Way too early 2026 Preview

[TarVikes1]

I think one of these normally gets posted every year so let’s hear it. What’s the outlook and predictions for contenders next year.

I know Tarboro graduates 16 or 17 seniors but they will return 16 or 17 juniors. They have a lot of yards and tackles to replace. So it remains to be seen what they will look like next year.

Other teams in the east to watch are Warren County and Holmes off the top of my head - I was told they were both very young this year. So maybe they can make a move next year?

What’s the west looking like?

 

[Deana_King]

Starmount has 11 all-conference players and 2 honorable mention players returning plus tone of their best OL who was injured mid season.

Rams should be in the title hunt in 2026

 

[Deana_King]

I expect Corvian and Murphy to be there as well.

 

[Tarboroviking18]

Tarboro will have a lot of key seniors to replace. They'll get tested early on with the tough non conference schedule. However I fully expect them to be rolling by the time the playoffs start. Warren county and Edenton I believe will be in the mix again as well. Possibly East Bladen.

 

[bengal4life]

Mitchell county will be good next year .

 

[Ball704336]

As Deana said, Starmount should be one of the favorites to come out of the West. The Rams lose some good players but return several key players as well, also had a good JV team that should help fill spots.

I'm afraid that Corvian will be in contention next year also.

 

[Mr.Blue&Gray]

Starmount and Corivan the top 2 in the West. Murphy will Graduate their big lineman, but most of their skill players will return. For Corivan you just don't know who they might get during the off season..

For Tarboro still the team to beat in the East. I am sure they will have players from the JVs that will step it up on Varsity.

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

Warren County and Edenton both bring back a lot, so I fully expect them to be in the mix next year. I think they both will have great years. As to be expected, I expect us to take a step back. That's not to say we won't be good, but I have a hard time seeing us being as good as we have been the last two seasons. We have a difficult schedule again next season, so we could take some lumps early, but as others have said, feel we will be competitive once playoffs roll around.
The 24 jv team which will be seniors next year went 5-2. They lost to Havelock and a close game to Northeastern. The 25 JV went undefeated and the middle school team went undefeated as well, so we have plenty of talent coming up. It'll be an exciting season, and I look forward to our fans having new fan favorites.

 

[Mr.Blue&Gray]

Tarboro will Graduste just about the entire backfield. Who will be RB for next season that will carry the offense?

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

Tarboro will Graduste just about the entire backfield. Who will be RB for next season that will carry the offense?

Big shoes to fill no doubt. 10 for us this year will get a good number of carries for us next year.

 

[bengal4life]

Starmount and Corivan the top 2 in the West. Murphy will Graduate their big lineman, but most of their skill players will return. For Corivan you just don't know who they might get during the off season..

For Tarboro still the team to beat in the East. I am sure they will have players from the JVs that will step it up on Varsity.

Mitchell county will be back in the hunt next season, got some guys back didn’t play this year , plus some good transfers

 

[Mr.Blue&Gray]

What about East Wilkes? They have been pretty good for the past 2 season

 

[Boom Stick]

East: Tarboro - If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

West: Starmount - if they don’t have their nose stuck up to much to play on a grass field deep in the playoffs.

 

[TheJims]

What about East Wilkes? They have been pretty good for the past 2 season

They should be in the thick of things again. They've had a pretty good jv group. Wouldn't sleep on Alleghany either.

 

[EWCards]

We graduate 13 or so seniors. Mainly all skill position are graduating. We do have our qb coming back and several kids that played backup rolls running the ball. Few jv studs moving up as well.

I dont see us being as fast nor as physical as this season. If we play the same schedule as this year id say we are a 6-4 squad. Time will tell I guess.

 

[TarVikes1]

Tarboro will Graduste just about the entire backfield. Who will be RB for next season that will carry the offense?

I’ll be honest its actually normal for Tarboro to have to replace 2 or 3 backs every year. We were just in a unique situation the last couple years.

