Halstead’s Reece Carmichael has spent the offseason focused on a goal that extends well beyond individual statistics. As the Dragons prepare for the 2026 football season, the senior is eager to see just how far the program can go in the postseason.
“The thing I’m most excited about this upcoming season is seeing how far we can go in the postseason and making some noise around the CKL,” Carmichael said. “I’m excited to see what our team can accomplish together and how much we can achieve if we continue to work hard.”
That team-first mentality has been evident throughout the offseason. Halstead has emphasized strength and conditioning while taking advantage of opportunities to compete against other programs during the summer.
“During the offseason, we’ve been working hard in the weight room to get stronger and faster,” Carmichael said. “We’ve also attended camps at Buhler, Inman and our own install camp. Everyone has been putting in the work, and you can really see how much our team has improved.”
While Carmichael has seen progress across the roster, he has also challenged himself to become a more complete athlete. Improving his speed has been a priority, knowing it can help him make an even bigger impact on both sides of the ball.
“One area I want to improve on this year is my speed,” he said. “During the offseason, I’ve been working on getting faster by staying active and focusing on improving my overall athleticism.”
The Dragons have also placed a premium on taking care of the football, recognizing that limiting turnovers could be the difference in close games throughout the season.
“As a team, one of our biggest goals is to reduce fumbles, so we’ve spent a lot of time emphasizing ball security and protecting the football during drills,” Carmichael said.
Individually, Carmichael has set a lofty benchmark. He hopes to surpass 120 tackles this season, a total that would highlight his production as one of Halstead’s defensive leaders. But his personal aspirations remain secondary to the team’s pursuit of history.
“One of my personal goals this season is to record 120 or more tackles,” Carmichael said. “As a team, our goal is to make the deepest postseason run in school history and accomplish more than any team before us.”
To nominate someone for a story email [email protected]
