It feels like yesterday Choctawhatchee football was hosting a Final 4 matchup at Joe Etheredge Stadium.
Nine months later, we’re back for Friday night lights.
And 2026 has no shortage of storylines after a crazy offseason of head coaches resigning, players transferring and big prospects making commitments. Because we love a good list, let’s break down the five storylines we’re most looking forward to unfolding in and around Fort Walton Beach. Agree or disagree? Vote below in our poll, which runs through noon, Aug. 13.
1. Will Niceville bounce back under new coach and alumnus Adron Robinson?
The redemption narrative is unavoidable for Niceville, which succeeded Grant Thompson with an outsider, then proceeded to go 6-5 and lose to to every rival (Choctaw, Crestview, Lincoln and Mosley). It was a humbling departure from 2024’s Final 4 run, and pouring salt on the wound was the overtime elimination in the region quarterfinals to Ponte Vedra. What’s worse is that Niceville was built to win last year, wasting a pair of breakout underclassman campaigns from Jakobe Gilyard and Deagan McCoy and senior seasons from Robert Oliver, Max Roche, Harper Campbell and Caleb Sartori.
Niceville is once again built to win and rejuvenated under Robinson’s hire, getting back to more competitive practices and the culture that defined Thompson’s successful tenure. The little things ― clean locker rooms, discipline on the practice sidelines and player accountability behind the scenes ― add up. Robinson, unlike Richard Morgan, understands the Niceville standard. But redemption is measured on Friday nights and results against rivals. Circle that Sept. 4 matchup with Mosley. Win there and that’ll be a good sign Niceville is back.
2. Can Choctaw build on 2025 Final 4 run?
Choctaw did everything but win a state title last year. The Big Green running-clocked Niceville at Eagle Stadium, ran the district table and left the Jacksonville area with its first region title in four straight tries. The result was a 12-2 run built on defense and special teams. The result is a new standard at Choctaw.
That standard will be measured by some new faces this season, including youngsters Isaiah Collins and Baker Giles battling it out for QB1 honors. Regardless, Choctaw will find touches for both along with a three-headed backfield of Von Keller, Dante Whidbee and Carter Marracco. The Big Green’s vaunted defense, meanwhile, lost the Alloway brothers, Alant’e Reese and Jabari Weeks, to name a few. But like powerhouses do, Choctaw has reloaded around Oregon State-bound Amar Reese, De’monte Williams, Isaiah Mathews, TJ Franklin and other playmakers.
Suffice it to say, Choctaw is loaded for a repeat Final 4 run.
3. How will South Walton acclimate to 3A as talks of 10-0 circulate?
The opening of the Hawks Nest last season was a resounding success, the Seahawks shrugging off a 2-8 2024 campaign with an 8-4 run to the region semifinals. At home, outside of an expected to defeat to 4A Final 4 powerhouse Choctaw, the Seahawks fed off the home cooking of light shows, turf and bigger crowds on their way to a 7-1 mark.
Come the offseason, South Walton’s evolution included a promotion to 3A and a slew of players making their DI commitments. One of those, UConn-bound JD Brown, returns under center (2,790 yards total with 29 TDs) with a new weapon in receiver in Treiy Crenshaw and more protection with transfer Alex Sansom joining Navy-bound Brennan Downing on the offensive line.. Defensively, Rice-bound Connor Rooney leads the charge under the direction of DC Adam Robertson, who fans are thankful to have after some offseason openings nearby at head coach.
It’s no wonder why talks of 10-0 have permeated the offseason. The Seahawks are built for an historic run.
4. How big of a jump will FWB make in Josh Pulliam’s second year?
It’s common knowledge that the second year of any head coach’s tenure is where the biggest leap occurs. Josh Pulliam, Fort Walton Beach’s sixth coach in 11 years, has benefitted from a year of implementing his system and producing a culture fitting of the Viking name. Players are more disciplined, more bought in, more committed to the weight room than ever. And they know their coach doesn’t have one foot out the door.
“It might be the No. 1 thing,” Pulliam said of providing stability on the coaching staff. “I think we have kids going different places because they haven’t seen that stability here. They want to be coached. They want to be held accountable. They want to see their coaches aren’t going anywhere, good or bad. Where we were at this time last year and now, it’s such a testament to these guys doing everything we ask them to do and the coaching staff here with us. We only added (Joe Brunson), which has been great.
“Our administration is really pushing for football to be what it’s supposed to be, what it was in the ’90s. I do feel like we’ve turned a corner. From the way they’ve been in December until now, they’re striving and pumping in the weight room and pushing each other, holding each other accountable.”
Quarterback Lavin McDaniel has emerged as a leader. The defense is making strides. Fort Walton Beach knows it must be better in crunch time. If so, the wins — and culture — will continue on the uptick.
5. Will Bobby Johns’ impact translate to immediate wins?
So far, so good. In just a five months, Johns has turned weaknesses — weightlifting, offensive line, run game — into strengths on the gridiron and attacked the offseason with minor coaching and positional changes to put Freeport into a winning mindset that delivered in the spring scrimmages.
Will that translate the win-loss column? We’ll see. But in a brutal district featuring rival Walton and defending champ Pensacola Catholic, the Bulldogs will be far more multi-faceted offensively and disciplined defensively. Moral Victories do apply here.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Big dreams, big comebacks top 5 questions for Emerald Coast football
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News | USA TODAY Network
