CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville Academy football is in an incredibly difficult situation. With fewer than 20 players on the roster, simply fielding a team has taken precedence over most preparation this offseason.

The Cougars have 18 players on the roster, but just 14 attended the Monday, Aug. 10,practice. First-year head coach Rob Rininger takes on the challenge of turning this group into a football team. With barely enough players to field a team and a majority of the roster consisting of underclassmen, it’s clear Rininger has his work cut out for him.

“We’ve had to focus a lot on conditioning, as you can imagine, because these guys are not going to be coming off the field,” Rininger told Clarksville Now. “At the end of the day, we can put 11 on the field, same as the other team. So we need to make that 11 be the most rugged, tough and football-savvy players that we can create.”

Keeping 11 players healthy will be the most crucial part of Clarksville Academy’s season. The Cougars will run an old-fashioned T-formation with hopes of controlling the clock and leaning on their rushing attack. It’s a hard-nosed style of football that will require plenty of physicality, something that could become difficult to sustain with such a small roster.

Setting the board with limited pieces

Senior Joshua Reed looks to lead the offense at running back, while sophomores Trig Williams and Cameran Watson will be forced to step up in the backfield. Reed is an explosive threat when given the ball and is likely to account for a significant portion of the Cougars’ offensive production.

“He’s kept the young guys up. He’s kind of kept our eye on the prize, setting attainable goals, and he’s really bought into this idea of laying a foundation for future championships,” Rininger said. “He knows he himself is never going to really be a part of (those championships), but he has an opportunity to set the stage for what that’s going to be.”

Jayden White is one of three seniors and will be the Cougars’ starting quarterback this year. Although he won’t be asked to throw the ball often, his experience is a positive for an inexperienced Clarksville Academy team.

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As expected, most of the Cougars’ 18 players will be playing both sides of the ball this year. Watson should produce at linebacker, while Micah Thompson and CG Penny are also names to watch on the defensive side.

Clarksville Academy doesn’t have much in the way of depth, but it does have heart.

“We lost a lot of kids to the open transfer last year, and we were down to the bare nuts and bolts here. But we got some quality kids that are working their butts off all summer, and we’re going to try to put something together to start a foundation for something,” Rininger said.

Clarksville Now Player to Watch: Joshua Reed

Clarksville Academy will rely on Reed this year unlike anything seen throughout the county. Pound-for-pound, he is the Cougars’ strongest player while also being their most explosive playmaker at 150 pounds. With the number of carries he is likely to receive, the biggest question may be how well the senior can hold up over the course of a 10-game season.

“We’re just trying to make a name for ourselves, you know? Get at least three wins, make it better than last year. Just improve as a whole team and family,” Reed said. “We have a new team, basically, so I just want to see all of us improve as individuals, but also as a team.”

Unfortunately for Reed, his senior year comes at a time when his school is in a rebuild of great proportions. Fortunately for the Cougars, Reed has a good head on his shoulders and provides a veteran presence for the young group.

Clarksville Academy indoor football practice on August 10, 2026. (Patrick Smith)

Clarksville Now record prediction: Clarksville Academy 1-9

This is the smallest number of players Clarksville Academy has had since at least the 1970s, when the school opened. A 1-9 record prediction seems harsh, but in reality, even one win would bring an immense amount of optimism to this group.

Eighteen players can be enough to field a team, but it leaves virtually no margin for error. If just a few players get banged up, the Cougars could be put in a situation where they struggle to maintain a full lineup.

That’s the unfortunate reality of Clarksville Academy football in 2026.

Losing shouldn’t be the primary concern for the team or the program right now. Winning may not be realistic until the numbers come back up. For now, the Cougars are trying to establish a foundation, develop their young players and give the seniors a chance to leave something behind.

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