2026 local high school football previews: Adairsville Tigers

3 hours ago
3 min read

July 31, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Bartow Sports Zone is featuring each of the four local high school football programs with previews of the 2026 teams. Each local head coach responded to a questionnaire.

Adairsville Tigers' head football coach Jon Cudd

Head Coach Jon Cudd

Jon Cudd begins his fifth season as a head coach at Adairsville after serving as an assistant coach. His head coaching record at Adairsville is 28-16, including back-to-back region titles in 2022 and 2023. The Tigers appeared in the state playoffs in 2022-2024, falling in the second round in 2022 and the first round in the next two seasons. Adairsville was 4-6 last season and 3-3 in Region 7-AAA.

The Tigers this summer:

The Tigers’ summer work included 7-on-7s, SAQ, conditioning, field work, and the weight room on Monday through Thursday.

What are your expected numbers for the 2025 season?

We have about 85 players again this season.

Have you added any new coaches for 2025? What are their primary responsibilities?

No changes.

Have the position assignments/coaching roles changed for any staff members retained from last year’s staff?

No changes.

When is your official preseason scrimmage with another school?

We will host Pepperell on August 7 at 7:30 p.m.

As head coach at Adairsville, what accomplishment for the program or development within the program makes you most proud?

Back-to-back region titles is the easy answer, but winning games when the odds are stacked against us, and our weight room program. Those are the two that make me most proud.

Who are the Tigers to watch on offense in 2025?

— Braxton Elrod, QB, senior, returning starter who has gotten better in the running and passing game.

— Zeke Carter, RB, junior, returning starter who has really worked hard with catching the ball out of the backfield and finishing runs.

— Javian Carson, RB, junior, returning starter who has really worked hard at getting stronger and faster in the off-season.

— Evan Hardin, WR, senior, returning starter who has a chance to be a go-to guy.

— Torron Hale, WR, junior, has a ton of speed and toughness with big-play ability.

Who are your defensive players to watch in 2025?

— Jake Barszcz, LB, senior, returning starter with great closing speed and big hit ability.

— Matthew Cook, LB, senior, returning starter with great instincts and ability to get us in the right call.

— Hunter Gilley, DE, senior, returning starter with a high motor and ability to get off blocks and make plays.

— Gatlin Fair, LB, senior, returning starter with a high motor and ability to rush the passer.

— John Bailey, LB/DE, junior, can play all over the field and is a strong, explosive athlete.

Which players are competing to be your specialists? (kickoffs, punting, PAT, FG, kick returners, punt returners)

We have several working to become our kicker right now. Braxton Elrod would be the guy if we had to start today.

What do you see as the strengths of this year’s team?

Unselfishness. Hopefully, this will continue, but right now, we have a lot of guys who just want to help the team win games.

What are the primary challenges for this year’s team?

Depth and youth in the secondary and OL positions.

Briefly, share your thoughts on the non-region portion of your schedule.

We have put together a schedule that will be challenging and competitive. This should get us ready to make a push for the playoffs and beyond.

Based on your knowledge of returning players, etc, which teams are your region’s top contenders for playoff berths?

Calhoun returns many top-end players from last year's team and is always a tough draw. Northwest, Heritage, and Ridgeland all return really good players and will be tough outs. I'm not very familiar with Southeast, but I'm sure they will have some good players as well.

What are your general expectations for 2026, and any other thoughts you would like to share?

I expect this team to compete week in and out and give us a great opportunity to earn a playoff bid and possibly be a host. I expect us to make some noise this year with who we return and the way they have attacked the offseason.

2026 schedule (Home games in CAPS)

Friday, August 7 — PEPPERELL (scrimmage)

Friday, August 14 — open —

Friday, August 21 — at Sonoraville

Friday, August 28 — at Woodland

Friday, September 4 — NORTH MURRAY

Friday, September 11 — at Cedartown

Friday, September 18 — PICKENS

Friday, September 25 — open —

Friday, October 2 — at Northwest Whitfield

Friday, October 9 — at Heritage-Catoosa

Friday, October 16 — open —