We tell you everything you need to know about the 2026 Gainesville High School football team in this preview, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Red Elephants this season.
2025 Season Stats
- Overall Record: 12-3
- Points Scored: 609
- Points Allowed: 274
Key Roster Losses
The Gainesville Red Elephants lost one of the best linebackers in the country in Xavier Griffin, who had 96 tackles last season, including 12 tackles for loss. Over his career at Gainesville, Griffin had 193 total tackles with 19 sacks. The five-star defensive standout is now at Alabama.
Fellow linebacker Demari Cheeks has also graduated, and his presence will be missed.
Up front, Gainesville loses key defensive linemen Jamarion Matthews, Kadin Fossung, and Marshall Leonard. The three linemen combined for 23 sacks.
On offense, Gainesville will miss its top two wide receivers from 2025 with the graduation of Cameron James and Philip Williams. James led the team in receiving touchdowns with eight while hauling in 23 receptions for 369 yards. Williams had 45 receptions for 809 yards receiving last year with five touchdowns.
Key Players Returning
Key returners include senior dual-threat quarterback Kharim Hughley, who passed for 2,456 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for 379 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He is just shy of 5,000 yards passing over the past two seasons combined. Hughley has committed to Clemson.
Top running backs Nigel Newkirk and Dwight Lewis Jr. will join Hughley in the backfield once again. Newkirk rushed for just shy of 1,500 yards last season on 184 carries with 19 touchdowns. He also had one receiving touchdown. Newkirk, a four-star recruit, has committed to Alabama following the upcoming season. Lewis is back for his junior year after rushing for 892 yards with eight touchdowns as a sophomore last season.
Defensively, senior linebacker Darryn Williams returns after putting up impressive sophomore and junior season performances with 137 total tackles. He also has seven interceptions over the past two seasons, including six takeaways last year. Three of those were returned for touchdowns.
Jai’lil Goley transferred in to Gainesville from Hebron Christian and is one of the top cornerbacks in the state. He’ll make an immediate impact on the Gainesville defense.
What to Expect From the Gainesville Red Elephants in 2026
The Red Elephants made it to the Class 5A state title game for the second time in the past four years but came up short.
New head coach Santavious Bryant will try to continue the success that Gainesville enjoyed under Josh Niblett, who left for Colorado following the end of last season.
Bryant will have the key pieces, especially on offense, to make another run at it. He’ll also have to go through one of the toughest schedules in the recent history of Red Elephants football, starting with the opener at Buford followed by a trip to play Illinois powerhouse East St. Louis High School.
2026 Season Prediction
8-5 with a trip to the quarterfinals
Game to Watch
Aug. 22 at Buford
Gainesville’s 2026 Football Schedule
- 8/22 at Buford
- 9/04 at East St. Louis (Illinois)
- 9/11 vs. McEachern
- 9/18 vs. Oceanside (South Carolina)
- 9/25 vs. Alpharetta
- 10/02 at Roswell
- 10/09 at Johns Creek
- 10/16 vs. Riverwood
- 10/23 vs. Milton
- 10/30 at Lanier
