Predicting Every Team’s 2024 MVP: Region VI-5A

The 2024 football season is less than four months away.   But taking a stab at which players will have every opportunity to blow up during the 10-game regular season and postseason doesn't need to wait.   Along the Grand Strand, the newly formed Beach Region in Class 5A has been a talking point for months. The six largest programs in Horry County won't have to move around much come late-September. There's a ton of familiarity and plenty of excitement.    And we think these six players will lead the charge for their respective teams.    CAROLINA FOREST PANTHERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1149045' first='Charles' last='McCray'] DB/LB, 2025   The departures of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1142820' first='Ethan' last='Hamilton'] and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='267465' first='Kalil' last='Johnson'] on offense and the likes of Jonathan Rivas, [player_tooltip player_id='771040' first='Jamauri' last='Davis'] and Ronnie Walker on defense is going to open up some massive holes for the upcoming Panthers' squad. Tailbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1149046' first='Chris' last='Livingston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] are going to get a ton of carries in a run-first offense, of course.   But we're turning our focus back to the other side of the ball. Because McCray was the team's second-leading tackler a year ago and had one of his biggest games of the season in the second-round win over West Ashley. McCray is active against the run and pass, and his hybrid role will be huge with so many past stars moving on beyond high school ball.    CONWAY TIGERS   Louvensky Auguste OL/DL, 2025   The 5-foot-11, 270-pound Auguste has added some significant weight this offseason in preparation for a two-way role in the trenches this fall. He's strong as all get-up and will be asked to stay on the field throughout the majority of the 2024 season. On offense, he'll play guard. On defense, it'll be a spot most likely along the interior, as well.    His reliability in his second year after moving to the coast from Connecticut will be vital, as it will mirror coach Josh Pierce's time with the Tigers, too. Conway had quite a few established seniors last fall, but the 1-10 record left a lot to be desired. Auguste provides a new sense of leadership.    MYRTLE BEACH SEAHAWKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe'] QB, 2025   By the end of last season, it was clear that the Goodroe experiment has worked. The first-time varsity football player had done so much more than simply come to the gridiron and pitch in where he could. Goodroe, an established baseball player, took over the offense that coach Mickey Wilson wants so badly to be based around the pass.    And when thinking of Goodroe's transition, consider this: In two playoff games (against May River and Irmo), the then-junior threw six touchdowns against just one pick. The Seahawks will have most of his favorite targets back from 2023 and an entire offseason of working together. We think it all adds up to Goodroe having a big year.   (No Film Available)   NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHIEFS   [player_tooltip player_id='809755' first='DJ' last='Gause'] DL, 2025   For as much as North Myrtle Beach schemed its way to about as respectable of a 2-8 finish as humanly possible last fall, it needs people to disrupt the flow. Enter Gause, who led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks a season ago. The 5-foot-11, 195-poundals defensive end also chipped in 31.5 total tackles as a junior.   Flash forward to 2024, and close losses won't cut it any more. The Chiefs will be move up to Class 5A, and while the clientele will look awfully familiar, North Myrtle Beach doing more than back-dooring its way into the playoffs will require big-swing defensive plays. Again, that's where Gause comes in.    SOCASTEE BRAVES   [player_tooltip player_id='413888' first='Josh' last='Brown'] WR, 2025   Much like North Myrtle Beach, Socastee needs to find electricity. Brown is an obvious pick. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he's got homerun capability no matter where he catches the ball. He averaged better than 16 yards per reception last year despite everyone knowing the Braves would do most of their damage through the air.    Brown will be losing his top receiving mate in [player_tooltip player_id='771237' first='Quadir' last='Scott'] (who often took on many jobs). So there will be even more attention paid to him. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='139313' first='Rocco' last='Wojcik'] is also on his way out. But Brown's skill set will be the primary focus of this offense through spring ball, fall camp and right on into the 2024 season.    ST. JAMES SHARKS   Nehishawn Hill LB/RB, 2025   Among the six teams in the next Beach Region, no one might be charged with replacing more than St. James coach Tommy Norwood. The Sharks are losing their top quarterback, top four ball carriers, top five pass catchers, and top four tacklers.    No. 5 in that last section was Hill, who also happens to be the team's top returning running back. We're not sure just yet how much double-duty he's gonna be asked to pull, but we do know that he's a standout tackler who can get to a ball carrier in a hurry. Hill will have to carry a lot of responsibility at the beginning of the year, especially, but we think he's got another level to him.

The 2024 football season is less than four months away.