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

Ian Guerin June 7, 2023 @ 12:21 PM

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 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-1A   Green Sea Floyds Trojans   Dylan McDowell LB/RB - McDowell (pictured) has had an interesting journey at Green Sea Floyds, going from the offensive line to linebacker. Now, the 5-foot-9, 180-pounder is going to have a more direct role in the Trojans' ground-and-pound offense, too. McDowell has had a strong spring and will be one of the team's featured tailbacks come fall. His primary role will be on the defensive side of the ball, but Green Sea Floyds has shown no issue in featuring a hot hand in the rushing attack, either.   Hannah-Pamplico Raiders   [player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams'] RB - The 5-foot-10, 185-pound back absolutely burst onto the scene last fall by rushing for 2,006 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions. Factoring in his seven receptions that led to another touchdown and another two-point conversion, and Williams was personally responsible for one-third of the points the Raiders scored in 2022. There have been staff changes since, but the defending region player of the year is the cornerstone of this team.   Lake View Wild Gators   [player_tooltip player_id='353184' first='Daniel' last='Ray'] LB/DE - So many of the Gators' impact players from last year's eight-win team are graduating this month, leaving a significant hole to fill. Enter Ray, a transfer from North Carolina who will start on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder can play a more traditional outside linebacker spot or put his hand in the dirt. And he also has no problem mixing it up from the tight end spot, either. We've been holding off on Ray some to see him in pads, but he could definitely fill some roles at Lake View right away.    Lamar Silver Foxes   Travion McPhail RB - With so much happening around incoming starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'], the Silvers Foxes are going to be spreading the wealth around. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='997292' first='Tavis' last='Dolford'] will be in a starring role, as will tackle [player_tooltip player_id='762756' first='Kendall' last='Walton']. But in McPhail, first-year coach Stephen Burris has a ready-made tailback who can take advantage of Lamar's big offensive line and allow the young quarterback to grow.    Latta Vikings   [player_tooltip player_id='1142797' first='LaBron' last='Cobb'] ATH - While you could make a (very strong) argument for [player_tooltip player_id='448981' first='Kartrell' last='Townsend'] or [player_tooltip player_id='996926' first='Jamarion' last='Jones'] here - trust us, we debated it for a while - Cobb's multi-dimensional value to this team can't be ignored. Last year, as a junior, Cobb played offense, defense and special teams and made plays in all three phases of the game. At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Cobb is a match-up nightmare for many of the small schools on Latta's schedule. He's in line to have an even bigger year.

With SCHSL football spread over five classifications and 36 regions, the talent pool in South Carolina is as vast as it is diverse.