After a 1-8 season, Turner High School enters the 2026 football season with plenty of experience returning and an opportunity to build on the progress it made late last fall.
The Golden Bears return 16 starters, including eight on offense and eight on defense. That experience begins up front, where four of five offensive linemen return.
Senior center Fares Flores, senior left tackle Durell Thomas, senior left guard Brandon Loveland and junior right guard Brandon Marshall give Turner a sizable and experienced offensive line.
“Our offense runs through our offensive line, especially with the experience we have coming back,” coach Shelby Steffen said. “Our size will allow us to be physical and explosive off the ball.”
Flores has started 18 games at center and left guard, while Thomas has 18 starts at left tackle. Loveland is entering his second year as a starter at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, and Marshall is also a second-year starter at 6-4, 285.
Turner will need to replace four-year starting quarterback Josue Castillo, making the position one of the team’s biggest competitions during the offseason.
“We are looking forward to a tough competition over summer to see who wins the position,” Steffen said.
The Golden Bears will continue to operate out of the flexbone, relying on a run-heavy approach built around fundamentals and physical play.
“We are a heavy fundamental team on offense with our big five run players that we try and perfect against any front,” Steffen said. “Our kids have done a great job of buying into our system.”
Senior running back Carlos Alexander returns after leading Turner in touchdowns last season. Alexander carried 63 times for 320 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior fullback Romo Byrd Jr. also returns after rushing 77 times for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Byrd also led the team in tackles from his safety position as a sophomore, giving Turner a two-way contributor to build around.
The Golden Bears also will look to Travius Richard to step into a larger role. Richard, a junior, started several games at right tackle and made eight starts at defensive end last season.
Defensively, Turner returns eight starters and expects continued improvement from a secondary that began to come together late last season.
The defense will be led by senior Christian Rodriguez, who recorded six sacks and 30 tackles as a junior. Rodriguez plays defensive end and tight end and has been a starter since midway through his freshman season.
“Christian is a leader in the classroom, on the field, and someone we rely on to shut down half the field on defense and block a majority of the plays on offense,” Steffen said.
Rodriguez’s versatility and production have already drawn attention from college programs, and Steffen said he has received several offers heading into his senior season.
Joining Rodriguez along the defensive front will be Loveland, who also plays nose, and Richard. Loveland recorded eight tackles and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown last season, while Richard finished with three sacks and 25 tackles.
Byrd anchors the secondary after recording 75 tackles last season.
Turner will use a 4-2-5 hybrid look with elements of a 3-3 stack under defensive coordinator Coach Sheets, who enters his second consecutive season leading the defense.
The Golden Bears return significant experience in the secondary, including Max Meza, Alexander, Wade Killingsworth, Isai Argijo or MJ Allen, and Byrd.
“We continue to improve on the defensive side of the ball,” Steffen said. “We look to improve with all of our experience coming back.”
That progress was evident during the final stages of last season, including a shutout in Turner’s Homecoming victory.
With a veteran offensive line, experienced defensive unit and several players capable of contributing on both sides of the ball, Turner hopes those late-season signs can carry into 2026.
The Golden Bears still have questions to answer, most notably at quarterback, but Steffen believes the returning experience provides a strong foundation.
“We return 16 starters as we head into next season,” Steffen said.
For a Turner program looking to move forward from last season’s record, that experience could be the starting point for a much different season.
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