2026 Team Preview: St. Albans Red Dragons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Losses: QB Reece Lilly - LB Mikael Bosse Jr - DB Elijah Woods - OL Lucas Warner - OL Noah Curry - WR/DB Jaxon Kimble - WR/DB James Lowe (TR) - OL/DL Devon Green (TR)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a difficult 2025 campaign for St. Albans, as the Red Dragons finished 0-10 and struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball. The challenging season ultimately led to a coaching change, with Dan Brown taking over the program heading into 2026. While the record wasn't what anyone wanted, a fresh start allows St. Albans to reset the culture and begin building toward a brighter future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 SCHEDULE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/28: at Shady Spring<br>9/4: at Nitro<br>9/11: vs Riverside<br>9/18: vs Capital<br>9/25: at Spring Valley<br>10/2: vs Hurricane<br>10/9: at South Charleston<br>10/16: vs Lincoln County<br>10/30: at Logan<br>11/6: vs Chapmanville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Record:&nbsp;</strong>0-10<br><strong>2026 Prediction</strong>: 0-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rebuilding process is officially underway under Brown, who inherits a program looking to regain its footing in a competitive Class AAA landscape. Turning things around won't happen overnight, but establishing a new identity and creating a winning foundation will be the priority this fall. There is athletic talent in the school, as St. Albans celebrated multiple state championships in other sports over the past year, including baseball. One of the biggest keys to the program's long-term success will be recruiting the hallways and convincing more of those top athletes to invest in football. If the Red Dragons can increase participation and build excitement around the program again, they'll give themselves a much better chance to reverse their recent struggles. With several players ready to take on expanded roles and a coaching staff bringing renewed energy to the program, St. Albans will be looking for steady progress throughout the season as they take the first steps in a new era.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>COLLEGE PROSPECTS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1680217"],"_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-6a4a77091ca8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the biggest positives to come out of last season for St. Albans was the emergence of 2028 WR/ATH Chance Campbell. Despite the team's struggles, Campbell showed he could be a versatile weapon with the athleticism to contribute in multiple ways, including taking snaps in the backfield when needed. Long-term, his highest ceiling is at wide receiver, where his combination of size, length, and athletic ability gives him plenty of upside as a prospect. Campbell is still early in his development, but the tools are there for him to become a difference-maker over the next few seasons. With a new coaching staff in place and continued development, don't be surprised if he develops into one of the more recognizable names in West Virginia's 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26944823/6914cf11757dcf649929fa31u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6cb47e1525c"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2090857"],"_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-6a4a770920ebe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>BREAKOUT CANDIDATE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the cornerstones of St. Albans' line play this season will be 2027 OL/DL Blake Bowen. After starting at right tackle as a junior, Bowen returns as one of the Red Dragons' most experienced players and will be counted on to provide leadership up front while also contributing along the interior of the defensive line. He has an athletic 6'1 frame with room to continue adding size, and his film shows quality footwork in pass protection along with active, well-timed hands. Bowen also generates good power in the run game and brings that same physicality to the defensive side of the ball. He enters his senior season as an under-the-radar prospect with the potential to attract D3 interest if he has a strong final campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19822781/691f3a7b8b47499925c78291u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6cb47e15280"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nikees Carter - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kayden Riggin - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ayden Roy - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Muhammad - 2027 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alonzo Long - 2027 ATH/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Martin - 2028 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>William Braley - 2028 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Sammons - 2029 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Steven Hope - 2029 RB/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bentley Parker - 2029 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->