CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Academy Cougars are preparing for the 2025-26 football season as head coach Steadman Bell enters his third year leading the football program. Despite a thin roster, CA is looking to put the pieces together and compete game-in and game-out this fall.
“This offseason has been great for us,” Bell told Clarksville Now. “This group of seniors we have, they’ve been thrown to the wolves a little bit, but they’ve come together as a unit and really shown growth. I’m excited about what this group is going to show us throughout the year.”
As far as what you’ll see on the field, Bell is preaching a brand of football that is smart and efficient. The Cougars have been a pass-heavy team in recent years, and they will have another great aerial assault this fall led by quarterback Ethan Bones. However, Bell also wants to be able to rely on his guys in the trenches, as the team looks to have a more balanced approach running the ball as well.
“We want to play smart football on both sides of the line,” said Bell. “We want to execute at a high rate. One thing we’ve drilled into their heads is we want to be able to differ to the run and use our athletes we have in the backfield. Our identity will be running the football.”
The Cougars don’t have many bodies, with a roster of around 25 players. While that presents some issues, Bell views it as an opportunity for some players to shine, and he believes this year is the season that the Cougars will put it all together.
“Depth is always going to be a problem for us, and we recognize that,” said Bell. “However, it does allow some of our young guys to grow up fast. This is their third year under my system, and the expectation is to take all the pieces we have and finally put it together. We have to play every game like it’s our last. I know that’s cliche, but a lot of these kids, it may be their last time playing football, so we need to play every snap like it’s our last and have some fun doing it.”
2025-26 season previews
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