Class 4A's Biggest Offseason Storylines

The 2024 football season ended in Class 4A when South Florence and Westside played for the state championship.    By that point, most of the other teams in the division had gotten back to work, in one form or another. Replacing stars and anointing new ones, top players taking their mantles and others learning in real time, trying to replicate their own success and sustaining new winning ways.   All of it is now of the utmost importance.   Because while the Bruins and Rams would love to each make a fourth and third straight state championship game, respectively, those aren't the only storylines this offseason.   Not even close.   Reloading at the Top Just the same, replacing [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272708' first='Chamarryus' last='Bomar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='464881' first='Jayden' last='Sellers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard'] is priority No. 1 for Westside and South Florence.   These two programs have each found consistency in replacing departing big names.   This time around, the Bruins have a clear advantage over their final opponent each of the last two years.   Offensively, 2026 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'] will likely take on a tinge more of a running component to his game, but making up for the loss of the two aforementioned 1,000-yard rushers (Gilbert and Leonard) will come down to [player_tooltip player_id='1615112' first='Semaj' last='Parker'] (312 yards, three touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1422638' first='Cam' last='James'] (391 yards, one touchdown), at least to start. Jackson has a solid arm - after all, he threw for 2,080 yards last fall - but the next few months will determine if 2025 comes to look more like the run-heavy 2023 squad or the 2022 or 2024 ones that were much more balanced.   Up in Anderson, Westside is almost starting from scratch offensively.   That puts even more of the onus on a pair of rising seniors, linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1165096' first='Jaxx' last='Wilson'] and offensive lineman AJ Calhoun, the two biggest names on either side of the ball.    Offensively, the quarterback position will be priority No. 1, and we believe nothing will be settled until after spring ball, if not later. Meanwhile, tailbacks Keylan Powell and Damauri Robinson are expected to both see reps at tailback and could become the new norm after the Rams' pass-happy days during the Woods era.   On defense, the offseason development of linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1664575' first='Malachi' last='Peterson'] (67 tackles last fall) and Brayden Waller (43) should pad some of the defensive graduation blows. And keep an eye on Kwon Simpkins at defensive tackle. He missed some time early in the year but was a consistent presence against the run for much of the 2024 season.   Following the Leader   North Augusta coach Richard Bush knows how vital his two highest ranked stars are, both in terms of football success but also in leading during the offseason.    “If your best guys meet the expectations of your program, everyone else will fall in line,” Bush said. “With Malcolm and Mike, they're going to give their maximum effort.”   Yellow Jackets [player_tooltip player_id='1251916' first='Malcolm' last='Gaston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe'] are currently No. 19 and No. 23 overall, respectively, in our 2026 rankings. They're both coming off huge seasons that pushed North Augusta to the Class 4A Lower State final.   What they're currently being asked to do is inspire the rest of the Yellow Jackets' squad right now. Bush is seeing the plan work on both sides of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] and Joshua Simpkins are meshing will with Davion McKinnis along the defensive line.    Linebacker Derrick Thurmond is back up to speed after missing much of the 2024 season with an injury. And defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='617719' first='Donte' last='Bell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1592679' first='Zeddius' last='Tillman'] are shoring up that positional group as soon-to-be fourth-year starters.   Offensively, Gaston and Doe are the main events, but Jayden Hatcher will get significant reps in the spring as the primary backup tailback. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1734528' first='Toian' last='Nabriat'] - who caught 29 passes in his first year of high school football - has a freakish upside, and [player_tooltip player_id='1734538' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] is working to take on an even bigger role at the position.   North Augusta, though, is just one of three Class 4A programs with two players inside the overall top 25 of our rankings.    Camden defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson'] (No. 9) and athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] (No. 17) are the new leaders for a program used to winning. And for replacing its departed talent. Quarterback Grayson Rimpf will take over the job full time after splitting time with [player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson'] last fall. Next to Rimpf in the backfield will be Navi Boykin (519 yards, 12 touchdowns), who also plays some linebacker and had 34 stops last season.    Returning offensive linemen Worth Thomason and Ryan Lawson might be the offseason's key to success. Both will be juniors next fall, and going against Wilson in one-on-ones can do nothing but make them better.   