The Extra Point: Chasing Greatness

Falcon Nation,

As we continue our journey of Chasing Greatness, I am proud of the growth, resilience, and commitment our program continues to show. This past season marked another step forward for Central-Tuscaloosa Football, as our student-athletes competed with pride and continued building the foundation of our program.

One of the highlights of this winter was celebrating National Signing Day, where we recognized Tyler Smith (Tuskegee University) and Marcus Grayson (Millsaps College) for earning the opportunity to continue their football and academic careers at the next level. Their dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence represent the Falcon standard.

As we look ahead, we are preparing for a new chapter as we transition into Class 5A Region 3 following AHSAA reclassification. While new competition awaits, our mission remains the same — to develop disciplined, competitive, and well-rounded student-athletes.

The off-season is critical for growth, and our focus remains on strength development, skill improvement, leadership, and accountability. We also continue emphasizing our Protect the Brand initiative, reminding our athletes that character and responsibility extend beyond the field.

Central-Tuscaloosa Football is built on tradition, hard work, and the support of our families, sponsors, and community. Thank you for your continued investment in our student-athletes and our program. We encourage everyone to stay connected through ParentSquare for updates and announcements.

The work continues.

With gratitude and Falcon Pride,
Coach DeMario Pippen

On February 4th, the Central High School Football Program proudly celebrated two student-athletes as they signed their National Letters of Intent! We were honored to recognize this milestone moment and cheer them on as they take the next step in their athletic and academic journeys.

Central High School Football is proud to announce that senior Tyler Smith has officially signed with the Illustrious Tuskegee University to continue his football and academic career.

A force in the trenches and a model of consistency, Tyler emerged as a dominant presence on the Falcons’ offensive line. During the 2025–26 season, Tyler earned Most Improved Offensive Player honors after recording 20 pancake blocks in 9 varsity games, creating opportunities for the Falcons’ offense to thrive and protecting his teammates with relentless effort and discipline. His growth was undeniable, building from 7 pancake blocks the previous season and finishing his career with 27 pancake blocks under Coach Pippen.

Even more impressive, Tyler protected the integrity of every drive by never surrendering a fumble during his career — a testament to his reliability, technique, and football IQ. Off the field, Tyler matched his athletic excellence with academic excellence, maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout high school.

Tyler’s leadership, work ethic, and commitment to growth helped strengthen The Nest and set the standard for those who follow. Central High School Football congratulates Tyler on this well-earned opportunity and looks forward to watching him continue to dominate in the Crimson and Old Gold at Tuskegee University.

Central High School Football is proud to announce that senior Marcus Grayson has officially signed with Millsaps College to continue his football and academic career.

A dependable playmaker and relentless competitor, Marcus made his presence felt every time he stepped on the field. As a varsity receiver, he totaled 25 receptions for 342 yards, showcasing his ability to stretch the field, create opportunities, and deliver when his number was called. His breakout performances and steady growth helped provide a spark for the Falcons’ offense, highlighted by an explosive 126-yard performance during his junior season and continued production throughout his senior year.

Marcus also demonstrated his versatility and team-first mentality by contributing defensively and remaining ready to impact the game in any role needed. His work ethic, discipline, and consistency made him a trusted target and respected teammate within the Falcons program.

Off the field, Marcus proved that excellence is not limited to athletics. He maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout high school, reflecting his commitment to academics, responsibility, and long-term success.

Marcus’s dedication, perseverance, and leadership helped strengthen The Nest and set a powerful example for future Falcons. Central High School Football congratulates Marcus on this well-earned opportunity and looks forward to watching him continue to thrive at Millsaps College.

Central-Tuscaloosa Falcons Football is preparing for an exciting new chapter as the program transitions into Class 5A Region 3 following the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s latest statewide reclassification.

The AHSAA conducts reclassification every two years to help maintain competitive balance among schools across Alabama. Classifications are determined using Average Daily Membership (ADM) enrollment numbers, which allow schools of similar size to compete against one another.

For the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years, the AHSAA approved a major restructuring of its classification system designed to create additional championship opportunities and improve competitive equity across high school athletics.

One of the most significant changes includes moving from a seven-classification system to six classifications for public schools and two classifications for private schools. This marks the first time postseason championships will be structured separately for public and private schools, although schools can still compete against each other during the regular season.

The reclassification also removed the enrollment multiplier and competitive balance adjustments previously applied to private schools, meaning schools are now classified strictly based on enrollment numbers. In addition, regional alignments are based on enrollment size, geographic location, and participation declarations in each sport to help create fair competition and manage travel demands for student-athletes.

While the Falcons will face a new lineup of regional opponents, the mission remains unchanged. Central-Tuscaloosa Football continues to build success through discipline, preparation, and a commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field.

Falcon Nation can look forward to another competitive season as the team embraces new challenges while continuing to represent the community with pride and excellence.

The full 2026 football schedule will be released soon.

Central High School Football takes pride in developing student-athletes who represent excellence in competition, academics, and character. As we move through the off-season, we want to remind families that social media behavior remains an important part of representing our program.

Every post, caption, song choice, or tag reflects the values of both the individual athlete and the Falcon Football program. With increased recruiting exposure and scholarship opportunities, it is more important than ever for student-athletes to understand the responsibility that comes with maintaining a positive digital presence.

Falcon Football expectations include:

• No profanity or racial slurs in captions, comments, or music
• Posts should reflect respect, discipline, and pride
• Social media should promote positivity and leadership
• Online content may be viewed by college recruiters, coaches, sponsors, and the broader community

Our program believes that leadership extends beyond the field. The Falcon standard is built through daily decisions, including those made online. We appreciate the continued support of our families in helping student-athletes make choices that reflect integrity and protect future opportunities.

Protect the Brand. Elevate the Standard.

Central-Tuscaloosa Football is more than a program — it is a proven pathway to success. Built on faith, strengthened through discipline, and sustained by relentless work ethic, Falcon Football has produced champions, leaders, and next-level athletes for decades.

The results tell the story. With 26 playoff runs, 13 region titles, 2 state championships, and dozens of All-State and All-Star selections, the Falcons have established a championship culture rooted in preparation and accountability.

The tradition extends beyond high school success. Falcon athletes have continued their careers at the collegiate level and beyond, including five players reaching the NFL, demonstrating the program’s commitment to developing complete student-athletes.

At Central Tuscaloosa, excellence isn’t expected — it is built daily.

🧱 Brick by Brick
🏆 Chasing Greatness
📊 The Falcon Standard

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These outstanding businesses and individuals generously contributed $1,000 or more to support Central High School Falcon Football through our 2025 Sponsor the Nest Campaign.