Rabun County football

Submitted. Luke Coleman, pictured here, has been hired as Rabun County’s new defensive coordinator after Bill Stewart accepted the head coaching job at Rome High School in January.

Submitted. Luke Coleman, pictured here, has been hired as Rabun County’s new defensive coordinator after Bill Stewart accepted the head coaching job at Rome High School in January.

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Rabun football hires Coleman as new defensive coordinator

Wesley Branch
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Rabun County’s football program has hired Luke Coleman to be its next defensive coordinator and head strength & conditioning coach, Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillespie confirmed to The Clayton Tribune Monday.
Submitted Photo. Jake Boldin stands with his wife Abby. Boldin has been hired as Rabun County’s new tight ends coach, special teams coordinator and director of football operations for the 2026-2027 school year.

Submitted Photo. Jake Boldin stands with his wife Abby. Boldin has been hired as Rabun County’s new tight ends coach, special teams coordinator and director of football operations for the 2026-2027 school year.

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Rabun hires Boldin to lead special teams, tight ends and Wildcat football operations

Wesley Branch
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Rabun County football has hired Jake Boldin to be the program’s next special teams coordinator, tight ends coach and director of football operations, Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillespie confirmed to The Clayton Tribune on Monday.
Video image/Fox5 Atlanta. Rabun County standout and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is greeted at the podium in Rome, Ga., on Feb. 19 by President Donald Trump. Standing with Stockton and Trump is Herschel Walker, Bulldog great and current ambassador to The Bahamas.

Video image/Fox5 Atlanta. Rabun County standout and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is greeted at the podium in Rome, Ga., on Feb. 19 by President Donald Trump. Standing with Stockton and Trump is Herschel Walker, Bulldog great and current ambassador to The Bahamas.

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Stockton takes stage with President Trump at Rome rally

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 26, 2026
President Donald Trump made a trip to Rome, Ga., on Feb. 19 for an event on the state of the economy, where he was joined by Romans and several notable figures in politics and sports including those from Rabun County.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior defensive lineman TJ Hibler sacks Providence Christian Academy quarterback Riley Braiden in Rabun County’s 62-21 win over PCA on Sept. 26, 2026. Hibler announced his commitment to Cumberland University last week.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior defensive lineman TJ Hibler sacks Providence Christian Academy quarterback Riley Braiden in Rabun County’s 62-21 win over PCA on Sept. 26, 2026. Hibler announced his commitment to Cumberland University last week.

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Lineman Hibler commits to Cumberland football

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 26, 2026
The Rabun County football program had its third member of its senior class commit to a collegiate football program last week, as defensive lineman Takeo “TJ” Hibler announced his commitment to Cumberland University on Feb. 19 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Senior Reid Giles and his Wildcat teammates were all smiles after Rabun County’s Nov. 21 playoff shutout of Berrien County to reach the Elite Eight. In the game, Giles had 175 yards rushing, an interception and a blocked field goal. The All-State player now will play collegiately at Erskine College in Due West, S.C.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Senior Reid Giles and his Wildcat teammates were all smiles after Rabun County’s Nov. 21 playoff shutout of Berrien County to reach the Elite Eight. In the game, Giles had 175 yards rushing, an interception and a blocked field goal. The All-State player now will play collegiately at Erskine College in Due West, S.C.

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Rabun football’s Giles commits to Erskine College

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Rabun County football announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Feb. 11 that senior Reid Giles had committed to Erskine College, continuing his football and academic careers at the next level.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County softball senior Presley Burrell signs her letter of intent to Georgia Southern University East Georgia while accompanied by her family on Rabun County’s campus on Feb. 5. Burrell earned All-Region second-team honors in her senior season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County softball senior Presley Burrell signs her letter of intent to Georgia Southern University East Georgia while accompanied by her family on Rabun County’s campus on Feb. 5. Burrell earned All-Region second-team honors in her senior season.

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RCHS Wildcats Truelove and Burrell sign letters of intent on ‘National Signing Day’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 12, 2026
TIGER – Rabun County seniors Ty Truelove and Presley Burrell were celebrated on the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 5, as they signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.

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Stewart selected new head football coach at Rome High

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Rabun County defensive coordinator Bill Stewart was named the next head football coach at Rome High School on Thursday, Jan. 29. Rome City Schools made the official announcement early Thursday morning, following a Board of Education (BOE) meeting.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior quarterback Ty Truelove, an Erskine College commit, signals to his teammates before a play in Rabun County’s 35-0 win over Berrien in the second round of the GHSA state playoffs on Nov. 21, 2025. Truelove led the Wildcats to two state quarterfinal appearances in three years as a starter.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior quarterback Ty Truelove, an Erskine College commit, signals to his teammates before a play in Rabun County’s 35-0 win over Berrien in the second round of the GHSA state playoffs on Nov. 21, 2025. Truelove led the Wildcats to two state quarterfinal appearances in three years as a starter.

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Rabun football’s Truelove announces commitment to Erskine College

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 29, 2026
abun County senior Ty Truelove announced his college intentions on Jan. 24, sharing on social media the RCHS quarterback would be continuing his football career at Erskine College next year.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County defensive coordinator Bill Stewart eyes the camera during Rabun County’s season-opening 42-6 win over White County on Aug. 15, 2025. Stewart was reportedly in consideration for the Rome head coaching job, which was expected to be voted upon on Jan. 20 at a Rome City Schools Board of Education meeting.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County defensive coordinator Bill Stewart eyes the camera during Rabun County’s season-opening 42-6 win over White County on Aug. 15, 2025. Stewart was reportedly in consideration for the Rome head coaching job, which was expected to be voted upon on Jan. 20 at a Rome City Schools Board of Education meeting.

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Rabun County’s Stewart linked to Rome coaching saga

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Rome High School is heading into its second week of its search for a new head football coach, following the retirement of long-time head coach and current athletic director John Reid.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

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Stockton set to return to UGA for his final season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
With both the deadline for NFL Draft decisions – Jan. 14 – and transfer portal decisions – Jan. 16 – having passed, former Rabun County standout Gunner Stockton will be officially returning to the University of Georgia for his final season of college football.