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Aldine Eisenhower Eagles 2026 Season Preview

by
Adam Ogburn
July 14

Aldine Eisenhower Eagles

Head Coach: Padriac McGinnis (2nd season; 6-5 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 4-3 in district (Lost to College Park in bi-district)

Returning Lettermen: 30 (9 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

Eisenhower Key Players and Storylines

Eisenhower got over the hump in Padriac McGinnis’ first year, making it back to the playoffs for the first time in three years. McGinnis believes that is just the beginning.

The Eagles are a veteran squad this year with 17 returning starters, starting on the offensive line. All five starters return including “dominant” 6’3”, 280-pound senior Kordae Harris, 6’3”, 275-pound senior Sedrick Steptoe, a two-year starter, and 6’4”, 275-pound senior Jerrell Hinnant, who McGinnis says just “looks like a left tackle.”

All that size up front will pave the way for home-run hitting running back Elijah Dixon. The Eagles also have a huge mismatch waiting to happen in 6’7” tight end Dezmeyon Randle, who also stars for the Eagles’ basketball team.

Heres a couple of my highlights from Last game : had 3tds and rushed for 171 yards #AGTG pic.twitter.com/eDc0seI5wG

— Elijah Dixon (@theelijahdixonn) October 9, 2025

Defensively, the trenches aren’t as certain after the Eagles graduated two first team all-district linemen.

However, the second level is in great shape with linebackers Carl Smith and Izaiah Curry. In the secondary, 6’3” cornerback Daivon Garrett can be relied upon in man-to-man coverage, while safeties Ke’Yun Bennett and Dante Richard, a 6’3” track star, expect to be a dominant duo on the back end.

McGinnis and the Eagles cannot wait for 2026 to get underway. They believe they have a squad capable of competing for Eisenhower’s first district title since 2015.