Predicting Every Team's 2025 MVP: Region V-A

All that's between us and another high school football season is a summer of conditioning and a few preseason jamborees. It's never too early for us to be looking ahead and we're going to do just that as we dissect who the MVP might be for each team in the state.   Here we look at Region V-A. We've picked who we think will be every team's MVP this coming fall.   Baptist Hill Bobcats   [player_tooltip player_id='1165126' first='Kelvin' last='Smalls'] LB, 2026   To call Smalls a tackling machine might discern his total impact. He totaled 178 tackles last season to go along with 13 sacks. For anyone keeping track at home, that's over 17 tackles per game and over one sack per contest. Smalls is compact at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and he arrives at the ball carrier with a bad attitude. His lateral movement and quickness make him difficult to block.    Bethune-Bowman Mohawks   [player_tooltip player_id='1691901' first='Maurice' last='Dawson'] ATH, 2027   As things stand, you can expect Dawson to handle a lot of different duties for the Mohawks. His primary role is likely to be in the backfield, but he also could see time at quarterback and defensive back. He's speedy and uses great vision to make cuts at the right time. He also adds a lot of yards after contact. On defense, he's aggressive and plays a physical style that could transition well to the next level.    Branchville Yellow Jackets   Kyler Preast RB/LB   Preast plays both sides of the ball for the Yellow Jackets and does so at a high level. He's a bruising running back that does well on yards after contact. As a linebacker, he plays pursuit angles well and is quick to support plays in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage.   Cross Trojans   [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] DB, 2026   This pick was rather easy. The 6-foot-5, 205 Ramsey is a two-way standout but made his biggest mark on the defensive side of things. He led the state with 13 interceptions, and he was able to take a couple of those to the house for scores. Add in his 54 tackles, three fumble recoveries and his team-best 40 receptions for 749 yards and nine touchdowns and it shows why he's so highly rated going into his senior season.    Military Magnet Eagles   Maurice Ray OL/DL, 2026   Ray is a mauler and physical presence regardless of which side of the ball he's playing on. He's fearless and a great straight-ahead blocker on offense. When he gets his hands in the proper position, he rarely loses a battle. On defense, Ray displays a high motor that helps him be good at the line of scrimmage as well as in pursuit.      Scott's Branch Eagles   Nyren Bowman LB/RB, 2027   Bowman is another two-way standout at the Class A level but it's his play on defense that really has our attention. He finished north of 80 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in 2024 and there is no reason not to think he can accomplish those types of numbers again. He's 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and covers sideline-to-sideline as well as most. He doubled up as a running back last season and averaged nearly eight yards a carry in a limited role.    St. John's Islanders   Jaquez Lawrence RB/CB, 2026   Lawrence might be a little bit undersized, but he runs better than most. He's a threat to take it the distance anytime he touches the ball. He's a dual-sport athlete that excels in track as well. Plus, his drive and work ethic make him the ideal athlete in that he strives to get better with each practice and each rep. He's very coachable.

All that's between us and another high school football season is a summer of conditioning and a few preseason jamborees. It's never too early for us to be looking ahead and we're going to do just that as we dissect who the MVP might be for each team in the state.