Gallatin Football 2026 Preview, Players and Schedule | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Teams to Know Season Preview: Gallatin (TN)
Eight returning defensive starters and a senior quarterback with five starts give Gallatin a clear route to improvement.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/18/20265 min read
Gallatin finished 6-4 in the 2025 regular season and reached the Class 6A playoffs, but a 24-9 opening-round loss at Blackman showed where the next step must come. The Green Wave return eight defensive starters and a quarterback who started the final five games, giving a young roster a workable foundation.
Team Snapshot
Location: Gallatin, Tennessee
Classification: Class 6A, Region 4
Head Coach: Michael Stroup
2025 Regular-Season Record: 6-4
2025 Finish: Third in Region 4-6A; first-round playoff loss at Blackman
Returning Starters: Five on offense, eight on defense
Gallatin's coaches describe this team as young and inexperienced but athletic. That combination makes the returning defensive core especially important. It can keep games manageable while the offense replaces all-time passing leader Jackson Stroup and settles into a new identity.
2026 Outlook
Senior K'Saun Barksdale started the final five games at quarterback last season. He completed 38 of 82 passes for 703 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 308 rushing yards and five scores. His running ability gives Gallatin a way to move the chains, but the passing efficiency must improve for the offense to become dependable.
The defense has a more established floor. Senior linebacker Jason Morton recorded 100 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and four sacks. Senior Preston Mooney added 78 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Together, they accounted for 178 tackles and 28 tackles for loss.
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That experience extends beyond the two leading tacklers. Seniors Ex'Zaevier McMurry and Jo Jo McMurray return in the secondary, Christian Gentry provides junior athleticism at receiver and defensive back, and the line retains seniors Kason Boswell and Jason York. Vic Thomas gives the linebacker group another veteran option, while Austin Ashabranner returns in the kicking game.
Gallatin's schedule begins with three nonregion games before five Region 4 contests. Green Hill, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon and Wilson Central will determine the playoff position, while rivalry games against Hendersonville, Station Camp and Beech add pressure outside the region standings.
Players to Know
K'Saun Barksdale, QB/ATH, Senior
Barksdale enters 2026 with five starts already behind him. He produced nine total touchdowns in that stretch of the season and now must turn his athleticism into more consistent downfield execution.
Jason Morton, RB/LB, Senior
Morton led the defense with 100 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and four sacks. He is the proven centerpiece of a unit returning eight starters.
Preston Mooney, H-back/LB, Senior
Mooney recorded 78 tackles and seven tackles for loss, then contributed seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown on offense. His two-way value makes him one of Gallatin's most reliable seniors.
Ex'Zaevier McMurry, WR/DB, Senior
McMurry is a coach-identified returning starter who gives Gallatin senior experience at both receiver and defensive back.
Kason Boswell, OL/DL, Senior
Boswell is part of the senior line group that must help a young offense become more consistent while protecting a defense expected to lead the team early.
Jo Jo McMurray, WR/CB, Senior
The coaching staff identified McMurray as an under-the-radar player. His two-way role gives Gallatin another experienced option on the perimeter.
Austin Ashabranner, K, Senior
Ashabranner returns in the kicking game, an important advantage for a team likely to play several close region and rivalry games.
Christian Gentry, WR/DB/ATH, Junior
Gentry is the lone junior in the coach's primary returning group. His versatility gives Gallatin a younger playmaker who can contribute on either side of the ball.
Vic Thomas, H-back/LB, Senior
Thomas adds senior depth to the linebacker and H-back rotations. His presence helps Gallatin preserve its defensive experience across a demanding schedule.
Jason York, OL/DL, Senior
York gives the Green Wave another senior two-way lineman. His development will matter as Gallatin rebuilds around only five returning offensive starters.
Coach-Identified Newcomers
The staff listed Kobeyon Cagle, Knox Stroup, Landry Roddy, Richard Malone, Preston Barrows, KT Gatkek, Jamez Hamilton, Ahisamac Ortiz and Colton Robison as newcomers to watch. That group will determine how quickly Gallatin can turn an athletic but inexperienced roster into dependable depth.
Complete 2026 Schedule
August 21: at Hendersonville
August 28: vs. Franklin
September 4: at Centennial
September 11: vs. Cookeville*
September 18: vs. Green Hill*
September 25: vs. Station Camp
October 2: at Mt. Juliet*
October 16: vs. Beech
October 23: at Lebanon*
October 30: at Wilson Central*
*Region game
Biggest Question
Can Gallatin get enough efficient quarterback play to support a veteran defense?
The Green Wave do not need Barksdale to replace every number Jackson Stroup produced. They do need him to protect possessions, punish defenses with his legs and improve a passing line that finished with more interceptions than touchdowns in his five starts.
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I expect Gallatin to improve by one win and return to the playoffs. The Green Wave have verified production at linebacker and a quarterback who already started half of last season. Green Hill, Beech and Lebanon are the biggest tests, but the defensive experience gives Gallatin a chance in each game.
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