Pioneer Position Previews: Secondary
As the 2026 football season approaches, the Warren County Way will be breaking down the Pioneer roster position-by-position. We’ll take a closer look at the quarterbacks, running backs/B-backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, secondary and special teams before Warren County kicks off the season at DeKalb County.
Secondary
There aren't many familiar faces left in the Pioneer secondary, but Warren County may have already found the player it can build the back end around.
Carter Lee has spent the summer looking more and more like a potential shutdown corner for the Pioneers. The senior flashed throughout 7-on-7 work at Trousdale County, matching up with receivers on the perimeter and showing the athleticism to make plays on the football.
Then the pads came on and Lee immediately delivered.
Spring Hill marched inside the Warren County 10-yard line on its opening possession before Lee stepped in front of a pass at the goal line for an interception, ending the threat and giving the Pioneers the first of two turnovers on the Raiders' opening 10 offensive snaps.
Unfortunately, Lee also reaggravated an ankle injury during the scrimmage, making his health something to watch as the regular season approaches.
Around him, Warren County is developing a secondary that looks considerably different from the veteran-heavy group it featured a year ago.
Isaiah Robledo, John Gillespie and Kristopher Robledo are gone and AJ Whitman has moved from starting safety to starting quarterback, a role that means the Pioneers will have to be selective if they want to use him in the secondary.
That means the Pioneers are replacing most of the group they expected to lean on entering last season.
Marek Sadlon brings valuable experience after a breakout 2025 season and has continued building on that momentum throughout the summer. Eythan Cox and Drake Jefferson have been developing at safety, while newcomer Wesley Romzek has flashed impressive instincts and a knack for finding the football.
There are questions to answer before the season starts.
There is also evidence the answers may already be on the roster.
3-2-1 Breakdown - Three Questions
Can Lee become the Pioneers' lockdown corner?
Every defense would love to have one - A corner capable of matching up with an opponent's best receiver. It changes how a defensive coordinator approaches an entire game. Instead of constantly committing extra help to one side, Warren County can potentially trust Lee to handle difficult assignments and use everybody else elsewhere.
Lee has looked capable of accepting that responsibility. The biggest question right now may be his health. Lee reaggravated an ankle injury against Spring Hill and Warren County will need him healthy once the games begin to count. There was a likelihood Lee would’ve suited up last week had the Pioneers been able to scrimmage Coffee County, so it seems the team’s No. 1 corner is on track to play substantial snaps in Smithville.
Who takes control at safety?
This may be the biggest unknown in the secondary.
Whitman gained valuable “grass time” by starting several games at safety last season, but Warren County now needs him directing the offense. That creates an opportunity for somebody else to take ownership of the back end.
Last year, coach Belew repeatedly emphasized how important communication is in the secondary. Safeties have to recognize formations, help get everybody aligned and make sure the defense doesn't get beaten before the football is ever snapped.
There are athletic options available - Finding the guys Warren County can trust to consistently get everybody lined up will be just as important.
Can the Pioneers create more turnovers?
Warren County didn't produce as many takeaways as Belew wanted during its 7-on-7 work at Trousdale County.
The response against Spring Hill couldn't have been much better.
Lee's interception ended the Raiders' opening possession, then Warren County recovered an errant snap a few plays later. The Pioneers had two takeaways before Spring Hill had completed its first 10 offensive snaps.
That's the kind of complementary football Warren County wants to play.
The offense is being built to sustain drives, control the clock and limit possessions. Every takeaway the defense creates magnifies that strategy.
If the secondary can consistently turn pass breakups into interceptions, Warren County can make opposing offenses feel like they're running out of chances very quickly.
Two Observations
The Pioneers are replacing almost everybody, but not starting over
It's easy to look at the names missing from last year's secondary and assume Warren County is rebuilding the entire group.
The Robledos and Gillespie provided a ton of experience, while Whitman make his initial impact on varsity games in the secondary.
Those are significant losses, but Sadlon isn't starting from scratch. Lee isn't either.
Both gained valuable experience last season and have carried it into the summer. Lee looks ready for a larger role and Sadlon has continued building on what was already a breakout 2025 campaign.
Behind them, Cox and Jefferson have been getting meaningful preseason work and Romzek has already displayed the instincts necessary to potentially earn a role.
Romzek keeps finding the football
There are some things coaches can teach defensive backs. Footwork can improve, technique can be refined and players can study formations and learn route concepts.
The instinct to find the football can be harder to manufacture. That's what has made Romzek interesting during his first summer with the Pioneers.
He's new to the program and still learning, but his ability to put himself around the football has already stood out. That's particularly valuable for a defense placing a major emphasis on creating turnovers.
Warren County doesn't necessarily need Romzek to immediately become an every-down starter.
But if he keeps showing up around the ball, it'll become increasingly difficult to keep him off the field.
One Simmons Says Prediction
The Pioneer secondary will intercept at least eight passes this season.
With what could be a strong and loaded front of the Warren County defense, teams are going to have to try to take their chances against an athletic, but inexperienced at spots, back line. And while Warren County will likely have some moments where it gets beat, there will also be times when athletes like Lee, Sadlon and Romzek win the battles.
