Predicting Every Team’s 2023 MVP: Region IV-1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With SCHSL football spread over five classifications and 36 regions, the talent pool in South Carolina is as vast as it is diverse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're going to tackle it unlike ever before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are you ready?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION IV-1A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Blackville-Hilda Hawks</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='315319' first='Tamari' last='Daniels'] ATH - Daniels (pictured) proved in April that big things can come in small packages. At 5-foot-6 and a shade under 130 pounds, the electric playmaker showed why he's able to do some of the things is his during games. Frankly, his speed is elite, and since he rarely comes off the field for extended periods of time, he gets opportunities to use it over and over again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Calhoun County Saints</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710430' first='Ahmir' last='Smith']</strong> RB/LB - While teammate [player_tooltip player_id='771220' first='Christian' last='Zachary'] has been a huge draw for college recruiters, Smith is downright insane when it comes to his production. Last year, he rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns at backup tailback while also putting up 63 total tackles, nine pass break-ups and four picks from his spot at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Denmark-Olar Vikings</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tykeem Ross</strong> DE/LB - With the Vikings needing to find a whole bunch of offensive production to replace some 4,200 yards and 51 touchdowns produced by Keithan Washington and <strong>Chris Sanders</strong>, Ross isn't going anywhere just yet. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound edge finished last fall with 72 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18162416/6408e0ae8cd3da09dc8566cc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6480cca5384a9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Trojans</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayshawn Smalls</strong> QB/DE - Jermaine Derricott's return to HKT was a big reason this team went from 0-8 in 2021 to 6-6 a season ago. Smalls was another. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder spends the vast majority of his time in the backfield, either as the Trojans' quarterback or its edge-rushing defensive end. Either way, when he's on, Smalls makes this team dangerous for whomever it is playing against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Ridge Spring-Monetta Trojans</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Deante Hopkins</strong> LB/RB - Hopkins was lights out for RSM throughout his junior season, when he piled up 88 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries on defense and rushed for 913 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense. The Trojans' roster is changing quite a bit from last year, but Hopkins is a ready-made leader on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Wagener-Salley War Eagles</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013042' first='Kentrell' last='Brown']</strong> DB/RB - Wagener-Salley has a whole bunch of carries to divvy out after the graduations of <strong>Cameron Davis</strong> (1,880 yards, 24 TDs) and <strong>Ian Stroman</strong> (839, 11). Enter Brown, who has already been a standout at safety (67 tackles last season) and is about to be one of the team's top running backs. At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he's going to do some significant damage this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Williston-Elko Blue Devils</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlos Drayton</strong> DB/WR - The Devils took their lumps last fall, finishing 1-9 and averaging a hair over 14 points per game. Clearly, they need offense in a hurry, and the 6-foot-2, 155-pound receiver can add in that endeavor. What's more, he's got some skills from the safety position that allow him to cut down on opposing teams' home run balls. Drayton is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->