Pioneer Position Previews: WR/TE
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, offensive line, wide receivers/tight ends, defensive line, linebackers, secondary and special teams before Warren County kicks off the season at DeKalb County.
Carter Lee could be in line for a breakout year for the Pioneers.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
The names have changed, but Warren County doesn't appear ready to stop moving its playmakers all over the field.
A year ago, the Pioneers entered the season with an established trio of Isaiah Robledo, Kristopher Robledo and John Gillespie catching passes from Brady Swallows. All three are gone from this year's offense, leaving junior quarterback AJ Whitman working with a much different cast.
What the new group may lack in proven Friday-night production, it makes up for with options.
Christian Munoz, Marek Sadlon and Carter Lee bring the most experience to the receiver room, while Isaac Smith has quickly established himself as another player Warren County expects to feature. Wesley Romzek continues to develop behind them and should see his opportunities increase as the season progresses.
“The biggest newcomer, but I wouldn't say is a surprise at receiver, is Isaac Smith,” said coach Eric Belew. “He is extremely consistent and you can tell he is a coach's kid. He gives great input and feedback in what is going on, on the field.”
Smith showed during 7-on-7 work at Trousdale County that his consistency can translate into production. He repeatedly became a red-zone target for Whitman and found the end zone multiple times.
Munoz was even busier that day.
Before suffering a hand injury in practice ahead of the Spring Hill scrimmage, Munoz had emerged as one of Whitman's favorite targets. He hauled in double-digit receptions at Trousdale County and gives Belew something every offensive coach loves: a player who doesn't have to stay in one place.
“Munoz is certainly our gadget guy like Isaiah Robledo was last year,” said Belew. “We can move him around all sorts of places.”
Sadlon provides something different. Belew believes the veteran understands the offense as well as anybody and “always seems to be in the right spot,” while Lee brings athleticism to the perimeter and has continued developing the fundamentals necessary to contribute on both sides of the football.
The Pioneers also aren't lacking experience at tight end.
Camron Holder and Braxton Jordan are both veteran options who can essentially become extra offensive linemen when Warren County wants to pound the football. The catch is defenses can't completely forget they're eligible receivers.
“They both have their own style of play and block their tails off,” said Belew. “They both have the ability to catch the ball so their opportunities can pay off really well through the air when you have to respect their blocking ability.”
For a Warren County offense determined to make the same concepts look different from snap to snap, that's another pair of pieces Belew can move around the board.
3-2-1 Breakdown - Three Questions
Who becomes Whitman's go-to target?
Last summer, that question wasn't particularly difficult.
Warren County knew the Robledo brothers would command a large portion of the targets. This year, the answer may change from week to week.
Munoz certainly looked capable of becoming Whitman's security blanket during 7-on-7 work, piling up catches on quick-game concepts before the hand injury halted his preseason.
Sadlon's understanding of the offense makes him somebody Whitman can trust to be where he's supposed to be, while Lee can provide the explosive plays.
Smith is another option who has already displayed consistency and a knack for producing near the goal line.
How creative can the Pioneers get with Munoz?
The Isaiah Robledo comparison say plenty about what Belew has in mind.
Robledo wasn't simply a receiver last year - Warren County looked for different ways to manufacture touches for him, moving him around formations and forcing defenses to locate him before the snap.
Munoz could inherit that role, though he may not be ready to go by opening night. The moment he’s able to run with the offense, he’ll start getting the ball regularly.
His work at Trousdale County showed he can handle volume in the passing game, but the more intriguing possibilities may come when Warren County starts disguising where he's going to be.
Can the tight ends make defenses pay for selling out against the run?
Holder and Jordan don't have to catch six passes every Friday to make an impact - Their blocking alone should earn them plenty of snaps. Warren County wants to establish a physical rushing attack behind an experienced offensive line, and having two veteran tight ends who can create movement only adds to the number of heavy formations Belew can employ.
Eventually, though, somebody is going to forget about them. And that's when they become dangerous.
Xavier Simmons started catching more passes by the second half of the season last year and it’s likely Jordan or Holder are going to be in line for targets eventually when defenses forget they are more than just blockers.
Two Observations
Smith isn't playing like a newcomer at the spot
There are newcomers who need months to understand an offense and others who seem to immediately fit. Smith appears to be in the second category, likely aided by his time with the team at other positions last year.
The physical production has already been there. He repeatedly made himself available in the red zone at Trousdale County and showed he can finish plays.
What stands out even more to Belew is everything happening between snaps.
Smith understands what he's seeing, communicates with coaches and provides feedback about what's happening on the field and has earned praise for the consistency he brings to the position.
Warren County may replace production with versatility
When three top receivers, including the school’s all-time leader in single-season receptions, leave an offense, it creates a void. Trying to replace Isaiah Robledo with one person may be the wrong approach. Recreating him in the aggregate - Money Ball style - may be the go-to method.
Munoz can be the movable piece, Sadlon can provide dependability, Lee can stretch defenses with his athleticism and Smith has already become a consistent option. Add in Romzek and now Warren County can make defenses nervous by having to have eyes everywhere instead of on one very dangerous playmaker.
One Simmons Says Prediction
Warren County had established stars catching the football last year, while this group enters 2026 with much more to prove. That said, the depth has been a highlight in the preseason, so much so that I think at least six different Pioneers will catch a touchdown pass this season.
This may be cheating a bit because I do think the backs - particularly Aguilar - could get some big catches too, but I wouldn’t be shocked if every receiver in the rotation scores once and a tight end - if not both - get to paydirt too.
AJ Whitman may vulture a few touchdowns near the goal line on his own with his running ability, but if everybody gets too caught up on the Warren County running game - like Spring Hill did in the preseason - the junior QB can find guys sneaking downfield for easy scores.
EDITOR’S NOTE: That wraps up the previews of the offense. I’ll start back again Monday with the three levels of the defense, then wrap up next Thursday with special teams.
