2026 Preview: McBee Panthers

It's always darkest before the dawn.   McBee is hoping that message also applies to the football field.    The Panthers have seen their win total dwindle each of the last two years, culminating in a 2-8 record in 2025 that had them sitting at home during the playoffs for the first time in five years. McBee finished the season with 18 players, 10 of whom graduated. Now, the extremely young roster has dedicated the offseason to reversing the trend of mounting losses.    “We've got a lot of young guys in the weight room,” quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1821498' first='Lucas' last='King'] (pictured) said at last month's PrepRedZone Media Day. “On the field, we're working on blocking, tackling, just fundamentals that we need for the season. I think that we should be on track to do better than what we did last season.”   If McBee hopes to put more marks in the win column this year, King should have a lot to do with it. A converted running back who made the move to quarterback in the offseason, the rising senior has plenty of familiarity with the offense. A run-heavy scheme means King shouldn't be asked to shoulder too much of the burden through the air, but the Panthers will almost certainly look to involve him in the run game. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1825550' first='Harlen' last='McLaurin'] and rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1816687' first='Jace' last='Ferguson'] are candidates to get most of the reps at running back in McBee's ground-oriented attack, while sophomore Christian Gainey will likely be leading the way at fullback.    The Panthers haven't aired it out much in recent years, but the Brigman brothers might bring some balance to the offense. Gunnar Brigman enters his senior season as the starting tight end, while [player_tooltip player_id='1816685' first='McKinley' last='Brigman'] will be a key wide receiver as a junior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821499' first='Nakai' last='Sinkler'] is the headliner and senior leader on the offensive line. Drew Karcher will play guard and rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1816688' first='Christian' last='Patterson'] has turned heads during the offseason and could see significant time at center.    “He really been putting in the work,” Sinkler said of Patterson. “Once the season starts, he'll really start to shine and show people the work he put in over the summer.”   On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1816686' first='Alshon' last='Sutton'] is a rising sophomore standout at defensive end. The elder Brigman will start opposite of him on the line, with Sinkler and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1824869' first='Joseph' last='Boyle'] in between at the defensive tackle spots. Ferguson and fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1824737' first='Kemarion' last='Brame'] will partner in the secondary to form an athletic duo at cornerback.    Along with his quarterback duties, King will pair with Gainey to form the nucleus of the linebacker corp.    With a roster thin on numbers, but loaded with potential in the underclassmen ranks, McBee appears primed for either a surprising bounceback or another disappointing campaign, especially considering the strength of their region schedule.    The Panthers, however, are focused on the immediate future.   “We're really realistic with what we're looking for,” head coach Andy Karcher said. “It's all about development, all about improving from game to game and keeping our kids high on themselves. We want to win football games, but it's not about the wins right now.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1821498' first='Lucas' last='King'] QB, 2027 – King has built his reputation as a winner during his prep career and now looks to bring that success to the football program as its offensive leader. While his passing numbers may not jump off the page this year, he should be a factor in the ground game and provide an ample amount of leadership for this young offense.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821499' first='Nakai' last='Sinkler'] OL/DL, 2027 – Sinkler looks the part of a standout lineman, especially on offense. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 275 pounds, Sinkler will likely be asked to pave the way for the Panther ground game as McBee should be running behind its premier road-grater plenty this fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='1825550' first='Harlen' last='McLaurin'] RB, 2027 – McLaurin is now operating in a much less crowded running back room than he was a season ago. That should open up opportunities for him to put up numbers and help ease King's transition to quarterback.    [player_tooltip player_id='1824736' first='Colton' last='Gainey'] LB/RB, 2029 – Another raw but talented sophomore, Gainey has an explosive first step and is strong enough to work through contact. Gainey should serve as a solid lead blocker and change-of-pace option in the Panther ground game while also providing pop on defense.   FILM REVIEW   Gunnar Brigman TE/DE, 2027 – Although he has limited football experience, Brigman's size and basketball skills should serve him well in his role as starting tight end. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior should also be a valuable asset at defensive end, as he possesses both the size and quickness to get to ball careers.    BIGGEST LOSSES   JJ Melton QB – McBee's Male Athlete of the Year operated the offense last season and was a veteran leader that King looks to step in for this fall.   Darrell Harper ATH – A talented and dynamic playmaker who lined up all over the field and was a threat to score anytime he got the ball. Losing a player like that is hard at any school, but especially one with roster numbers as low as McBee's.     UP-AND-COMING TALENT   [player_tooltip player_id='1816687' first='Jace' last='Ferguson'] DB/RB, 2029 – Ferguson may be undersized, but he has a high football IQ and has made great strides as a defensive back. Quick enough to break on passes and smart enough to understand his assignments, Ferguson may be a breakout performer for the Panthers.    [player_tooltip player_id='1816685' first='McKinley' last='Brigman'] WR, 2028 – The younger Brigman brings a basketball body to the football field, where his 6-foot-4 frame should make a popular target for King through the air.     Sutton has the prototypical frame of a dynamic defensive end. Although he is still learning the position, his athleticism should help him immensely as he continues to develop into a fully formed defender.    Sutton has a year of experience under his belt and is entering his second year as a starter. If he puts on some muscle and continues to refine his technique, the sky is the limit for the sophomore.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

McBee is hoping that message also applies to the football field.