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

I’ll be honest its actually normal for Tarboro to have to replace 2 or 3 backs every year. We were just in a unique situation the last couple years.

He's right, it's not common for us to have 3 and 4 year starters on varsity at the back position. Has been unique the last several years. I suspect we have some guys who will come in from the JV and be able to put up some really good numbers.

 

[SMC Observer]

West: Starmount - if they don’t have their nose stuck up to much to play on a grass field deep in the playoffs.

Corvian brings back even more than they do, if the QB comes back they're my pick to come out of the west.

 

[TarVikes1]

Well if the trend continues like it’s been going - Tarboro wins 2 in a row and then yall suckers out west send some super team to the state championship in the 3rd year to knock us off so who’s gonna have the super team next year.

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

Well if the trend continues like it’s been going - Tarboro wins 2 in a row and then yall suckers out west send some super team to the state championship in the 3rd year to knock us off so who’s gonna have the super team next year.

Haha, I was thinking of that earlier. The trend for us in since 17 has been back to back but no 3peats. I would love to have a 3peat like we did from 9-11, and still bummed because we should've had a 4peat lol.

 

[Deana_King]

Corvian don’t have a JV program just like a lot of the charters so they will always have numbers coming back

 

[TarVikes1]

Corvian don’t have a JV program just like a lot of the charters so they will always have numbers coming back

With Corvian - just as easy as they can bring somebody in….i think they can just as easily lose some good players to bigger Charlotte schools.

Bottom line they will be a wild card every year. You won’t know what they have until the season starts.

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

With Corvian - just as easy as they can bring somebody in….i think they can just as easily lose some good players to bigger Charlotte schools.

Bottom line they will be a wild card every year. You won’t know what they have until the season starts.

If the QB is as good as some say, I don't expect him to be there by his Junior or Senior year. Heck, he may not even be there next year.

 

[Murphydawg4life]

Murphy loses a couple of key lineman but they will relaod from a solid JV squad from this year. They should have a better passing game as the incoming QB has very good accuracy and is a deep threat throwing the ball so they will be more balanced instead of one-dimentional this season. They return all their skilled players and if the line play gets some experience under their belt, they should be just as good if not better then this year.. time will tell though.

 

[TarVikes1]

In regards to Corvian..I follow a high school sports page on Facebook and the Charlotte area transfer portal is alive and well. They’ve already posted about 3-4 QBs in the Charlotte area transferring to other schools.

 

[Tarboroviking18]

On talking Preps last night they believe the 2a west will have a big four next year. Murphy, corvian, starmount, and community school of Davidson. They also stated Edenton will close the gap to Tarboro next year.

 

[bengal4life]

On talking Preps last night they believe the 2a west will have a big four next year. Murphy, corvian, starmount, and community school of Davidson. They also stated Edenton will close the gap to Tarboro next year.

You guys can go ahead sleep on Mitchell county , mountaineers will be lot different team next season

 

[Tarboroviking18]

You guys can go ahead sleep on Mitchell county , mountaineers will be lot different team next season

I believe Mitchell will be a factor next year. Talking Preps may not think so but I do.

 

[TarVikes1]

You guys can go ahead sleep on Mitchell county , mountaineers will be lot different team next season

The talking preps guys are just homers to Charlotte area schools a lot of times. Mitchell is always gonnna be in the mix

 

[vikandpirate4christ]

Craddock's interview with Brian Bailey yesterday was good. It offers some a little, good insight regarding next years squad

 

[Deana_King]

Yes…Mitchell with that QB will be in the mix in 2026.

 

[OtisDriftwood]

Murphy loses a couple of key lineman but they will relaod from a solid JV squad from this year. They should have a better passing game as the incoming QB has very good accuracy and is a deep threat throwing the ball so they will be more balanced instead of one-dimentional this season. They return all their skilled players and if the line play gets some experience under their belt, they should be just as good if not better then this year.. time will tell though.

