2026 Preview: Mullins Auctioneers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Mullins Auctioneers were a bit misleading.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, Mullins finished the season with a 3-6 record after going 7-4 the previous year, but the Aucs' first three losses came by a combined 10 points. With such a narrow margin meaning the difference between a winning record and a losing one, Mullins enters 2026 with a renewed focus on competing every moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I feel like this group is a lot better at taking on adversity and going with it,” linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604041' first='Nathan' last='Peracki']</strong> said at last month's PrepRedZone Media Day. “The last group would kind of just get frustrated. This group has a much better temper.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mullins enters the season with 14 returning starters, including eight on offense. One key difference will be at the quarterback position, where rising senior&nbsp;<strong>Dakarai Worley</strong>&nbsp;is set to take over. An all-state basketball player who averaged a double-double last winter, Worley has garnered lofty expectations from the coaching staff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“As good as our quarterback play has been the last three years,” said head coach Marc Lowery, “I think he's going to be better this year. He reads the field well and he won't put so much on himself. We're going to rely on our running backs to be our leading rushers. In the last three years, our quarterbacks have been our leading rushers.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After getting just 32 combined carries last season, rising seniors&nbsp;<strong>Michael Coleman</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820266' first='Anthony' last='Campbell']</strong>&nbsp;will be tasked with providing the yards on the ground. Fortunately, they'll be running behind an offensive line that averaged over 265 pounds along the starting five. Rising junior&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664628' first='DeAndre' last='Stackhouse']</strong>&nbsp;is the big name and big presence at left tackle, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 330 pounds. Right tackle&nbsp;<strong>Lashawn Hughes</strong>&nbsp;is the lone senior starter and will need to provide leadership for the unit.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824350' first='Keith' last='Bridgett Jr']</strong>&nbsp;(22 receptions, 365 yards, three touchdowns) leads a trio of senior starters at wide receiver.&nbsp;<strong>Jalyn Mills</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Kendrick Ford</strong>&nbsp;will take on much bigger roles after tallying six combined catches a season ago.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bridgett (pictured) has been working to form a connection with his new quarterback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Me and Dakarai, every weekend we go to the football field and run routes, run through the offense,” said Bridgett. “We're practicing every day to build that bond so that when we get out on the field, we can do what we're supposed to do.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peracki (85 tackles, 12 tackles for loss) is Mullins' leading returning tackler and will have the undivided attention of opposing offenses at linebacker. That should free up chances for Coleman and outside linebackers&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825237' first='Dequavius' last='Smith']</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818108' first='Arnez' last='Brewton']</strong>&nbsp;to make plays.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stackhouse anchors the middle of the defense line with&nbsp;<strong>Eric Murphy</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2257649' first='Kamaree' last='Edwards']&nbsp;</strong>on the edges. On the perimeter, rising senior&nbsp;<strong>Julian Pee</strong>&nbsp;and rising junior&nbsp;<strong>Nyzier Patterson</strong>&nbsp;are projected to start at cornerback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With six starters back, the defense is experienced and should take a step forward as a unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The starters from last year and the starters now have gotten some playing time,” Brewton said. “We know what to do out there when we go out there now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With returning veterans and great potential on the roster, Mullins hopes to build a resilience that will serve the Auctioneers well in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We want to put them in situations where they can't succeed to see them fight,” Lowery said. “We want to make sure we're competing every day. Every group situation has a purpose, there's always a winner and a loser. That way, when it comes game time, they go ‘we've been here before, we can do this.'”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604041' first='Nathan' last='Peracki']</strong>&nbsp;LB, 2027 – The heart and soul of the Auctioneers' defense, Peracki will be hard to avoid. The senior is always around the ball, as he led the team in fumble recoveries last season and should eclipse 300 career tackles this fall. Don't be surprised if he leads the Auctioneers in stops in his final season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dakarai Worley</strong>&nbsp;QB, 2027 – Worley is no stranger to the spotlight, despite this being his first season as Mullins' QB1. The reigning Region Player of the Year on the hardwood, Worley is used to operating with a target on his back. He'll also have chances to make plays on defense as one of the Aucs' starting safeties.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824350' first='Keith' last='Bridgett Jr']</strong>&nbsp;WR, 2027 – Bridgett may not ‘wow' anyone getting off the bus, but his impact is undeniable. He is Mullins' unquestioned top threat on offense and should get the ball in a variety of ways. The senior runs outstanding routes, which should make for easier throws for Worley.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664628' first='DeAndre' last='Stackhouse']</strong>&nbsp;OL, 2027 – Stackhouse will be tasked with protecting Worley's blindside this fall. Mullins couldn't have picked a better man for the job. With his massive frame and ability to move defenders, the Auctioneer offense should plan on taking full advantage of its behemoth left tackle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818108' first='Arnez' last='Brewton']</strong>&nbsp;LB, 2027 – Brewton may be undersized, but his active feet and instincts mean he's constantly around the ball. Brewton uses his agility to his advantage, allowing his to stay off blockers and locate ball carriers in traffic. If he can strike with a little more force upon arrival, he'll cause plenty of problems for offenses this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21208927/6a2f33a346130a2f1573f4f7u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a696c6dca02d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kanazzion Bethea</strong>&nbsp;QB – Bethea was a true dual-threat weapon, accounting for nearly 2,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Three-year starters at any position are hard to replace, especially at quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andre Littlejohn</strong>&nbsp;LB – Littlejohn led the Auctioneers with 96 tackles and a mind-boggling 22 tackles for loss. That amount of productivity will be nearly impossible to replicate.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING TALENT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Deon Stackhouse</strong>&nbsp;OL, 2029 – The younger Stackhouse brother may not quite have the size of his older sibling, but he's penciled in as Mullins' starting right guard. Coming in at a more-than-respectable 6-foot-1 and 246 pounds, Auctioneer coaches believe he can develop into a premier lineman.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eric Murphy</strong>&nbsp;DL, 2029 – Murphy is the lone underclassman to break into the starting lineup for the Mullins defense. Offenses will have to run away from Stackhouse in the middle, meaning Edwards can clean up plays on his side of the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2257649,"_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-6a696c6dca5e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Edwards will also benefit from being on a line featuring Stackhouse. Mullins has playmakers in the front seven, but the emergence of Edwards would create even more problems for opposing offenses.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards will be part of a veteran and experienced defense and should be primed for an impressive junior campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->