Returning Wide Receivers to Watch in the Lowcountry

Photo: Bryce Lybrand N/A

Wes Kerr

April 28, 2022 @ 11:55 AM

It’s easy to sleep on the Lowcountry’s high school football talent, but these young men keep finding a way to step up their game. The 2022 season could be a big one for a few area wide receivers looking to build off big success from a year ago. Let’s take a look at a few wideouts and two-way players who could draw some attention in a few months.   Jaylin Linder, 6’5, 185 pounds, Bluffton, 2023 A tall and athletic receiver who carries big-play potential on every snap, Jaylin Linder is set for an excellent senior year in Hayden Gregory’s first season at Bluffton. The 6’5” wideout can use his frame to win jump balls while having the speed and power to rack up yards after the catch. Linder’s quick feet and cutback moves can allow the Bobcats to stretch the defense and create explosive plays. If Linder can improve his catching abilities, he could be a key weapon this year for a talented Bluffton offense.   Camauri Simmons, 5’11, 165 pounds, Bluffton, 2023 After showing bits and pieces of his dynamic play a year ago, Camauri Simmons could be in line for a major role in Bluffton’s offense during his senior season. A speedster who can produce out of the backfield or in the slot, Simmons possesses elite quickness with the ability to make primary tacklers miss. He dominated in the kick return game in 2021 and has improved his route running and hands to become a versatile playmaker at wide receiver. Expect Simmons to be a key factor for a Bluffton offense that could make big strides in Gregory’s first year at the helm.   Kacy Fields, 5’11, 193 pounds, Beaufort, 2023 Kacy Fields was a key factor in Beaufort High’s run to the SCHSL 4A state championship game in 2021 and should serve as a proven veteran in his senior year. Fields is a strong route-runner who can catch the ball in traffic and produce potent breakaway speed. He is very effective in the screen game and has the vision and quickness to produce chunks of yardage. With a new Eagle quarterback at the helm replacing [player_tooltip player_id="89319" first="Tyler" last="Haley"], expect Fields to be fed the ball consistently with short completions and screens.   McLeod Reichel, 5’8, 165 pounds, Beaufort, 2023 Becoming the team’s most reliable target down the stretch and into the postseason, McLeod Reichel will be an important name to keep an eye on this fall. The quick and agile wideout can routinely find open seams in the defense and makes the most of every catch with an unending motor to pick up extra yards. A clutch performer with superior hands, Reichel will never give up on a play and should be the go-to weapon on third and fourth downs for the Eagles in 2022.   Keith Chisholm, 5”11, 160 pounds, Whale Branch, 2024 Looking to continue a tradition of success with alumni that include Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Dee Delaney and 2022 NFL Draft prospect Nyles Pinckney, junior Keith Chisholm has the talent to become the next rising star out of Whale Branch. A two-way star for the Warriors, Chisholm has the hands and the athleticism to win jump balls over his matchups. He picked up an offer from Appalachian State this past winter and will look to follow up a busy sophomore campaign with four touchdown catches and nine interceptions. Chisholm is a high-energy player who should turn heads this fall and into his senior year.   Wushi Ravenel, 6’0, James Island, 2024 A hybrid player with a vast array of talents at wide receiver and free safety, Wushi Ravenel should be a name to watch at James Island in 2022. The rising junior exhibited his route-running and quickness to cement himself at the forefront of the Trojans’ aerial attack. He’s a reliable playmaker down the field who knows how to free himself from the defense and convert key catches. If he can improve on his ability to fight for extra yards and make defenders miss, Ravenel could have a strong junior year down in Charleston.