The Panthers have seen their win total dwindle each of the last two years, culminating in a 2-8 record in 2025 that had them sitting at home during the playoffs for the first time in five years. McBee finished the season with 18 players, 10 of whom graduated. Now, the extremely young roster has dedicated the offseason to reversing the trend of mounting losses.

“We've got a lot of young guys in the weight room,” quarterback Lucas King Lucas King 5'8" McBee | 2027 SC (pictured) said at last month's PrepRedZone Media Day. “On the field, we're working on blocking, tackling, just fundamentals that we need for the season. I think that we should be on track to do better than what we did last season.”

If McBee hopes to put more marks in the win column this year, King should have a lot to do with it. A converted running back who made the move to quarterback in the offseason, the rising senior has plenty of familiarity with the offense. A run-heavy scheme means King shouldn't be asked to shoulder too much of the burden through the air, but the Panthers will almost certainly look to involve him in the run game. Rising senior Harlen McLaurin Harlen McLaurin McBee | 2027 SC and rising sophomore Jace Ferguson Jace Ferguson McBee | 2029 SC are candidates to get most of the reps at running back in McBee's ground-oriented attack, while sophomore Christian Gainey will likely be leading the way at fullback.

The Panthers haven't aired it out much in recent years, but the Brigman brothers might bring some balance to the offense. Gunnar Brigman enters his senior season as the starting tight end, while McKinley Brigman McKinley Brigman McBee | 2028 SC will be a key wide receiver as a junior.

Nakai Sinkler Nakai Sinkler 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL/DL McBee | 2027 SC is the headliner and senior leader on the offensive line. Drew Karcher will play guard and rising sophomore Christian Patterson Christian Patterson 5'9" McBee | 2029 SC has turned heads during the offseason and could see significant time at center.

“He really been putting in the work,” Sinkler said of Patterson. “Once the season starts, he'll really start to shine and show people the work he put in over the summer.”

On defense, Alshon Sutton Alshon Sutton 6'0" McBee | 2029 SC is a rising sophomore standout at defensive end. The elder Brigman will start opposite of him on the line, with Sinkler and junior Joseph Boyle Joseph Boyle McBee | 2028 SC in between at the defensive tackle spots. Ferguson and fellow sophomore Kemarion Brame Kemarion Brame McBee | 2029 SC will partner in the secondary to form an athletic duo at cornerback.

Along with his quarterback duties, King will pair with Gainey to form the nucleus of the linebacker corp.

With a roster thin on numbers, but loaded with potential in the underclassmen ranks, McBee appears primed for either a surprising bounceback or another disappointing campaign, especially considering the strength of their region schedule.

The Panthers, however, are focused on the immediate future.

“We're really realistic with what we're looking for,” head coach Andy Karcher said. “It's all about development, all about improving from game to game and keeping our kids high on themselves. We want to win football games, but it's not about the wins right now.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

Lucas King Lucas King 5'8" McBee | 2027 SC QB, 2027 – King has built his reputation as a winner during his prep career and now looks to bring that success to the football program as its offensive leader. While his passing numbers may not jump off the page this year, he should be a factor in the ground game and provide an ample amount of leadership for this young offense.

Nakai Sinkler Nakai Sinkler 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL/DL McBee | 2027 SC OL/DL, 2027 – Sinkler looks the part of a standout lineman, especially on offense. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 275 pounds, Sinkler will likely be asked to pave the way for the Panther ground game as McBee should be running behind its premier road-grater plenty this fall.

Harlen McLaurin Harlen McLaurin McBee | 2027 SC RB, 2027 – McLaurin is now operating in a much less crowded running back room than he was a season ago. That should open up opportunities for him to put up numbers and help ease King's transition to quarterback.

Colton Gainey Colton Gainey 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB/LB McBee | 2029 State SC LB/RB, 2029 – Another raw but talented sophomore, Gainey has an explosive first step and is strong enough to work through contact. Gainey should serve as a solid lead blocker and change-of-pace option in the Panther ground game while also providing pop on defense.

FILM REVIEW

Gunnar Brigman TE/DE, 2027 – Although he has limited football experience, Brigman's size and basketball skills should serve him well in his role as starting tight end. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior should also be a valuable asset at defensive end, as he possesses both the size and quickness to get to ball careers.

BIGGEST LOSSES

JJ Melton QB – McBee's Male Athlete of the Year operated the offense last season and was a veteran leader that King looks to step in for this fall.

Darrell Harper ATH – A talented and dynamic playmaker who lined up all over the field and was a threat to score anytime he got the ball. Losing a player like that is hard at any school, but especially one with roster numbers as low as McBee's.

UP-AND-COMING TALENT

Jace Ferguson Jace Ferguson McBee | 2029 SC DB/RB, 2029 – Ferguson may be undersized, but he has a high football IQ and has made great strides as a defensive back. Quick enough to break on passes and smart enough to understand his assignments, Ferguson may be a breakout performer for the Panthers.

McKinley Brigman McKinley Brigman McBee | 2028 SC WR, 2028 – The younger Brigman brings a basketball body to the football field, where his 6-foot-4 frame should make a popular target for King through the air.