2026 Preview: Union County 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 throughout 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;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a>&nbsp;and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following back-to-back one-win seasons, Union County has a new - but very familiar - face on the sidelines this year. Bryan Robinson fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was announced as the new head coach of the Yellow Jackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to knowing what it takes for Union to be successful, Robinson has been there and done that. Back when Union County was still Union High in the mid 90s, Robinson was a state champion and a Shrine Bowl offensive lineman there. He also got the chance to play for two legendary coaches in Shell Dula and Mike Anthony.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"No pressure," Robinson said with a smile at the Prep RedZone Media Day at Fountain Inn. "Playing for both of those men was such a big influence on me. Not only as a coach, but as a person."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the past 23 years, Robinson has served in some kind of coaching capacity in Union County anywhere from varsity to the middle school level. While football landscapes are constantly changing at every level these days, Robinson is confident that his program still has the talent necessary to be successful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Robinson is counting on seniors such as [player_tooltip player_id='1817601' first='Levi' last='Gentry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1823754' first='Jemarius' last='Smith'] (pictured), [player_tooltip player_id='1821159' first='Zycorrian' last='Jeter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821157' first='Jamyri' last='Rice'] to be leaders in helping rebuild the program. He said the seniors have embraced that role since the start of this offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It's been rough, but I've grown up here my whole life and I just want to see it get better," Gentry said. "I just want to see the football team get back to how it used to be when I was a kid. Everybody just has to buy in and commit."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gentry, Jeter and Rice will lead the Yellow Jackets in the trenches on both sides of the ball, as will sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1397682' first='Lodon' last='Veal'] .</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith has made his mark as a linebacker, but he is expected to touch the ball quite a bit offensively this season at running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I like defense a lot, but I'm starting to like offense more and more," Smith said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who will be handing off to Smith won't be decided until closer to the season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1818497' first='Shiro' last='Crosby'] and sophomore <strong>JJ Kershaw</strong> are competing for the starting quarterback job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"They both have a strong arm," Robinson said. "JJ Is an explosive runner, while Shiro is more of a physical runner."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1824561' first='Sondrell' last='Worthy'] should be a top target for Crosby or Kershaw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A deep, experienced secondary led by juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1615123' first='King' last='Henderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1467820' first='Noah' last='Tucker'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1818486' first='Kam' last='Fincher'] could make an impact for the Yellow Jackets this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821159' first='Zycorrian' last='Jeter'] OL/DL, 2027 - At 6-foot-4 and 346 pounds, Jeter is a massive presence for the Yellow Jackets on either side of the line. He's fast for his size though. At the Carolinas Coaches Combine in Spartanburg in April, Jeter ran a 5.2 pro shuttle and a 5.6 40.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1817601' first='Levi' last='Gentry'] OL/DL, 2027 - While Jeter plays lighter than his frame, Gentry plays bigger than his. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Gentry, who moved from tight end to offensive tackle and guard last year, isn't afraid to battle in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821157' first='Jamyri' last='Rice'] DL/OL, 2027 - Rice is a 256-pound force on the defensive line. Last season, Rice had 36 tackles, including a team-high seven tackles-for-loss. He also had two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1818486' first='Kam' last='Fincher'] DB, 2027 - Fincher is looking to build off a 57-tackle season a year ago. He also led the team with a pair of interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823754' first='Jemarius' last='Smith'] LB/RB, 2027 - Video shows that Smith has a nose for the football on defense, which probably isn't a bad thing for someone set to play more running back either. Smith made plays all over the field last season as he collected 50 tackles, an interception - which he returned 45 yards, and two fumble recoveries. He scooped up one of those fumbles and returned it for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19702179/68d183468a61b935346c1b22u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a55e2f263849"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dreshawn Mills RB/CB - Mills led Union in rushing last season with 610 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 173 yards receiving and a score and returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Defensively, Mills recorded 29 tackles including three tackles-for-loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Akeem Shaw WR - Shaw was the Yellow Jackets' top receiver in 2025 as he caught 44 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1824561' first='Sondrell' last='Worthy'] WR/DB, 2029 - Worthy is a returning starter as he caught 12 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last season. He also ran three times for 35 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JJ Kershaw</strong> ATH, 2029 - Robinson said that if Kershaw doesn't win the starting QB job, he won't exactly be looking long for work. "He will have a position playing somewhere," Robinson said. "He's an explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1397682"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6a55e946b5e0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Worthy, Veal started as a freshman on the offensive line last season before a knee injury ended his season just three games into it. For a 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman, Veal is light on his feet. He recorded 12 pancake blocks in those three games last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He has a chance to be a contributor once everything takes off for him in terms of his health. He's getting there," Robinson said. "He's done a great job of attacking the rehab."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->