ORANGE BEACH — Wade Waldrop looks up as he hears the question and thinks about what could have been for his Orange Beach Makos football team in 2025.

"We were 4-6," he said.

He pointed out two close losses to Robertsdale and Mobile Christian that could have reversed that number.

His team returns this year highly anticipating moving up to another level, one the Makos were a breath away from in both of the preceding seasons.

"We were a couple of plays away from flipping that thing around and being on the other side and being in the playoffs," Waldrop said. "Really two years in a row we've been a play or two away from being in the playoffs. It's really time to take another step."

The return of two integral players — lefty sophomore quarterback Tucker Wade and junior tight end/defensive end Lee Steele — will play a big part in the Makos' quest to be a playoff team in the 2026 season. Both are already drawing attention from college recruiters, the 6-foot-6 Steele in football and basketball. Both have already received scholarship offers even though Wade won't graduate until 2029 and Steele in 2028.

"Those are two players were are looking for leadership from," Waldrop said.

But if the Makos are to reach that playoff goal, Waldrop said, it's the core group of returning players on both offense and defense that will return about six starters on each side of the ball who'll play a major role.

Two senior linebackers, Turner Tillman and Luke Reed, are two of those Waldrop will be looking for to lead on defense. At cornerback, Michael Ashley, is back for his junior season after starting at cornerback for the past two seasons. Waldrop says he's gotten better every year and expects his experience as a two-year starter to be a factor in his play this fall.

"He's had a really tough time for two years trying to, you know, play big boy varsity football probably when he's not ready," Waldrop said. "And now, you know, the body has caught up, and the mind's caught up, and the experience has caught up. And it's just been great to see him. He's had an awesome summer. And just excited to see him play in the fall."

Sam Creel, a senior safety transfer from Elberta who has several college offers to consider, will play an important role, as will Devin Gause at defensive back.

On the offensive line, he'll be looking to three-year starter Dylan Adams and fellow senior Collin Presley.

"I think they really set the tone for us in the weight room, you know, from January until spring," Waldrop said.

For receivers, besides Steele, Wade will be looking for Miller Day, who battled injuries much of last season but seems to be ready for a healthy start to the new year. He'll get help from seniors Anthony Hawkins and Verchaun Simms, who also sees time at defensive backs for the Makos.

"Going from being a freshman your first year, varsity experience, to coming into your second year, he's being asked to do a little bit more than he was a year ago," Waldrop said of Wade. "He's handled it well so far, he's gotten stronger and matured a bit."

A part of that maturity has been a growth spurt that has Wade growing from 5"-10' as a freshman to pushing 6 feet to start 2026.

Steele has already received offers from five SEC schools including Alabama and Auburn and is considered a three-star prospect for football. Both have also shown interest in Steele's basketball skills as well.

Waldrop will have two new coordinators for 2026 with John Holladay moving from wide receivers coach to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, and veteran coach Eddie Garfinklel, a former college head coach, will take over on the defensive side.

Orange Beach has more than 60 players on the freshmen-senior roster and will compete in Class 4A under the state's new reclassified six public school divisions. Competing in Region 1 of Class 4A will be B.C. Rain, LeFlore, Vigor, Williamson, Citronelle and Satsuma from Mobile County and Orange Beach. Region 1 is the only Class 4A region with seven teams, and Region 8 in north Alabama has nine. Half of the schools in each region will qualify for the playoffs. Orange Beach is 59th in school enrollment among the 67 (not all field football teams) schools in Class 4A.