Week 5 Midlands Players To Watch
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We are at the halfway point of the season and this group of 15 players have a huge opportunity to determine how the second half of the season unfolds. Here are some standouts to watch for this week. Evan Artemus…
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Continue ReadingWe are at the halfway point of the season and this group of 15 players have a huge opportunity to determine how the second half of the season unfolds. Here are some standouts to watch for this week.
Evan Artemus Evan Artemus 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB W.J. Keenan | 2024 State SC RB, Keenan – The Raiders senior already has a 300-yard rushing performance this season. He’s the main clog to the Keenan attack. They already have a region loss and will look to get on track against Newberry.
Keivonte Bates RB, CA Johnson – Caleb Pearson Caleb Pearson 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH CA Johnson | 2024 State SC has been the pivotal offensive performer with over 1,00 yards rushing but Bates could be key with region play starting soon. The junior has 471 yards rushing and has added 35 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
Kendall Byrd Kendall Byrd 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2026 State SC WR, AC Flora – It would be an understatement to say Byrd and fellow sophomore Roper Wentzky Roper Wentzky 5'11" | 155 lbs | QB AC Flora | 2026 State SC have a great connection. In the three starts made by Wentzky, Bryd has 15 receptions for 362 yards and seven touchdowns. The Falcons have some injuries so they will need those two to continue the hot streak.
Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC WR, River Bluff – The Gators have one more tune-up before region play begins so that give Collier and QB Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC one more chance to improve. Collier, a junior, has 19 catches for 367 yards and five TDs. That’s almost half of the 783 passing yards from Murray.
Thompson Dubose ATH, Heathwood Hall – Dubose was one of the top receivers in the area but has been pressed into service at quarterback after the early season injury to Patrick Belk Patrick Belk 5'11" | 200 lbs | QB Heathwood Hall | 2026 State SC . He’s run for 267 yards and thrown for 395 yards. Dubose is playing out of position, but he will be key to see if the Highlanders can improve in the second half of the season.
Maddox Floyd WR, Chapin – Chapin quarterback Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC has been more than spectacular with 1240 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. His top target has been Floyd, who has 34 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Jacob Nerone and Khalen Bostick are also big parts of the passing game.
Jayvon Gilmore Jayvon Gilmore 6'6" | 195 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2026 State SC QB, Ben Lippen – The 6-foot-5 sophomore has been as good as advertised. The transfer from Ridge View is 59-of-117 for 914 yards, 11 TDs and just two interceptions. Gilmore (pictured) has four talented receivers that each have 11 or more catches on the season.
Jamel Howse Jamel Howse 6'4" | 210 lbs | WR Newberry | 2026 State SC WR, Newberry – The Bulldogs big-play sophomore receiver will need to continue progressing to help Newberry in the Region 4-AA competition.
Jaiden Kimble Jaiden Kimble 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC LB, White Knoll – The Shrine Bowl selection has 18 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks on a defense that has limited opponents to just 686 total yards in 4 games. A season ago, the Timberwolves started the season with six straight wins before stumbling in the region with three straight losses. Kimble will be a huge key if they can avoid that pitfall this season.
Brewer LaMotte LB, Hammond – Last year, the Skyhawks defense hardly allowed anything against SCISA competition. The last two games, they’ve yielded 13 points and LaMotte is a big reason why. He has 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, four pass break ups and two interceptions.
Cortez Lane Cortez Lane 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2024 State SC ATH, Cardinal Newman – The transfer from Camden is averaging an eye-popping 14.9 yards per carry in the first four games of the season. He has 552 yards and five touchdowns on 37 carries. He also added five catches for 93 yards. With the Cardinals still unbeaten nearing the halfway part of the season, Lane will need to touch the ball more.
Jamel McDaniel QB, Columbia – The Capitals already have two wins and look to earn its first region win against Eau Claire this week. The senior quarterback can hurt teams with his arm and legs and will need to continue that into the second half of the season.
Lucas New QB, Pelion – New was an all-state selection as a defensive back last season. He also played quarterback last season and has continued those duties this season. He’s been huge in the two Panthers wins so far this season.
Derick Simons QB/OLB, Bethune-Bowman – The senior has thrown for 242 yards and added 181 yards rushing with five total touchdowns. He also is a load at linebacker and rarely steps off the field for the Mohawks.
Grayson White Grayson White 6'0" | 240 lbs | QB Camden | 2024 State SC , QB Camden – White is in his third season starting and he typically gets better as the weather turns cooler. He accounted for six total touchdowns last week as the Bulldogs snapped a two-game slide. He’s thrown for 1,431 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 243 and five scores.