New LeFlore head coach Jonathan Mitchell knew he needed help at outside linebacker heading into the 2026 season. He got more than he bargained for when Saraland transfer Kar’Mony Gibbs walked into the school’s front office.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior is expected to make an immediate impact for the Rattlers, primarily as an outside linebacker but also seeing time at wide receiver. Mitchell said Gibbs’ talent on the field has been matched by the leadership and work ethic he has brought to the program since arriving.
“They’re going to see a competitor,” Mitchell said. “That kid competes his butt off. When he first came in, we went through a little evaluation period with him just to see what exactly he can and can’t do. There’s not much he can’t do. But it gave us an opportunity to see also the character of the kid, because everything that we put him at, he attacked like it was the last thing he had to do.”
Mitchell also pointed to Gibbs’ academic standing as a National Honor Society member as another sign of the kind of player and student the program added.
Gibbs spent his first three seasons at Saraland, a program that has reached the Class 6A state championship game in each of the past four seasons and won a title in 2022. He said the chance for more playing time as a senior was a major factor in his decision to transfer to LeFlore, a program that has won just eight games total over the past eight seasons.
“I’m expecting a great season — go above .500, make the playoffs,” Gibbs said. “I know the past few years, there have been a couple of missed playoffs, a couple of 1-2-3 win years, but I feel like the standard is going to change this year. We’ve got a good group of brothers, great coaching staff, great head coach, great quarterback room. I think a lot of people are going to overlook how good we’re going to be this year.”
Gibbs said he has been intentional about sharing the habits and standards he picked up under Saraland head coach Jeff Kelly with his new teammates, from pre-practice stretching routines to the pace and energy expected at practice.
“Since I’ve got there, I’ve been pushing my energy out towards my teammates,” he said. “That’s how we slowly got closer to each other. I’m starting to see differences, like being structured, moving fast, moving at a fast pace, keeping a positive energy. Once our whole team gets that same flow together, we’re going to be a hard team to stop.”
Mitchell, a former defensive coordinator at Williamson and a LeFlore alumnus himself, said he has welcomed the input from a player who has been part of winning programs.
“Kar’Mony came to the team and it was a position of need, first off,” Mitchell said. “So it was a great addition when we got the phone call saying he was standing in the front office. He kind of reiterated, coach, you’re doing a lot of the right things. But he did add one or two things that maybe we should look at doing, and I listen to anybody. If it’s going to help me win or help me be successful, I’ll take advice from anybody.”
Mitchell said changing the mindset of a roster that hasn’t had recent success is his biggest priority heading into the season.
“They hear a lot of outside noise saying that they aren’t good because they haven’t had success in the past,” he said. “I’ve seen what some of the most elite talent in the country looks like — I’ve coached with it, I’ve coached against it. So with that being said, I know that we’re not as far off as what people think.”
For Gibbs, the move is a chance to show what he can do on a consistent basis while helping turn around a program he says is ready for a breakthrough season.
“I feel like I was very overlooked at Saraland, and now I’m finally being able to just come out of my shell and ball out with a good team, a great team,” he said. “We have a great group of talented guys. I feel like we’re going to be able to display that and we’re going to have a good season.”