2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 10 Clay-Chalkville

Clay-Chalkville enters the 2026 season ranked No. 10 in the T25PS Public Schools Preseason Top 100 after completing one of the best seasons in program history.

The Cougars finished 15-0, defeated Saraland 38-21 in the AHSAA Class 6A championship game and averaged more than 45 points per game. Their defense allowed just 12.2 points per contest while helping Clay-Chalkville finish the year as Alabama’s highest-ranked public school in multiple national polls.

Clay-Chalkville will compete in Class 5A, Region 6 under Alabama’s new 2026 classification system. The move makes the Cougars an immediate favorite in their new classification, but repeating will require them to replace nearly all of the production that powered last season’s offense.

Quarterback Aaron Frye and running back Joshua Woods both surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in 2025. Leading receiver Corey Barber also graduated after producing more than 1,000 receiving yards.

That is a significant amount of offense to replace, but head coach Stuart Floyd has an experienced offensive line, a proven pass catcher and a defense capable of keeping Clay-Chalkville among the best public-school teams in the country.

Team Snapshot

School: Clay-Chalkville High School
Location: Pinson, Alabama
Classification: AHSAA Class 5A, Region 6
2025 Record: 15-0
2025 Finish: Class 6A state champion
Head Coach: Stuart Floyd
Floyd’s Record: 25-3 in two seasons
T25PS Preseason Rank: No. 10

Why Clay-Chalkville Is Ranked No. 10

Clay-Chalkville’s ranking begins with its perfect championship season, but the Cougars are not receiving a blind carryover from 2025.

The offensive losses are substantial. Frye was named the Class 6A Back of the Year, Woods was a first-team all-state running back and Barber was a first-team all-state receiver. Together, they accounted for three separate 1,000-yard seasons and a large percentage of Clay-Chalkville’s scoring production.

The reason the Cougars remain inside the national top 10 is what they return along the line of scrimmage and throughout the defense.

Christian Bennett earned second-team Class 6A all-state recognition as a sophomore, while James Felder, Shamar Smith and Tavaris Powell provide additional experience along the offensive line. That group should give Clay-Chalkville a strong foundation while the quarterback and skill-position rotations develop.

Defensively, Colton McIntyre and Isaiah Brown return after earning all-state honors. Keith Richmond, Josh Ivy, Jamario Yadao, Quinton Lowe and EJ Penn provide additional experience, while Iowa State commit DJ Williams joins the defensive front after transferring from Helena.

That combination gives Clay-Chalkville the pieces to field one of Alabama’s best defenses.

Players to Know

Nasir Ray — TE, Senior

Ray is Clay-Chalkville’s most productive returning pass catcher after recording 24 receptions for 390 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.

At 6-foot-1 and approximately 210 pounds, Ray can contribute as both a receiver and blocker. His experience should make him an important security blanket for whoever wins the quarterback job.

The Cougars do not necessarily need Ray to replace Barber’s production by himself, but his role should expand significantly.

Christian Bennett — OL, Junior

Bennett earned second-team Class 6A all-state honors as a sophomore and is one of the strongest building blocks on the offense.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound lineman anchors a group that also returns Felder, Smith and Powell. With Clay-Chalkville replacing its quarterback, leading running back and leading receiver, the offensive line will be responsible for providing stability.

Colton McIntyre — DL, Senior

McIntyre returns after earning first-team Class 6A all-state honors in 2025. The 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman gives the Cougars an experienced interior presence capable of disrupting the running game.

He should be one of the leaders of a defense expected to carry a larger share of the responsibility early in the season.

DJ Williams — EDGE, Senior

Williams joins Clay-Chalkville after playing at Helena in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge defender is a three-star prospect committed to Iowa State.

His length and pass-rushing ability add another dimension to an already talented defensive front. Pairing Williams with McIntyre and Keith Richmond gives Clay-Chalkville multiple ways to create pressure.

