3 Things I’ve Learned During Preview Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Not a subscriber? Promo code Helms30 will get you 30% off your first billing cycle. Coaches, make sure we have all the necessary information to preview your team. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeB9YBH_he_sOP-lhvI26XRh0P9vobS8PsVJy_5QCJ4jQLTvQ/viewform?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=118251332469799088451">Fill out our preseason survey</a>. </strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I like to think of our content calendar at Prep Redzone in seasons. There's the season, the postseason, and the offseason. Within that is what I've dubbed "Preview Season," the time of year when we're fully focused on the upcoming season. We started in early July this year, and we've already previewed 42 teams and 10 conferences. Not only do previews provide readers with in-depth coverage, but they also help us as writers gain a deeper understanding of the teams we cover. Here are three big-picture takeaways so far in preview season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What I've Learned During Preview Season</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) The Gap Between Good and Elite in 7A/8A May Be Closing</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first thing I've found is that there are several "good" teams in the higher classifications that I expect to finish this year closer to the top than last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/mallard-creek-2026-season-preview/">8A Mallard Creek</a>, for example, returns 17 starters. That includes one of the best offensive lines in the state (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616116' first='Michael' last='Heard']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616108' first='Achraf' last='Ouardi']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600577' first='Austin' last='Ballou']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1690981' first='Cleveland' last='Smith']</strong>) with a defensive line good enough to win its fair share of reps in practice. Guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003853' first='Kaiden' last='Okam']</strong> and linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2060117' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson']</strong> have had massive offseasons. A team that finished last year 7-4 should be battle-tested by playoff time, and we wouldn't be surprised to see them challenge Millbrook or Hough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/2026-preview-rolesville-rams/">Rolesville lost more off of last year's squad</a>, the Rams have had a fantastic offseason in the weight room. I expect them to be far better than last season. I haven't dropped my CAP 8A predictions yet, and I'll still have Millbrook as the favorites, but I think the gap has closed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be fair, I haven't yet previewed Millbrook, and Hough got even better this offseason (Matt Morrow had a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/hough-huskies-2026-season-preview/">great breakdown</a> of some of their key guys). But I wouldn't be surprised if a Rolesville squad with an elite defensive backfield (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991736' first='Asaiah' last='Brown']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='946850' first='Marquis' last='Bryant']</strong>, <strong>Ra'Sean Brown</strong>) and promising receiving corps (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222913' first='AJ' last='Roberts']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2237370' first='Deshaun' last='Nesbitt']</strong>) closes the gap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 7A, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/southeast-raleigh-2026-season-preview/">Southeast Raleigh</a> looks to have significantly closed the gap with teams like <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/weddington-warriors-2026-season-preview/">Weddington</a>, Clayton, and even <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/metro-6a-7a-preview-grimsley/">Grimsley</a>. The Bulldogs return 17 starters off a team that made the third round of the third round of the playoffs last year. Despite losing a Power Four edge rusher, the defensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679959' first='Cody' last='Robinson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2257426' first='AJ' last='Poole']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2232642' first='Noah' last='Powell']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1969828' first='Jackson' last='Hunter']</strong>) should be better, especially against the run, which will help the Bulldogs against top teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) Expect A Better Year From the East</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West was ahead of the East last year, winning five of eight NCHSAA state championships (losing one to Reidsville, which played in the East last year due to weird seeding)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson Prep and Tarboro won 1A and 2A, respectively, last season, and should be in a strong position to repeat. Generally speaking, some of the top teams in the East return more than the West. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think it's most noticeable in 5A and 6A. Those three state champions are decimated by graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/watauga-2026-season-preview/">Watauga</a> should still be dangerous in 6A, but the Pioneers have to replace a ton of skill position talent, even if the offensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2201332' first='Will' last='Humphrey']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2185039' first='Cayman' last='Hayes']</strong>) is elite. I haven't previewed Middle Creek, Jacksonville, or Scotland yet, but all three teams return their top 2-3 players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 5A, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/crest-chargers-2026-season-preview/">Crest</a> is in better shape than some, getting transfer QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687753' first='KJ' last='Bell']</strong> and returning elite receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154024' first='Namajay' last='Thompson']</strong> and a top offensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607884' first='Paxton' last='Dobbins']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607907' first='Nick' last='Albright']</strong>). Still, the Chargers have to replace five of six leading tacklers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the East, Northside-Jacksonville returns over 95% of its yardage, led by quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687459' first='Reginald' last='Gray']</strong>, running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534079' first='Rahlai' last='Anderson']</strong>, and receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2127567' first='Gavyn' last='Davis']</strong> and <strong>Jamian Johnson</strong>, and six of eight leading tacklers on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After initially transferring out, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953755' first='Mez' last='Harris']</strong> returned to Hunt this offseason. The Warriors also return most of an elite front seven (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106602' first='Judah' last='Harris']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2108371' first='CJ' last='Dickerson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610537' first='Randy' last='James']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2113127' first='Nicholas' last='Bynum']</strong>).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) Good to Great Might Be the Hardest Step</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a theory I've been working out. We've seen countless teams take steps from the gutter to competitive, even more move from competitive to good, and still more move from great to elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But I think the hardest step to take is moving from the 5-win to 6-win range to eight or nine wins. I have my eye on a couple of teams in this regard this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/rj-reynolds-2026-season-preview/">RJ Reynolds</a> won two games every year from 2021 to 2023, rising to four wins in 2024 and a 6-5 record in 2025. Can the Demons move from "tough out" to truly dangerous in 7A?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're strong at the positions needed to raise the floor. A strong offensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2243925' first='Jaylen' last='Wheeler']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2243926' first='Nathan' last='Gerardo']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2243870' first='Saveion' last='Green']</strong>) and defense (led by established stars <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2171825' first='Tim' last='Martin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2126991' first='De'reon' last='Watson']</strong>), but they're incredibly inexperienced at the skill positions. I don't see them winning many blowouts, so they'll play a lot of close games. Maybe close game luck can get them an extra win or two, but that next step is difficult.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/enloe-eagles-2026-season-preview/">Enloe</a> is shockingly similar in the 8A class: 4-6 in 2023, then back-to-back 6-5 seasons, an elite offensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649248' first='Sam' last='Offor']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649251' first='Noah' last='Nelson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1719965' first='James' last='Jones']</strong>), and inexperience at the skill positions. I really like quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1646740' first='Leo' last='Gorga']</strong>, but the non-conference gives him very little time to establish consistent, Friday-night connections with his favorite playmakers. They should be a better team than last year, but have they improved enough to compete alongside conference foes Leesville Road, Rolesville, and Millbrook? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In other words, even if they are better, can the Eagles win more games?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The 2026 high school football season is nearly here. For now, we're still in preview season. To let me know who should be on our radar, DM me on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>). Want to send this to a friend? Help them get 30% off their first billing cycle with promo code Helms30.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->