Talkin’ Wellborn

’26 Wellborn football schedule

CLASS 2A, REGION 6
Aug. 21: WEAVER
Aug. 28: at Woodland
Sept. 4: at Saks *
Sept. 11: VINCENT *
Sept. 18: at Pleasant Valley *
Sept. 25: NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN
Oct. 2: at Ohatchee *
Oct. 9: WEST END-WALNUT GROVE *
Oct. 16: at Gaston *
Oct. 23: PIEDMONT *
Oct. 30: Open

Wellborn facts

Things to know about Wellborn football heading into the 2026 season:

—  Jeff Smith enters his 18th season as Wellborn’s head football coach. He’s 111-74 at Wellborn with 13 playoff appearances, including a Class 3A semifinal run in 2019. He’s 187-129 in 29 years as a head coach overall, including stays at Ohatchee and Hueytown.

— The Panthers finished the 2025 season 5-5. They finished fourth in Class 3A, Region 6, and lost at Gordo in the first round of the playoffs. 

— The AHSAA’s latest round of reclassifications and realignment  brought major changes, with public and private schools separating for championship play and the elimination of Class 7A. Several schools moved down in classification. Wellborn bumped down to Class 2A, Region 6 with Gaston, Ohatchee, Piedmont, Pleasant Valley, Saks, Vincent and West End-Walnut Grove..

— Wellborn graduated the following Class 1A-3A All-Calhoun County players: DS Brady Greenwood, OL Javen Henegar, DB Jakeim Kirby, KR Justus Williams and DB J.D. Talley. QB Aziah Amberson transferred to Hope Christian.

— Key returnees include the following 2025 All-Calhoun County players: sophomore FB/TE Braden Horton, senior OL Dalton Dillard, senior DB Mareese Traylor, senior DB/RB/WR Zane Hill, sophomore RB/LB/K/KR Kaden Horton, senior FB/TE Eli Wickland, senior OL Parker Williams, senior DL Juan Hernandez, junior DL Tristan Crosley, junior OL Colt Quinn, senior OL Sawyer Thomas, 

— Other players to watch include sophomore OL Alex Hernandez, sophomore OL/DL Aaron Dempsey, junior WB/DB/WR Thane Doland and senior DB/RB Bryson Richards, who’s playing his first football season at Wellborn after moving from Gadsden last year. Senior WR Jackson Clark and senior FB Demarion Tippins return after missing all or most of last season with ACL tears.  

— Wellborn’s non-region schedule includes home games with Weaver on and North Sand Mountain on Sept. 25 and a road game at Woodland on Aug. 28.

—Joe Medley

A video interview with Wellborn coach Jeff Smith and editor Joe Medley’s take on Wellborn’s ’26 football season await EA+ subscribers.