Talkin’ Wellborn

Entering his 17th season at Wellborn, Smith sees the past, lots of promise with the latest version of the Panthers.

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of Talkin’ Football 2025. East Alabama Sports Today editor Joe Medley will do on-campus interviews at all football-playing schools in Calhoun County. The package will include a video interview, interesting facts and Joe’s take for EA+ subscribers. Today’s visit: the Wellborn Panthers.

WELLBORN — Jeff Smith has seen lots of roster cycles through his 29 years as a head football coach. He’s seen plenty in 17 years at Wellborn, his alma mater.

He has an analog for just about every new season, and he sees the 2025 Panthers as a lot like the 2018 Panthers.

Staring at what he calls practically “a new team,” he harkens back to a time just before Wellborn’s most recent football revival.

“In 2018, we had three seniors,” Smith said. “That was it. … Well, the three senior football players, they were not starters. Everybody that started for us in 2018 was either a sophomore or a junior.

“They got all of that experience, and we were very close to making the playoffs that year.”

More details, a video interview and interesting facts about the 2025 Wellborn Panthers are available for EA+ subscribers.