Predicting Every Team’s 2023 MVP: Region VI-4A
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With SCHSL football spread over five classifications and 36 regions, the talent pool in South Carolina is as vast as it is diverse. We’re going to tackle it unlike ever before. The Prep Red Zone South Carolina team is going…
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Continue ReadingWith SCHSL football spread over five classifications and 36 regions, the talent pool in South Carolina is as vast as it is diverse.
We’re going to tackle it unlike ever before.
The Prep Red Zone South Carolina team is going to predict every team’s MVP for the 2023 football season. Over the next several weeks, you’re going to be able to read about which player is leading the way for his team. We’ll even give you a whole bunch of highlight films to back up our predictions.
Are you ready?
REGION VI-4A
Hartsville Red Foxes
Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC RB – When everyone noticed that the Red Foxes averaged 43.5 points per game last season, they immediately thought of J’Shawn Anderson J’Shawn Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2023 State SC and McDaniel. And they were right. We’re not going to overthink this. McDaniel is entering his senior season with more than 3,000 career rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns. He’s among a small group of backs capable of leading the state in rushing this fall.
Myrtle Beach Seahawks
Malachi Washington Malachi Washington 6'2" | 185 lbs | DL SC RB – The stars appear to be lining up nicely for Washington, the 5-foot-9, 160-pound back. Last year, Washington picked up a lot of the slack left by a revolving door quarterback situation, and he popped off for 1,361 yards and 17 touchdowns. What’s more, he only had two fumbles in 227 carries. Now, Washington has a new running back coach in Carlton Terry (the former Conway head coach) and an offense designed to flow around the ball carrier more.
North Myrtle Beach Chiefs
DJ Gause DJ Gause 6'1" | 220 lbs | DL North Myrtle Beach | 2025 State SC DL – The Chiefs’ learning curve proved to be much more steep than they envisioned heading into last year. But it’s clear the pieces are there for another leap forward. It will start on defense, and we believe it will start with Gause. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound edge will move into an even more disruptive role after finishing last fall with 22 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and a tackle for loss.
South Florence Bruins
Dirrick Goodman Dirrick Goodman 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB South Florence | 2024 State SC LB – Last year, Goodman was more of a strong safety, playing backstop behind a crop of super-talented linebackers. This year, he’s moving up to fill one of those graduation voids, and believe us when we tell you he’s bringing his bag of tricks with him. Last year, he had six interceptions, seven tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two defensive scores.
West Florence Knights
Franklin Emerson Franklin Emerson 6'0" | 220 lbs | ATH West Florence | 2024 State SC LB – After a successful surgery and a slight slim down this offseason, Emerson is ready to cap off his career with his best season yet. If that happens, the rest of the region (and a few playoff teams) better ready themselves, because Emerson had 103 total tackles last year despite missing the last game of the year in the Lower State finals. West Florence is loaded on defense, but Emerson’s role in that group is clearly defined.
Wilson Tigers
Jyron Waiters Jyron Waiters 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Wilson | 2024 State SC WR – Wilson lost some key pieces from last year’s team that started hot out of the gate before running into the buzz saw that was the bulk of the highly talented region. And while everyone and their mother knows Waiters (pictured) is the focal point of the Tigers’ offense, we have three years of his trajectory as proof of what he could be capable of as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Where Wilson goes in 2023, Waiters will lead them.