Lakeland Prep head football coach Tyler White believes the Lions have reached an important point in the development of the program.
With a large group of experienced seniors returning and several key players poised for breakout seasons, White sees an opportunity for Lakeland Prep to take another step forward in 2026.
The Lions are 0-1 after opening the season last Friday against powerhouse Covington High School. Lakeland Prep will look to even its record at 1-1 when it travels to Bolivar Central tomorrow night.
While the season-opening loss was a difficult challenge, it was also representative of the type of competition White believes will help prepare his team for the games that matter most later in the season.
“We don’t shy away from playing tough competition,” White said. “I don’t think you can really develop a great program playing teams you know you can beat.”
Experience Gives Lions Confidence
One of White’s biggest sources of confidence heading into the season is the experience of his senior class.
“Definitely the group of seniors we have,” White said. “A lot of these guys have been starting since they were freshmen. There isn’t much they haven’t seen.”
That experience has come through both difficult losses and important victories, giving the Lions a veteran core that White believes is ready to take another step.
“We’ve been on the wrong end of some tough games, and we’ve been on the right end of those games too,” he said. “They have worked hard this offseason, and I think we are ready to take the next step.”
White wants that experience to translate into a team identity built around two things: competing and playing smart football.
“The first thing I want this team to be known for is competing,” he said.
White pointed to last season as evidence of the program’s growth. Even when Lakeland Prep faced teams it wasn’t expected to challenge, the Lions continued to compete and found themselves in close games during the second half.
“Second, I want us to play sound, smart football,” White said. “Playing smart is one of our biggest strengths, and we have to play that way.”
Offensive Experience Returns
Lakeland Prep returns several players White expects to make an impact offensively.
In the passing game, seniors Brett Godwin, Bryce Robersmon and Connor Jones are expected to form an important trio.
On the offensive line, seniors Kash Hardin, Beckett Clayton and Bryce McCalman will provide experience up front. White believes their development could have a direct impact on the Lions’ running game, particularly for running backs Bennett Filsinger and Whitten Wolfe.
“We have three seniors starting on our O-Line … and I anticipate them taking a big step forward as well,” White said. “And if they do, our running backs Bennett Filsinger and Whitten Wolfe should also see their games move up another level.”
Defense Faces a New Challenge
Defensively, Lakeland Prep will have to replace its leading tackler from the past three seasons.
That creates an opportunity for a group of linebackers and safeties to step into larger roles.
White expects seniors Cam Guillo, Kyler Biggart and Trey Childs, along with sophomores Larry Jackson and Caelum Nichol, to receive significant opportunities, particularly early in the season.
“We have about seven or eight guys rotating at our LB/Safety spots,” White said. “We lost our leading tackler for the past three seasons, so we are looking for those guys to accommodate for that.”
Another player White believes could make a significant defensive impact is junior defensive end Asher Owens. Owens was on pace for a strong season a year ago before an early-season injury ended his campaign.
Emphasis on Speed
During the offseason, the Lions placed a major emphasis on improving their overall team speed.
“Speed, speed, and more speed,” White said.
White acknowledged that speed isn’t necessarily something the Lions are naturally blessed with, making it an area the coaching staff has worked deliberately to improve.
Lakeland Prep spent considerable time both in the weight room and on the field developing that aspect of its game.
“So far, we have seen it translate in our scrimmages and jamborees,” White said.
Creating explosive plays offensively while preventing them defensively has become a major focus.
“Creating and limiting explosive plays is a huge metric in winning football games, and I think we have significantly closed the gap there,” White said.
Tough Schedule Designed to Prepare Lions
The Lions’ 2026 schedule provides little room for easing into the season.
Lakeland Prep scrimmaged Central, which won Region 8-5A last season, before opening against Covington, which White noted was the state’s No. 2-ranked 3A team a year ago.
The Lions will also face 6A Arlington on the road and must travel to Haywood for region play.
For White, the challenging schedule is intentional.
“I want them to be tested when it comes to region play because we have to go on the road to Haywood,” he said.
White believes the experiences his players have accumulated over the past several seasons have prepared them for those challenges.
“There isn’t much these guys are scared of, and we have been emphasizing to embrace the tough schedule,” he said. “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
Building Something Bigger
For White, measuring the success of the 2026 season goes beyond the final win-loss record.
The Lions’ junior and senior classes were part of the early development of Lakeland Prep’s football program. When those players arrived four years ago, there was no senior class and no established football tradition.
“All of these kids in our junior and senior classes took a risk choosing Lakeland four years ago,” White said. “There were no seniors, there was no tradition. They chose to come here and create all of that.”
The program has already made progress. Lakeland Prep finished third in its region during its first season with seniors, establishing region championships and playoff appearances as the next benchmarks.
“Continuing to build on that is a success for us,” White said.
For now, the Lions turn their attention to Bolivar Central, looking to put the first win of the young season on the board.
A victory would move Lakeland Prep to 1-1 and provide an early opportunity for the Lions to demonstrate the identity White wants the program to establish in 2026: compete, play smart and continue building.
