Region VI-4A: 10 Names to Know

Ian Guerin October 15, 2020 @ 10:03 AM

The toughest region in all of South Carolina’s second-largest football classification has proved itself time and again when it counts. Region VI-4A had three of the final eight teams in the state playoffs in 2017 and 2018, two of the final four teams in each of the past three seasons and the state champion and runner up (Myrtle Beach) in 2018 and 2019. Now, it shows every sign of being well represented deep in the postseason again. The division expanded in 2020, adding West Florence and South Florence to a conglomerate that already included Myrtle Beach, Hartsville, Wilson, North Myrtle Beach and Darlington. All of those squads have college-ready talent. Myrtle Beach receivers J.J. Jones and [player_tooltip player_id="59464" first="Adam" last="Randall"], Hartsville quarterback and South Carolina baseball commitment J.P. Pendergrass and West Florence defensive back and Virginia Tech verbal Nyke Johnson lead the charge. But the list doesn’t stop there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> Here are 10 under-the-radar players the recruiters around the Southeast should know. 1. Tyrone Miles, DT, Myrtle Beach - At 5-foot-9, Miles is shorter than a lot of high school point guards. But his effective on-field numbers don’t lie. The senior is a TFL machine. He is a beneficiary of being a part of a defense that is often playing with a cushion, sure. But his low center of gravity is a problem for opposing linemen. 2. Zayshaun Rice, QB, Wilson - The Tigers’s senior signal-caller is the most dynamic dual-threat quarterback in the entire region. And to put him on that pedestal is really saying something. He basically averages 100 yards passing and rushing each game. His numbers will be down somewhat from 2019 (2,395 passing, 814 rushing) but he’s a steady game changer. 3. Nyliek Livingston, RB, North Myrtle Beach - All the relatively small 150-pound senior tailback had done in three games is put up three 100-yard games and not lose yardage on any of his first 50 carries. He projects as a small-school scat back or defensive back, and a history of winning will help his prospects. 4. Jose Rivera, OL, Darlington - Rivera plays on a team that struggles to compete in many of its games, but that won’t stop the 6-foot-2, 320-pound senior from getting some quality looks. His pass blocking is well-versed - something that no doubt has something to do with frequently playing from behind. But he’s sound in the running game, too. 5. Kenderson Cardaci, LB, Myrtle Beach - The next tackle monster on the Myrtle Beach defense (there’s always one in this mixed scheme) blew up West Florence in a Week 3 win by scoring two defensive touchdowns in under a minute. But don’t pigeonhole him into one quick blast. He’s all over the field and film each week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> 6. Sullivan Hardin, K/P, Myrtle Beach - We spoke highly of Hardin’s abilities as a kicker and punter very early in our launch, and for good reason. Even as a kickoff specialist, he’d hold significant value to any college team looking to prevent big returns. He’s also a high-end leg in the field-goal game and a more than serviceable punter. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="59341" first="Chase" last="Simmons"], DL, North Myrtle Beach - One college recruiter referred to Simmons as an absolute raw talent. And he meant it as a compliment. Simmons blew up in the offseason leading up to his senior season, putting on quality weight. It’s leading him to be recruited as both a pass-rushing end and a run-stuffing tackle. 8. George Floyd, QB, West Florence - The two-sport lefty is tough - he starting playing the game again two weeks after breaking his jaw this summer. And his smooth style and precision in the mid-range game is going to have more than a few small schools thinking they can convince him to stick with football either in place of or with his baseball offers. 9. [player_tooltip player_id="59360" first="Zane" last="Smith"], P/K, North Myrtle Beach - A camp circuit ranked him as the top punter in the country as a sophomore, and he has held steadfast with his skills ever since. The fact that high school punter numbers for a defense-first team have cost him some even gaudier stats won’t prevent him from punting for a Division-I team next fall. 10. [player_tooltip player_id="59494" first="Ryan" last="Burger"], QB, Myrtle Beach - When Burger transferred a few miles up the coast from Waccamaw two years ago, he couldn’t have dreamed he’d have this type of opportunity. The 6-foot-3 junior is making the throws he needs to make to ensure the Seahawks’s two star-studded receivers and a couple others all get their touches.