2025 Preview: Dillon Wildcats

In another realm, Nibras Harrison would be coming into his freshman season at Dillon as the likely starting quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder is athletic as all get-up, and he steered the 7-on-7 ship during spot duty at times last month.   He's also another indication of how this program simply replaces big names with the next crop of stars.   Harrison, in this realm, is going to be the back-up to another classmate at quarterback and simultaneously start at receiver opposite the biggest name on this roster.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165163' first='Zamaurious' last='Robertson'] verbally committed to North Carolina just last week. He's got the eyes of two states anxiously awaiting his next incredible highlight, and he's the current star helping to attract more scouts to a program that has scores of prospects from the Class of 2026 right on down to the incoming freshman. If that sounds like a familiar storyline, it's because Dillon has been through this before with guys like Josiah Thompson and Avery McCall, just to name a few.   “It's motivation, trying to get where he's at,” linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1267317' first='Daniel' last='Capehart'] said of Robertson's recruitment and ultimate commitment. “I think it's motivation knowing people are looking at us. It's going to give us opportunities, too.”   While other college commitments and signings will surely follow, the product Dillon is going to put on the field this year looks to be that of a Class 3A title contender. That'll mean getting through defending region champ Loris, not to mention Oceanside Collegiate, the team that narrowly knocked the Wildcats out of the playoffs in the third round before going on to win the whole thing two weeks later.   There's little surprise how much faith this team has in each other, let alone its new starting quarterback.   Incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1595007' first='Khayel' last='Sam Fong-Talia'] will take over the position after dominating at the JV level as an eighth grader last year. He's bringing his three favorite targets with him up the ranks, something that will give Robertson instant double duty as a mentor this fall.   Dillon's best years of late have been more run-based, and the Wildcats aren't about to stop handing off the football. But Fong-Talia's throwing ability, now and in the future, can't be ignored.   “He's as talented as any quarterback I've seen at his age,” coach Kelvin Roller said. “We won't be limited in anything that we do, whether it's throws and routes or a run. Sometimes, high school quarterbacks can't make that throw. We won't have that issue with him. Now, there may be some issues, but it won't be because of him.”   Dillon is going to be young in front of Fong-Talia. Four-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='1732582' first='Kiele' last='Pompey'] will be back in the interior after spending a chunk of last fall at tackle. Dillon Christian transfer Jasper McIntyre (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) is going to be in the mix somewhere, too. He'll be joined by at least two other sophomores up front. Roller, though, has options for his Tetris game up front. He's got pieces, experienced and inexperienced alike, that can float the offense until the line gels.   Robertson's commitment - smack dab in the middle of a huge development and meshing period for this team - won't, Roller contended, be anything but a good thing.   “That's part of being in a successful program that's had a lot of good players come through,” Roller said. “The kids understand we're a program first. It's going to be about the team and not any one player or any one coach. If you're here or not, there's going to be Dillon football.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1165163' first='Zamaurious' last='Robertson'] WR, 2026 - Missing two games last year with an injury was the only reason Robertson didn't hit 1,000 receiving yards. He can go deep and burn defensive backs or catch the ball at the line and then let his moves spring him. That fact that the can take end-around handoffs, return kicks and punts and jump in at defense only increases his value.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267317' first='Daniel' last='Capehart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1025771' first='Keryien' last='Brown'] LBs, 2026 - Capehart and Brown give Dillon a massive advantage in terms of the defense in that either can play middle linebacker or outside. Brown led the team with 158 total stops while adding a team-high nine tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. Capehart wasn't far behind with 120 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. When the two of them are both popping tackles near the line, Dillon's defense can make things one-dimensional for themselves in a hurry.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172360' first='Kelvion' last='Manning'] DB/LB, 2027 - Manning is playing Dillon's version of a spur safety. He's capable of pushing the envelope alongside Capehart and Brown or can drop back into coverage. He finished last fall with 49 tackles, five tackles for loss and a fumble recovery he took back to the house. His length gives opponents a lot of different looks, none of which most of them are all that crazy about.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Domanick' last='Felton'] RB, 2026 - Felton has been scratching the surface for the last two seasons, when he ran for 292 yards and three scores as a sophomore and then 449 and nine as a junior. His only hangup has been minor injuries that have prevented him from getting into a long-term rhythm. Roughly one-third of his rushing yards for the year happened in the first half of an August game at Socastee. However, the potential is there, and if Felton stays healthy, he feels like a strong contender to be Dillon's next 1,000-yard back.     BIGGEST LOSSES   Jamarion Fling RB - Fling capped off his illustrious career with another 1,100 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior. He also caught 14 passes for another 197 yards and three scores and put up 17 tackles and a pick on defense.   Rahmond Hamilton QB - The converted receiver took over at the quarterback position for one season. In those 13 games, he threw for 1,796 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for another 376 yards and four scores.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL    Noah Singletary RB, 2027 - Singletary was effectively the team's third tailback last year, and on top of that, he dealt with some injuries. But when he's on the field, he's good at finding holes. He averaged 11 yards per carry en route to 232 yards and three scores. His touch rate should increase.   JJ Campbell WR, 2028 - The Dillon legacy (multiple times over) was primarily a JV receiver last fall. And while he jumped up to the varsity to take some occasional snaps in reserve time, the plan for him all along was to be a really comfortable target for the next guy on this list.     The face of the Dillon offense will be Fong-Talia at some point in time. For now, Dillon is hoping they can keep him protected enough to develop him. This will still be a unit that will run the ball twice as much as it throws, but he's a weapon there, too.    Fong-Talia is already more physically developed more than most incoming freshman. He's also got a significantly better arm than most quarterbacks his age. Even in his eighth-grade JV highlights, you can see something special brewing.

In another realm, Nibras Harrison would be coming into his freshman season at Dillon as the likely starting quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder is athletic as all get-up, and he steered the 7-on-7 ship during spot duty at times last month.