Linebackers Deion Wright and Evan Presbot provide some continuity in the back seven, especially while safety Tristan Hollingsworth continues his recovery due to an injury and surgery.   And that brings us to our third rankings double up.    South Pointe, led by [player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] (No. 2) and [player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon'] (No. 7) appears on paper to be a contender for the No. 1 spot in the media rankings come August. It's a hat coach Bobby Collins said his players are ready to wear.    That's probably because Currence and McMillon have lots of help. Top receiver Dailin Duncan (779 yards, nine touchdowns) will have the entire offseason to work with McMillon. [player_tooltip player_id='1607596' first='Kadin' last='Vassel'] and Malik Ratliff will have the same opportunity while moving into starting roles.   Defensively, the next few months will be vital for Kamari Barber - a one-time quarterback making the move to the defensive backfield. Making South Pointe even more rare in the rankings conversation is that the Stallions also have two defensive players inside the top 20 overall in the Class of 2027, as well.   And all of that is before we mention that linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg'] and defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1591712' first='Seth' last='Tillman'] (pictured) alone turn that unit into something special.   The Upstart Brigade   Three teams in particular - Hilton Head, Bishop England and AC Flora - are all interesting test cases for the offseason based on their growth over the last calendar year.    Not coincidentally, each of them marched into the offseason with a ton of potential for backing up last fall's rise in their respective region standings.   Down in Hilton Head, the Seahawks move on from [player_tooltip player_id='1013024' first='Troy' last='Timko'] (3,667 yards the last three years) but have [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] more than ready to take over the top tailback spot. Czarnecki, who rushed for 794 yards and 10 scores in partial duty, was also among the team's leaders on defense, where he had 86 tackles. Fellow 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] (68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss) also jumps directly into a newfound leadership role.   The same can be said for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] (1,335 yards, 13 touchdowns). The run-first, run-second Hilton Head offense has covered up some of the rising junior's passing abilities, but he'll be able to show off his arm plenty at this spring's Carolinas Coaches Combines.   And if you're looking for guys who can sling it, both Bishop England and AC Flora can offer up their best. Months after joining the Bishops program, [player_tooltip player_id='1592310' first='Quinn' last='Mahoney'] led a big-time resurgence by throwing for 2,461 yards and 23 touchdowns. His connection with Zachary Balog (1,027 yards, seven touchdowns) is only going to get stronger over the next few months as they team up in passing leagues and open sessions.    In the Midlands, AC Flora's [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] (2,684 yards, 28 touchdowns) is going to miss some time this spring due to his baseball commitments (and all signs point to an extended postseason for the Falcons). But the connection between him and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1592441' first='Charlie' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1271244' first='Josh' last='Davis'] should pop back into place quickly come May.    The Ultimate Wild Card   Gray Collegiate has spent the last few months wondering what could have been.   The Eagles were barred from the playoffs last fall after it was found they used an ineligible player during the regular season. They were probably long shots to win it all, but they were at the very least part of the conversation.   A large number of returners, then, took a little extra motivation from the SCHSL ruling into building back even stronger this offseason. And these aren't simply role players we're talking about here.   Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] is already well into his final high school offseason and is a name to watch come the Carolinas Coaches Combine. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt'] has lit up the circuit each of the last two years. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] has been a steady player but is hoping to show another gear. Offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1422610' first='Jack' last='Armstrong'] is a big name to watch out of the Class of 2027. [player_tooltip player_id='1319663' first='Royce' last='Williamson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1395040' first='Royal' last='Williamson'] are also now into the varsity mix after sitting out a transfer year.   Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='473012' first='JP' last='Sweatt'] was second on the team in tackles last fall (behind Boulware) and is already acting like one of the team's more vocal leaders, according to coach De'Angelo Bryant.    [player_tooltip player_id='1148960' first='Nathaniel' last='Dixon'] will have an offseason to prepare to replace [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery'] at tailback. Likewise, the Eagles are already expecting rapid promotions for two-way skill player Corey Gleaton and receiver Jai Chinusingh - the latter of which will be returning soon from a knee injury.

The 2024 football season ended in Class 4A when South Florence and Westside played for the state championship.