'] </strong>at left tackle<strong> </strong>and senior <strong>Alex McAllister </strong>at left guard and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1793535' first='McCoy' last='Hydrick'] </strong>at center and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817289' first='Montez' last='Dial'] </strong>will be key. Other guys expected to start at the skill positions include receivers <strong>Sammy Paul </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791474' first='Dan' last='Jackson'] </strong>along with full back <strong>Devo Mattison.&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yellow Jackets head coach Jason Tone is excited about what his group can be offensively heading into 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“About every two years we replace a lot of guys on offense. Last year was an anomaly, but the year before that, we replaced 10, now we're replacing nine. Fortunately, the guys have been running our system since seventh grade and so there's not a ton of teaching. They kind of know the system and it's just working on the details and refining things,” Tone said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense is where the Yellow Jackets return the most experience, with five starters back from a unit that allowed 21 points on average a game. <strong>Terrell McCrae </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818575' first='Braylen' last='Gaines'] </strong>will anchor things on the defensive line, along with an expected leader at nose, which will get to in a moment. The linebacking core will be strong with Cole being one of the leaders along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818582' first='Connor' last='Ash'] </strong>and <strong>Greg Tatum </strong>followed by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791513' first='Chemar' last='Joseph'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791446' first='Caden' last='Morrell']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818569' first='Darius' last='Hanna'] </strong>will anchor things at free safety.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791455' first='Brock' last='Cole'] </strong>RB, 2027 – Cole was the team's second leading rusher in 2025 with 808 yards on 96 carries and six touchdowns. He had four games where he went over 100 yards rushing and will be a focal point in the Yellow Jackets' Wing-T option offense in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791514' first='Carson' last='Cole']</strong> LB, 2027 – The Yellow Jackets' second leading tackler returns for his senior year in 2025, after finishing the year with 52 total tackles. He was the long snapper last year as well and did a great job of pinning the opponent deep, like in the playoff game against Indian Land. He can clog up run lanes well and is aggressive at the point of attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1793670' first='Zy' last='West']</strong> DL, 2027 – West enters his senior campaign as a leader on the defensive front at the nose tackle position. He had an active 2025 season, finishing with 30 total tackles and three tackles for a loss. He can clog up the run lanes at the tackle spot and does a great job of defeating double teams and takes good an</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791506' first='Emez' last='Nance'] </strong>DB, 2027 – Nance is a hard hitting corner who can come up and lay the lumber on the ball carrier. He recognizes routes and can disrupt the timing between the quarterback and wide receiver. He is long, and has great size that allows him to stay stride for stride with receivers and use his athleticism to make plays on the ball when they present themselves. He runs track as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1471344' first='Jamarion' last='Williams'] </strong>DB, 2027 – Williams is an impact player from his safety position. He can recognize plays quickly and come down and make sure tackles on the ball carrier. He can stay in opposing receivers' hip pocket without interfering and has great size on him. He can bat the ball down at the right moment to prevent completions. He finished 2025 as the team's third leading tackler with 39 in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20328656/68ad0fbb2d401adfd4497b49u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e rn","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a459e31e6d64"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Magin </strong>QB – Anytime you lose a multi-year starting quarterback, there will be a hole to fill. Magin ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing for 633 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emari Nance</strong> RB – Nance was the team's second leading rusher in 2025, finishing with 739 yards on 104 carries and 14 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818572' first='Esaias' last='Carroll'] </strong>RB, 2028 – Carroll fits what the Wing-T, option offense wants to do best. He runs with a burst of speed and power that is fun to watch when he takes an option pitch. He doesn't dance or waste time in space, it's straight up field in an offense that is predicated upon taking good angles and getting up field from sideline to sideline and keeping the defense off balance. He is expected to contribute in a significant way in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jasean Williams</strong> OL, 2029 – Williams made the move from defensive tackle to offensive tackle in 2026, and he has the size for the position that you're looking for. He can move and get to the second level quickly and impact things in the run game. We'll be interested to see his development with the changeover in 2026. He is expected to get the start as a sophomore in 2026 on the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1818573,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2239886,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a459e31e8cd8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Norris is a dynamic two-way player who can make plays with the ball in his hands. When he's at quarterback, in this offense, if he finds an open lane, it could be a house call. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He has electric speed in the open field and knows how to find the green grass and make the right reads from what we saw on film. He can also be flexed out as a receiver as he has solid hands to be able to help keep the offense on schedule. He can also flip over on defense and fill the alley on run plays and make big hits when a quarterback tries to scramble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->