Manatee Football 2026 Preview, Players and Schedule | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Teams to Know Season Preview: Manatee (FL)
Nowlin Lawson, Tavares “Tjay” Powell and Nolan Downes lead Manatee into 2026 after the program's 6-7 season.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/20/20265 min read
Manatee's 6-7 record does not tell the whole story: the Hurricanes reached a regional final and now return 17 starters.
The 2026 conversation begins with Nowlin Lawson, Tavares “Tjay” Powell and Nolan Downes, because those are the players who make the outlook specific. There is enough here for Manatee to be one of our 2026 Teams to Know.
Team Snapshot
School: Manatee Hurricanes
Location: Bradenton, Florida
Head Coach: Jacquez Green
2025 Record: 6-7
2025 Finish: FHSAA regional finalist
Returning Starters: Nine offensive starters and eight defensive starters
2026 Outlook
Manatee went 6-7 in 2025 and finished as the FHSAA regional finalist. Jacquez Green leads the program into 2026.
Manatee has nine offensive starters and eight defensive starters in place before preseason work begins. How well Manatee's starters lift the next wave will help determine the ceiling.
Nowlin Lawson is committed to Eastern Michigan, while Tavares Powell remains uncommitted.
Jacquez Green has set a clear goal: win the district and make a deep playoff run. The important part is carrying that standard through Manatee's difficult stretches.
Jacquez Green put the program's approach this way: “Just Work is a mindset built on production over everything else.”
Around the line of scrimmage, Nowlin Lawson, Cooper Kolbe, Cale Rudacille and Davion Bryant give Manatee experience. Tavares “Tjay” Powell, Nolan Downes, Keith Smith and Cooper Kolbe shape the passing game, backfield and secondary.
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The schedule gives Manatee an immediate checkpoint with a road game at Plant on Aug. 21. The middle of the season brings a road game at Sumner on Sept. 25, and the closing stretch includes a road game at Parrish on Oct. 23 and a road game at Southeast on Oct. 30.
Players to Know
Nowlin Lawson, OL, Class of 2027
Lawson is committed to Eastern Michigan and leads an experienced offensive line. Manatee needs Lawson's consistency up front to keep the offense on schedule.
Tavares “Tjay” Powell, WR/DB, Class of 2027
Powell is a Manatee receiver and remains uncommitted with several power five offers. Powell gives Manatee another experienced option on the back end of the defense.
Nolan Downes, QB, Class of 2029
Downes joins the quarterback room as a transfer identified by the staff. The quarterback work puts Downes in position to shape how aggressive Manatee can be on offense.
Keith Smith, ATH, Class of 2027
Smith is one of the returning two-way players highlighted by the staff as well. Smith's versatility gives Manatee several ways to use him.
Cooper Kolbe, OL/EDGE/TE, Class of 2028
Kolbe gives Manatee another two-way piece around the line of scrimmage. Kolbe's work in the line matters to every part of Manatee's offensive plan.
Athian Early, DB
Manatee will lean on Early to make the secondary more dependable in high-leverage downs.
Brennen Gunter, TE
Gunter gives the passing game another target who can make the formation harder to defend.
Bryce Cooper, DB/S, Class of 2028
Cooper gives Manatee another experienced option on the back end of the defense.
Caedon White, RB, Class of 2028
White holds an offer from Toledo. Manatee can use White to add balance and keep the offense out of obvious passing situations.
Cale Rudacille, OL
Manatee needs Rudacille's consistency up front to keep the offense on schedule.
Carl George, K
George's special-teams role can matter in the close games on Manatee's schedule.
Davion Bryant, DL
Bryant's work up front will help decide how much pressure the defense can create without extra rushers.
Deion Halloway, WR
Halloway gives the passing game another target who can make the formation harder to defend.
Deno Dalacas, WR, Class of 2027
Dalacas gives Manatee another upperclass receiver who can expand the passing-game rotation.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 21: at Plant
Aug. 28: Naples
Sept. 4: Specially Fit
Sept. 10: at Lake Brantley
Sept. 18: at Riverview
Sept. 25: at Sumner
Oct. 2: Columbia
Oct. 9: Palmetto
Oct. 23: at Parrish
Oct. 30: at Southeast
Biggest Question
Can Manatee turn its line experience and expanded skill group into a winning regular season before another playoff push?
What stands out to me is that Nowlin Lawson, Tavares “Tjay” Powell and Nolan Downes give Manatee a real starting point. This roster has enough skill, but its ceiling still depends on whether the offensive and defensive fronts hold up against the best teams. We should have a much clearer answer after a game against Specially Fit on Sept. 4.
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I have Manatee finishing 8-2 and returning to the Class 5A playoffs and winning two games. The offense has enough proven rushing production and new passing-game talent to improve, but the early games against Plant and Naples and the district trip to Sumner will show how quickly the additions fit together.
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