This Cleburne Yellow Jackets Sports Minute is brought to you by Wright Tire Company
Second-year Cleburne head football coach A.J. Sheppard is wrapping up his first full offseason with the Yellow Jackets program.
Cleburne did not conduct a formal spring football season this year, as Sheppard elected to give the team an early start to the 2026 campaign instead. The approach allows the Yellow Jackets to gain an extra week of preparation when fall workouts begin Aug. 3. The first day of contact is scheduled for Aug. 8.
Another advantage of the adjusted schedule is the opportunity for Cleburne to participate in two scrimmages instead of one before the regular season.
There is still significant work ahead for the program. Sheppard, a defensive-minded coach, is focused on improving a unit that allowed 42 points per game last season. The Yellow Jackets must also replace quarterback Luke Stewart, who graduated after accounting for 2,100 passing and rushing yards.