10 Players Who Could Break Out At CNB Kickoff Classic

One of the biggest and most notable jamborees in the state of South Carolina has been partially de-railed in the last three years due to the pandemic and weather.   With all signs pointing to a full-go this year, the CNB Kickoff Classic could return to form. That means each of the 10 participants will have their first shot at showing off a potential star for 2022.    The five-game field will start at 7 p.m. Friday at Coastal Carolina University's Brooks Stadium.   GAME 1: Myrtle Beach-Socastee   The Seahawk coaching staff is really excited about 5-foot-11, 165-pound Waccamaw transfer [player_tooltip player_id='347890' first='Ethan' last='Stokes'], and not just because the last kid who moved into the area from Waccamaw (current Appalachian State QB Ryan Burger) did OK for Myrtle Beach. Stokes is an inside-outside threat who will complement the two experienced receivers already in uniform.   Socastee is ready for junior tailback [player_tooltip player_id='340389' first='Caden' last='O'Keefe'] to take over. The Braves have a quarterback coming back for his third season as a starter and some talented receivers. But in O'Keefe, Socastee has a weight-room junky who can do some serious damage. Coach Ben Hampton will want to see what his new starter can do and simultaneously try to slow down the opposing offense by keeping it off the field.   GAME 2: Waccamaw-Conway   An edge rusher who packs a serious pop, Waccamaw OLB Antonio Robinson is one of those guys who will get buried a bit in a region that also includes Dillon, Aynor and Loris. But he will be a huge part of a Warriors defense that can start making some headway with big-play capability under coach Amondre Johnson.   When Conway lost to Aynor in the abbreviate CNB Kickoff Classic last year, more than a few Tiger fans vented. Coach Carlton Terry will want to make sure that doesn't happen again, and the easiest way to do that is to give Rodney Huggins the ball and let him not only work against a smaller team but also start gaining some confidence for the road ahead.   GAME 3: Loris-Carolina Forest   We've written about [player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff'] (pictured) plenty. During the CNB, we're finally going to get an under-the-lights display of what the sophomore quarterback might be capable of in 2022. Carolina Forest is going to be bigger in the trenches and might muscle him around some. Still, how he responds to pressure could be really telling.   The Panthers, meanwhile, will be looking to counter the Lions' speed by spreading the ball around. Keep an eye on Carolina Forest receiver Owen Hall, a shifty playmaker whom quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='202739' first='Scott' last='Saylor'] already loves and could go from a player who caught seven passes in 2021 to one who does that in a single game at some point this season.   GAME 4: North Myrtle Beach-St. James   Two quarterbacks we wrote about back in June will take center stage in the next-to-last game of the night. North Myrtle Beach's Chance Hall hasn't secured the reins entirely in Little River. However, after appearing in five games in mop-up duty last year as a junior, he's the clubhouse leader to replace three-year starter Cameron Freeman.   Conversely, new starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm'] at St. James has already locked down his job after throwing all of five passes last season. Schwalm is built like a Mack truck (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) and is as likely to dry to dump truck an opposing linebacker as he his to run around him. But he's also got a strong arm and has already proved he's a viable dual-threat quarterback.   GAME 5: Green Sea Floyds-Aynor   Green Sea Floyds will run out probably four or five different running backs on Friday night, looking to see which combinations rotate well and who can replace a ton of lost production from last year's team. Among them will be Dakare Smith, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound wrecker who was probably third on the depth chart entering spring ball. This kid could be something big.   Not so coincidentally, we'll be keeping an eye on the guy who might be keeping a close eye on that position. Aynor linebacker Gavin Kirby (who also plays one of the Blue Jackets' wing positions on offense) has a great chance to out-pace his own 56 tackles and 13 tackles for loss from last year. He was Aynor's top-graded defender in 2021 while playing more snaps on that side of the ball than all but one teammate.

One of the biggest and most notable jamborees in the state of South Carolina has been partially de-railed in the last three years due to the pandemic and weather.