After three seasons hovering around the .500 mark, the Putnam County War Eagles believe they have the pieces in place to take the next step in 2026.
Entering his fourth season leading the program, head coach Joel Harvin believes this year’s team brings a different level of excitement and commitment, with a young roster that he believes has the potential to compete in a challenging Region 4-2A.
“We’ve got a good group. We’ve got an athletic group,” Harvin said. “We’re just kind of young, and we’re going to have a lot of ninth graders out there playing — not because they have to, but because they’re pretty good.”
Putnam County has been close in recent seasons, but the War Eagles have struggled to turn those opportunities into wins.
This year, Harvin hopes the combination of experienced returning players and a talented freshman class can help the program make a push to compete for a region championship and advance deeper into the playoffs.
A big part of that growth will come from finding the right system for his players.
Harvin said the addition of assistant coach Jodie Sprenkle, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his time at Early County, has helped the staff build a system designed around the strengths of the roster.
“We’re trying to have a system that fits our kids and something that we can kind of build off of from here on out and not have to start from scratch,” Harvin said.
One of the biggest changes for the War Eagles comes at quarterback following the departures of Ethan Whatley and Branan Griffin, who split time under center over the past few seasons.
Junior Caleb Reeves is expected to handle the majority of the snaps after spending last season as a receiver. Reeves has been part of the program since middle school and has already gained valuable experience in Putnam County’s offense.
Harvin said the athletic quarterback has embraced the transition and continued to improve throughout the offseason.
“He knows what’s going on in our system,” Harvin said. “He’s played some JV quarterback. He started at receiver for us last year. “He’s a great receiver and might be our best receiver, but as far as what our team needs at quarterback, he stepped into that role.”
While Reeves will lead the offense, Putnam County plans to rely heavily on its running back depth. Kumari Thomas and Elijah Dunn are expected to carry a large portion of the workload, with Blake Williams, Christian Lane and Rasha Ellison also expected to contribute.
With many players expected to play both ways, Harvin said spreading out the carries will be important to keep players ready throughout the season.
“We just want to try and make sure we keep them as fresh as possible,” he said.
The War Eagles will have to replace the leadership of players like Johnny Bishop up front, but Harvin said he believes the offensive line has several players ready to step into bigger roles.
Jabius Farley returns as the anchor of the group after starting every game last season.
“He’s a two-and-a-half-year starter,” Harvin said. “He started every game last year for us, but he’s kind of grown into that spot of the anchor of the offensive line.”
Junior Jonah Ponce is expected to take over at center after seeing time at guard last season. At the same time, younger players including Gavin Aultman, Zayden Williams, and Jay Nelson will compete for roles.
Harvin said the group is young but has embraced the opportunity.
“They are very well capable, and they’ve bought into it,” he said.
One of Putnam County's biggest strengths could be at tight end, where the War Eagles return several experienced players.
Leading the group is Bryson Brown, a first-team All-Region selection last season. Brandon Jackson and Jayden Bishop will also play key roles after contributing at other positions a year ago.
Harvin believes the group's physicality can provide a major boost to the offense.
“Our tight end room is probably our strongest position on the team,” Harvin said. “Those guys are probably our most physical blockers as well, so we’re trying to get them in a position that can kind of clear the way for us.”
Defensively, Putnam County returns plenty of players who have seen significant snaps under defensive coordinator James Lal.
The War Eagles will have to replace key contributors such as Steven Grandt, Bill Waters, and Jayson Smith, but Harvin believes younger players are prepared to take over those roles.
“We’ve got some guys that are going to be able to step up,” Harvin said. “They’ve played the position before. They’re very well capable. They’re really good football players.”
Putnam County will face a difficult challenge in its new Region 8-2A alignment, which features Jasper County, Social Circle, Laney, Aquinas, Jefferson County, Glenn Hills, and Josey.
Harvin said he expects Jasper County to be one of the teams to beat after returning a strong senior class. At the same time, Social Circle, Laney, and Aquinas all bring playoff- caliber programs to the region.
“It’s going to be a tough, tough region schedule,” Harvin said. “Everybody now has a tough region schedule.”
Despite the challenge ahead, the War Eagles believe they have the talent and mindset needed to compete.
For Harvin, the biggest focus heading into the season comes down to one word: heart.
“Playing with heart, playing for each other, doing whatever it takes to win and putting yourself on the line for your teammates,” Harvin said.
That mentality will be tested early and often, but Putnam County believes this could be the season it finally breaks through.