Albany, Ga. — With a championship standard to uphold and another promising season on the horizon, Albany State University Football will officially begin the 2026 campaign at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football Media Day on July 21-22 in Macon, Georgia.
 
Newly appointed Head Coach David Bowser will represent the Golden Rams alongside senior student-athletes Derrick Drayton, De'Avary Weeks, and Cameron Watts during the league's annual preseason event, which brings together coaches, student-athletes, and media representatives from across the conference to preview the upcoming football season.
 
The two-day event begins Tuesday, July 21, with the SIAC/Georgia Power Community Service Project at Georgia Power Headquarters before shifting to the Tubman African American Museum on Wednesday, July 22, for the conference's official Football Media Day activities.
 
Leading Albany State's player representatives is Drayton, one of the nation's premier defensive linemen. The senior earned Second Team All-America honors following a dominant 2025 campaign and was recently named to the prestigious D2Football.com Elite 100 list entering the new season. Drayton led the Golden Rams in tackles for loss while also pacing the defense in fumble recoveries, becoming a cornerstone of one of Division II's top defensive units.
 
Joining him is defensive lineman De'Avary Weeks, whose relentless playmaking ability helped anchor the Golden Rams' defense throughout the championship season. Weeks finished among the team's leaders in fumble recoveries while consistently making key plays that shifted momentum in Albany State's favor.
 
Rounding out the student-athlete delegation is Cameron Watts, one of the SIAC's most dynamic special teams performers. Watts led the Golden Rams in both kickoff and punt returns during the 2025 season, providing explosive field position and serving as a valuable weapon in the return game.
 
The annual SIAC Football Media Day serves as the official kickoff to the conference football season, providing coaches and student-athletes an opportunity to discuss expectations, preview the year ahead, and engage with regional and national media.
 
2026 Season Preview: New Era Begins as David Bowser Leads Albany State Football into 2026
 
A new chapter begins for Albany State Football in 2026, but the expectations remain the same. The Golden Rams enter the 2026 season looking to build on one of the most successful years in program history after capturing the 2025 SIAC Football Championship, earning HBCU Division II National Champion honors and advancing to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals.
 
Fresh off one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Golden Rams enter the fall under the leadership of newly appointed head coach David Bowser, who inherits a championship-caliber program with a proven foundation, experienced leadership and a roster built to compete for another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.
 
Bowser takes the reins following a historic 2025 campaign that saw Albany State capture the SIAC Football Championship, earn HBCU Division II National Champion honors and advance to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. Now, with the page turned to a new season, the focus shifts from celebrating past accomplishments to building the next championship team.
 
A Blend of Experience and New Leadership
 
While Bowser assumes the role of head coach, he will be surrounded by a coaching staff that blends continuity with fresh perspectives.
 
Returning to the sidelines are veteran running backs coach and alumni liaison Anthony Kelly, whose leadership and connection to the program continue to strengthen Albany State's championship culture, along with wide receivers coach Ryan Petrasek, who returns after helping develop one of the conference's most productive receiving corps.
 
Joining Bowser is an accomplished group of veteran coaches who bring decades of collegiate coaching experience to the Golden Rams.
 
Chris Holmes has been named Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator and will play an integral role in all facets of the program while helping mentor players and coaches alike.
 
The defense welcomes Marcus Hilliard as Defensive Coordinator, where his aggressive style and defensive expertise are expected to continue the tradition of dominant Golden Rams defenses.
 
On the offensive side, Graham Hobbs assumes the role of Offensive Coordinator and will oversee an offense looking to build upon last season's balanced attack.
 
The defensive front will be led by Markus McElveen, whose reputation for developing physical and fundamentally sound defensive linemen brings another layer of experience to the coaching staff.
 
Former Golden Ram Terrence Harris returns as Defensive Backs Coach, bringing both playing experience and a deep understanding of the championship tradition that defines Albany State Football.
 
Rounding out the staff is Chris Schultz, who takes over as Special Teams Coordinator after building a reputation for developing elite special teams units at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.
 
Together, the coaching staff brings a wealth of experience while maintaining the culture, discipline, and accountability that have become hallmarks of the Golden Rams program.
 
Veteran Leadership Returns
 
Albany State enters the 2026 season with a strong core of experienced players ready to lead the next chapter.
 
The Golden Rams return 42 letterwinners, including 25 returning starters, providing leadership and valuable game experience on both sides of the football.
 
Defensively, the Golden Rams return one of the nation's top defensive linemen in Derrick Drayton, a Second Team All-American and D2Football.com Elite 100 selection whose disruptive play helped anchor one of Division II's top defenses a season ago.
 
The return of experienced contributors throughout the roster gives Albany State a veteran nucleus capable of guiding a talented group of newcomers through the challenges of another championship pursuit.
 
New Faces, Fresh Competition
 
Competition will be a defining theme throughout preseason camp.
 
The Golden Rams welcome 29 transfers and an impressive 55-member freshman class, bringing new talent and added depth across every position group.
 
Although the leadership has changed, Albany State's goals have not.
 
The Golden Rams enter 2026 determined to remain among the SIAC's elite while once again competing on the national stage. The combination of experienced leadership, a talented roster, and an accomplished coaching staff has positioned Albany State for another exciting season.
 
As preseason camp approaches and another fall of Golden Rams football draws near, one thing remains certain: the standard has been set, the expectations remain high, and Albany State is ready to embrace the next chapter.
 
The 2026 season promises new faces, new leadership and new opportunities—but the pursuit of excellence continues.
 
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).