Pickens County leans on seniors as Tornadoes rebuild ahead of 2026 season

Pickens County is leaning on its senior class as it continues to rebuild the football program, coach Michael Williams said. Williams has coached the Tornadoes for eight years and noted the team went 2-7 last season, he said.

Williams said the seniors have seen the program’s highs and lows and have provided stability. “They understand they’ve seen the great, they’ve seen the bad, they’ve seen it all,” Williams said. “They have given me the life that you need to get back sometimes.”

Seniors must now act as the foundation for a young roster, players said. “The foundation means starting from the start… You got to have a whole team with you. You got to have a coach with you. You got to have everybody on the same page,” Enoch said. Stewart added that he must “be a perfect leader” for younger players.

Underclassmen will be asked to play major roles on and off the field, the players said. “We need to start trying to do everything right the first time… so we don’t mess up and we can keep it on the road and keep going,” Petty said.

Williams said rebuilding is a gradual process. “Sometimes you’re gonna have ups, and sometimes you’re going to have downs, but as long as you keep a solid foundation the good will come back,” he said. The Tornadoes open the 2026 season at Aliceville on Aug. 21, the program announced.

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