I think Murphy will be end up being fine on the OL. They have a few returning vets and have several good young players to choose from that just need to play and gain some experience. Replacing the kicker will be a challenge, as will replacing the punter. But I think we already have the answers on the team right now. What worries me most is replacing 55 and 84 on defense. Those guys had dawg in them and will be very difficult if not impossible to replace. Replacing number 3 will be difficult too. One of the best all around, most dependable players a team could have. Having said all that, Murphy will definitely be a major contender again next year. Hope to get another shot at Tarboro now that we have played them and know what we need to work on to beat them next time.

 

[SMC Observer]

I think Murphy will be end up being fine on the OL. They have a few returning vets and have several good young players to choose from that just need to play and gain some experience. Replacing the kicker will be a challenge, as will replacing the punter. But I think we already have the answers on the team right now. What worries me most is replacing 55 and 84 on defense. Those guys had dawg in them and will be very difficult if not impossible to replace.

O-line definitely biggest question mark going into next year for Murphy I feel. #75 and #68 will probably be the tackles and 'Dogs should be in solid shape there, interior o-line has a lot more question marks. #67 will probably start at guard even as a 10th grader, he's a really talented kid. Unsure what they will do at the other guard spot and center. #43 would probably be a good guard if he were a bit bigger but he's more fullback sized barring another growth spurt. I could possibly see #76 playing right tackle (or #72 if he puts in the work this off-season and gets in better shape) and #68 playing center instead.

D-line will definitely take a step back, #84 is impossible to replace and #71 and #51 are big losses. But there's more obvious solutions on the d-line than on the o-line in my opinion. #76 coming back is a good anchor piece and then #68, #80, #72 and #67 should be in the mix to start at various spots on the d-line.

#55 will be greatly missed at MLB, I still like the potential of the LB group next year with #9 moving into #55's spot at MLB and #43 and probably #2 coming into the starting lineup at OLB. I could see #8 starting at OLB too if they decide to not to put him at safety, but I would imagine either #8 starts at free safety or #12 slides over to free safety from strong safety and #8 takes over at strong safety. The secondary will probably be the strength of next year's defense.

 

[MuckFitchell]

Whats Mitchell got? the Purple People eaters transferring in? Man we all know your kid is transferring there. Hope he does well in all games but one. Heritage by 30...again

 

[Goldendomer10]

Whats Mitchell got? the Purple People eaters transferring in? Man we all know your kid is transferring there. Hope he does well in all games but one. Heritage by 30...again

Interesting a new poster appears with the name “F*ck Mitchell” and his/her first post goes against Mitchell. Not much class or creativity.

 

[WNCfootball]

Whose kid is he referring to transferring to Mitchell?

 

[Goldendomer10]

I’d assume, Bengal4Life, he’s mentioned Mitchell 3 times on this thread and once about transfers going there.

 

[bengal4life]

Whats Mitchell got? the Purple People eaters transferring in? Man we all know your kid is transferring there. Hope he does well in all games but one. Heritage by 30...again

You have lot class , we will see next year son

 

[wncbowhunter]

And notice no long time Mitchell posters are throwing them in the mix yet. They will have some holes to fill on the line and at the skill positions. Yes the QB comes back but most all the other skill positions graduate. While they may have a few kids return that didn’t play this year, well they missed a year and who knows how they will adjust. Not expecting much help from the JV team either.

Furthermore, I personally feel Mitchell went as far in the playoffs as they did due to matchups. They proved all year they were not an elite team when facing big time competition. Was no where close to competitive in those games. I don’t want this to come across the wrong way. I was proud of the team and the coaches for all they accomplished. But for them to be in the mix next year they will have to have A Lot of kids get tougher.

Wish I had ol Bengals faith, but I will stay with the wait and see mentality.

So at this point I would stay with the usual suspects, Starmount, Corvain, Murphy, CSOD.

Go Mountaineers

 

[bengal4life]

Whats Mitchell got? the Purple People eaters transferring in? Man we all know your kid is transferring there. Hope he does well in all games but one. Heritage