2025 Preview: Darlington Falcons

The 2025 high school football season will be here before you know it. Impress your family, friends and neighbors with how much you know by gaining access to everything Prep RedZone South Carolina produces by <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">becoming a subscriber today</a>. We are currently running a 40% off special on all annual subscriptions to the site. Simply use the offer code Guerin40 at checkout to take advantage.   A few weeks back, some of the more experienced players on the Darlington roster were on their way back from the Mercer mega camp with the competition from the event still lingering.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] and defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='1625930' first='Oreion' last='Small'] (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='1639725' first='Khalil' last='Green'] took the chit-chat from what happened to what could be. The Falcons have made some tremendous strides in coach Jamie Johnson's two years, but the next steps would fall on them.   It was time to start pushing themselves even more.   Beginning immediately, the post-practice ice baths, outfit changes and any plans for the rest of the day could wait a while longer. If Darlington wanted to do the things they hoped to accomplish in 2025, this summer would need to include extra conditioning.   So, after each session, while coaches wrap up their end of the bargain, the players have been trying to fulfill theirs.   “Every day at practice, we're getting better. Every time we step foot on that field, everybody is working hard to reach that goal,” Small said during the Prep RedZone Media Days series. “We were talking about it [last week]; what's your goal? ‘Beating South Florence. Beating Hartsville.' Everybody is working toward that.    “Everyone's focus changed. Everyone worked toward the change.”   Johnson went a step further, saying it was the players themselves who handled an in-house issue in June with one of their teammates. The coaches barely had to say a word.   That ownership of this group filtering down to the players was something Johnson had been waiting on since he took the job on in January of 2023.   And that newfound change has given the coaches a chance to do even more with the playbook, too.   Augustus, for instance, might finally be capable of merging the passing game he started orchestrating as a sophomore with the junior version of him that ran for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns.    “He's calling the offense. I have that much trust in him,” Johnson said. “He's going to put it together. Last year, we struggled the take the top off throwing the football. This year, we have some pieces. I think he'll be a good mix of both this year.”   The Falcons are going to focus on relatively inexperienced receivers Zi'Reon Shannon and James Spann to do that while mixing in defensive transplant Maleak Duncan at tailback. All three are mobile threats.   Up front, linemen like [player_tooltip player_id='1664650' first='Jaiden' last='Green'] and Malik Moore will hold down the tackle spots while guards Jackson High and Tyrell Brown and center Grayson Walker do their part to continue the merge of the offensive game plans from each of the last two seasons.    Putting it all together will be the difference between chasing the big boys of Region V-4A and matching or even surpassing them.    “We know the region runs through South [Florence] and runs through Hartsville,” Johnson said. “That's how we can take the next step forward. Them, Crestwood, everyone knows our region is tough. But I haven't had to have the discipline issues. When they police themselves, it's fun. We have the pieces to compete.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] QB, 2026 - The 6-foot-3, 175-pound quarterback has flashed both sides of his game, but he's rarely done it and rapid-fire as he needs to. He's a dynamic runner with a more than adept arm. And while his teammates will have to help propel the offense, his skill sets are all there for a team needing to find more consistency.    [player_tooltip player_id='1625930' first='Oreion' last='Small'] DB, 2026 - Small has established himself as the heart of this defense with his production (65 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions last fall). He's also starting to feel more pressure as a vocal leader. The face of this defense this fall will be looked upon to make big impact plays on top of preventing opposing offenses from those back-breaking plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639725' first='Khalil' last='Green'] DB, 2026 - There should be little surprise this fall when a massive chunk of this region puts the ball in the air even more than it already has. Green has earned the faith of the staff to be out on the island by himself. Teams haven't thrown his direction a ton - and for good reason - and even locking down one receiver will do wonders.     James Spann WR, 2026 - Spann only appeared in five games last fall. He did catch seven passes for 73 yards in the process. But with him fully on-board this fall, the Falcons will have another viable target with some varsity experience. His two big catches against Midland Valley were crucial in the team's first playoff victory in nearly two decades.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1664618' first='Keontae' last='Scipio'] LB, 2027 - When you're often starting the formation with only two down linemen, the linebackers have little choice but to be everywhere and get guys on the ground on first contact. That's where having Scipio for a full season could be a boon for the Falcons. Despite missing four games as a sophomore, he still put up 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. If he sustains that type of production as a junior, Darlington's defense will be able to maximize the rest of its biggest pieces, too.    BIGGEST LOSSES   [player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey'] RB - Hailey transferred to Marlboro County after rushing for 1,120 yards and six touchdowns last fall. Three of his six 100-yard rushing games came against region foes or in the playoffs.    Nygel McFadden DB - The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety led the team with 66 tackles. He also had 11 tackles for loss, a sack, one interception and three forced fumbles.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Zi'Reon Shannon WR, 2027 - Shannon is a small but quick receiver who is going to split time moving back and forth between the slot and outside. He's got the ability to lose defenders and stretch the field vertically, something the Falcons desperately needed more of last year. As such, he's making the move up from the JV ranks with a heavy intended work load.    Maleak Duncan RB, 2027 - After losing Hailey, Duncan was plucked off the defensive side of the ball, where he was going to be playing safety. Johnson raved about Duncan's extra gear, and the coach believes having the 5-foot-8, 165-pounder in the backfield provides a big-yardage player capable of moving the chains.     Green is an absolute load and a powerful run blocker who is able to get off the snap and initiate contact. He's going to be making the move to right tackle, at least to start the year, and his size gives the Falcons some protection for Augustus's throwing side.

The 2025 high school football season will be here before you know it. Impress your family, friends and neighbors with how much you know by gaining access to everything Prep RedZone South Carolina produces by becoming a subscriber today. We are currently running a 40% off special on all annual subscriptions to the site. Simply use the offer code Guerin40 at checkout to take advantage.