The Shelbyville Rams are heading into the 2026 football season with a mix of returning experience, new faces and a strong belief in the culture they have built.
Head Coach Bill Duckett enters another season with a program that has continued to establish itself through consistency, hard work and a tight-knit coaching staff. With Week 1 approaching, the Rams are focused on improving every day and starting the season with a physical, disciplined style of football.
“We’re excited,” Duckett said. “Anytime you get to this time of the season, it’s just exciting to get new guys out there, new faces, really to see how these guys have progressed through the summer and then the off-season.”
One of the biggest strengths for Shelbyville will be its returning experience.
Jaden Meister returns after rushing for more than 1,200 yards a season ago. The hard-nosed running back will once again be an important piece of the Rams’ offense while also contributing on the defensive side of the ball.
Rylan Murphy is another experienced player expected to make an impact. Murphy has played tight end and receiver in previous seasons and will be counted on as one of the veteran leaders of the team.
Will Stirrett also brings valuable experience to the Rams. Stirrett plays linebacker and center and is looking to build off a season in which he recorded around 100 tackles.
“My goal is just to be better than I was last year,” Stirrett said. “I just want to help my team the most I can on the field to make us have a successful season.”
Stirrett has even bigger personal goals for his senior season, hoping to break the school’s previous tackle record while chasing All-Conference and All-State recognition.
But for Stirrett, the biggest thing surrounding this year’s team isn’t individual statistics. It is the culture.
“I think it’s a family,” Stirrett said. “Every single one of these guys, I would go to war for.”
That sense of unity is something the Rams believe can make a difference throughout the season.
Murphy echoed that message, saying his biggest personal goal is to be a leader, encourage his teammates and enjoy his final season playing alongside his friends.
“I’m not really looking for stats or anything,” Murphy said. “Just have fun one last time with all my friends.”
Shelbyville will also welcome back Owen Beyers, who is transitioning back to football after spending last season away from the sport. Beyers, a standout basketball player, has previous varsity football experience and will compete for the quarterback position.
Duckett said Beyers needed some time to get back into the rhythm of football, particularly when it came to throwing, but has progressed well throughout the summer.
“He’s a hard-nosed basketball kid,” Duckett said. “That competitiveness is definitely showing.”
The Rams are also embracing the challenge of a new football calendar, with the season beginning a week earlier than in previous years.
For Meister, more football is a positive.
“I honestly find it exciting, just so I could play more,” Meister said.
Meister has high expectations for his final season. After Shelbyville has experienced first-round playoff exits in recent years, he wants this team to take the next step.
“Do more than make playoffs,” Meister said. “Move up.”
The Rams are also expecting strong play on both sides of the ball. Meister pointed to Jay Davis as a player who could make a major impact, while Duckett highlighted the return of several experienced players and some newcomers who could provide depth.
Defensively, Shelbyville is looking to be aggressive and physical. Offensively, the Rams believe their offensive line can provide the foundation needed for success.
“We’ve got a great line,” Meister said. “We can depend on them.”
The Rams won’t have to wait long to face their first challenge. Shelbyville opens the season against Hayworth before turning its attention to a difficult schedule that includes Tuscola.
Murphy said Tuscola is one game he is especially looking forward to after the Rams fell to them by a touchdown or less last season.
Stirrett, meanwhile, said the Rams are focused on taking the season one week at a time.
“The only team that’s really in our way is us,” Stirrett said.
That mentality fits the message coming from Duckett, who described the 2026 Rams as hopefully “aggressive” and “hard-nosed,” while emphasizing discipline and fundamentals.
“We want to just go out there and keep improving every year from what we’ve done in the past,” Duckett said.
The Rams also benefit from tremendous continuity within their coaching staff. Duckett said the coaches have been together for years, with several members having been part of the program for much of his 11-year tenure as head coach.
That stability has helped Shelbyville build a culture that extends beyond the football field.
Now, as the 2026 season gets ready to kick off, the Rams are asking their community to once again be part of that culture.
For Murphy, the message is simple: be loud.
“Come watch the Rams roll,” Murphy said.
Stirrett hopes to see the fences packed, the student section going crazy and the community behind the team every Friday night.
For Meister, the request is just as straightforward.
“Come out and cheer for us,” he said. “We love cheers. We love people cheering, and we just want to see them there.”
With experienced leaders, a strong family atmosphere and plenty of confidence, the Shelbyville Rams are ready to see what 2026 has in store.