Isaiah Brown — LB, Senior

Brown earned second-team Class 6A all-state recognition as a junior. At 6-foot-1 and approximately 236 pounds, he provides size and experience in the middle of the defense.

Brown will be surrounded by additional returning linebackers, including Yadao and Lowe, giving the Cougars continuity at the second level.

Keith Richmond — DL, Senior

Richmond is another experienced member of Clay-Chalkville’s defensive front. His return becomes even more valuable with the addition of Williams and the continued development of McIntyre.

The depth and versatility up front could become the identity of the 2026 team.

Josh Ivy — S, Senior

Ivy gives Clay-Chalkville an experienced safety in a secondary that will be tested immediately by Creekside and Thompson.

His leadership will be important as the Cougars prepare to face several of the most explosive offenses on their schedule.

Kaleb Amerson — WR, Junior

Amerson is one of the younger receivers expected to compete for an expanded role following Barber’s graduation.

Clay-Chalkville does not return a proven 1,000-yard receiving option, making the development of Amerson and the rest of the receiver rotation one of the offense’s most important preseason storylines.

Schedule Breakdown

Clay-Chalkville will not have an opportunity to ease into the season. The Cougars open with consecutive road games against the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the T25PS Public Schools Preseason Top 100.

August 21 — at Creekside (Georgia)
August 28 — at Thompson
September 4 — at Springville
September 11 — at Southside-Gadsden
September 18 — vs. Oxford
October 2 — vs. Pell City
October 9 — vs. Pinson Valley
October 16 — at St. Clair County
October 23 — vs. Douglas
October 30 — vs. Central-Phenix City

The opener at No. 1 Creekside is one of, if not the biggest public-school games of the entire 2026 season. Both programs finished 15-0 and won state championships in 2025, creating an immediate national measuring stick for two teams with championship expectations.

One week later, Clay-Chalkville travels to face No. 3 Thompson. The Cougars defeated Thompson 27-24 last season, and the rematch gives them another opportunity to establish themselves as Alabama’s best public-school team. Over the last several years Chalkville has been Thompson's kryptonite beating them the past three years in a row.

The schedule becomes more manageable once region play begins, but the October 30 finale against Central-Phenix City adds another major test before the playoffs. Central competes in Alabama’s largest classification and should challenge Clay-Chalkville’s rebuilt offense.

Biggest Question

Can Clay-Chalkville replace nearly all of its offensive production quickly enough to survive the opening two weeks?

Replacing one 1,000-yard producer would be difficult. The Cougars must replace two 1,000-yard rushers, a 1,000-yard receiver and the Class 6A Back of the Year at quarterback.

The returning offensive line should make the transition easier, and Ray gives the next quarterback an experienced target. However, the quarterback, running back and receiver rotations must all be established against two of the best teams in the country.

Clay-Chalkville’s defense is talented enough to keep both games competitive. The question is whether the offense can produce enough points while several new starters settle into their roles.

T25PS Prediction

Regular Season Prediction: 8-2 and Class 5A, Region 6 champion
Postseason Prediction: Class 5A state-title favorite

An 8-2 record would not represent a major step backward. Clay-Chalkville’s first two opponents are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 nationally among public schools, and both games will be played on the road.

The Cougars are capable of winning either matchup, particularly if the defense performs as expected. Even with an early loss or two, Clay-Chalkville should enter the postseason as one of the clear favorites to win the Class 5A championship.

Bottom Line

Clay-Chalkville is ranked No. 10 because the Cougars combine a championship standard with one of the strongest defensive foundations in public-school football.

The offense will look different without Frye, Woods and Barber, but the Cougars will not be rebuilding from the ground up. Bennett leads an experienced offensive line, Ray returns as a proven pass catcher and the defense features multiple all-state players along with a Power Four commit in Williams.

The opening trips to Creekside and Thompson will reveal how quickly the new offense has developed. If Clay-Chalkville finds reliable answers at quarterback and running back, the Cougars can defend their Alabama championship and remain firmly in the national public-school conversation.

Thanks for reading,

Alex | T25PS

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