Predicting Every Team’s 2025 MVPs – Region II-2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/?p=1693126&amp;preview=true&amp;_thumbnail_id=1693138">Preview in new tab</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With five playoff teams, Region IV-2A was a weekly competitive gauntlet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Batesburg-Leesville, Saluda and Strom Thurmond combined for 27 victories and 10 South Carolina Football Coaches Association Class 2A All-State selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While several of those players have graduated, there's still talent spread out among all six teams. So who will lead their respective teams into contention and further into the post-season?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>American Leadership Patriots</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1811040' first='Leonard' last='Pressley']</strong> LB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Patriots head coach Kenny Amick sees similarities in his two-way rising junior with <strong>Damario Jeffrey</strong>. He coached the former University of South Carolina linebacker at Columbia High School. Both players worked diligently in the weight room as sophomores to improve their strength and overall build. Pressley will now move closer to the line of scrimmage at outside linebacker. After playing wide receiver last year, Amick hopes to find other opportunities to get Pressley the football in the wing-T offense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16735289/679b92fd4d5a26fa2c415251' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6853015d94884"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Batesburg-Leesville Panthers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A major cog in the Panthers' undefeated regular season. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Class 2A All-State selection set a single-game school record for rushing (334 yards) and his 2,138 yards were third most for the program. Wooden also accounted for 26 of Batesburg-Leesville's 40 touchdowns. Whether rushing, receiving, or kick-returning (see the first highlight of HUDL video), Wooden is a scoring threat whenever he touches the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17915869/674fc085bc459a4ba42787d5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-685229ea57b0d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Ninety-Six Wildcats</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165125' first='Gabe' last='Hackett']</strong> RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior is a tough inside runner for the Wildcats. The 5-foot-9, 192-pounder is an also an effective lead blocker. On defense, Hackett can line up at cornerback and slip into safety to make tackles. He looks to help Ninety-Six rebound from a 3-8 season in a formidable conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16765171/67484484ce73d8d9eca089c9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-685229ea57b40"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Pelion Panthers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1618829' first='Brady' last='Cottingham']</strong> MLB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior has followed new Panthers' head coach Cory Helms from Cardinal Newman. He had a team-high 75 tackles and backed up leading rusher <strong>Caleb Ford</strong> with 103 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he's a ball hawk who reacts quickly to the ball carrier. Cottingham fights off blockers with great tenacity and should provide upfront leadership for Pelion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19508827/672c1d831f77c3051f1a9005' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-685229ea57b65"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Saluda Tigers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior (pictured) helped stabilize the Tigers' offense. During a mid-season stretch, he also played quarterback while still leading the team in rushing. He also led Saluda with four interceptions on defense. Currently, Williams is ranked sixth in the South Carolina Prep Redzone's player rankings for his position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19380343/645d24e823524206449a121a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-685229ea57b87"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Strom Thurmond Rebels</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins']</strong> DB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot, 175-pound rising senior is ranked eighth in the South Carolina Prep Redzone defensive back rankings. His versatility, build and speed allows him to thrive in all three phases of the game. Simpkins had 366 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns and 19 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. He's currently received interest from Football Bowl Subdivision schools like Charleston Southern, Elon, Charlotte, Dartmouth, and Eastern Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17946840/66ce01ad7d17390572d11dde' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-685229ea57ba7"} /-->