Catawba River Region's Biggest Player Storylines

We gave you the best 10 players to keep your eye on in the Catawba River Region <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/catawba-river-regions-best-top-10-players/">earlier this week.</a>   But there are so many other players in the area who will make an impact on their teams this fall.    As we continue our wide lens look at the Catawba River Region, this piece will focus on how they fit into a team's scheme along with how others of them will fit with their new teams as they made moves to new schools this offseason with the transfer policy put into place by the South Carolina High School League.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819933' first='Amari' last='Nesmith'] | WR | Chester   Chester will have a new starting quarterback in 2025, and based on what saw <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/cordarelle-patterson-7-on-7-news-and-notes/">during a 7-on-7 this summer</a>, Nesmith will be a frequent target. He runs his routes fully, like the curl route where he can sit underneath the coverage and catch it and get up field for quick yardage. The same thing goes for the quick out routes as well. But he's also a threat in the deep passing game, particularly on roll out plays – he can pluck the ball out of the air, and has the focus to stay in bounds on routes to the sideline.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603816' first='Grady' last='Stone'] | RB | Clover   Stone is one of the best running backs in the Catawba River Region heading into 2025. After rushing for over 800 yards last year and over 11 touchdowns. He played behind older brother, Landon, who was a tough runner as well. The younger Stone brings a hard nosed, downhill running style to the table. He has good vision to be able to see the field and once he finds an open lane, it could be a house call. He fits the offensive scheme well, and will be a name you'll hear about all year for the Blue Eagles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1734443' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] | WR | Nation Ford   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/2025-preview-nation-ford-falcons/">The biggest question facing new coach Jake Bentley and the Falcons will be the starting quarterback?</a> But there's no question who will be one of the receivers, no matter who ends up taking snaps. Scott is a speedster on the outside. He can stretch the defense vertically and make people miss once he's in the open field. He's also impactful in the quick game in his ability to make catches quickly and get up field. He has good size for the position.    [player_tooltip player_id='1283361' first='Jaylon' last='Richardson'] | DB | Northwestern   Richardson is back at Northwestern, where he previously spent time as a freshman in 2023. He can stick with his receivers in one-on-one coverage. He has excellent eye discipline to understand where he needs to get to in his drops to prevent the receiver from getting behind him. If he can't make the interception, he'll get his hands up to make the pass breakup. He'll also be a part of an experienced Trojans' secondary in 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'] | WR | South Pointe   The one word to describe Watkins (pictured above) in a nutshell? Electric. If you blink you'll miss him, and that's because he's probably in the end zone. Watkins made his way across town from Rock Hill to South Pointe and he is a speedster on the outside. There was one play on film that stood out to us against River Bluff in 2024 where it was a quick out, and he made a couple of defenders miss in space and next thing you know, the play was a touchdown. That's how quick he can change a game. Whether it's shallows or quick screens, he will be a viable asset to the Stallions' offense that is loaded at the position.   Kason Cannup | QB | Nation Ford   Canupp heads up the Catawba River to join Jake Bentley, who coached him last season at Rock Hill. He lit up the scoreboard, and did it in a variety of ways. He can put the ball where only his receiver can go to get it for a touchdown on a go route, or he can throw a corner route with precision and touch on the ball to where the receiver can pluck it out of the air. And if you get too caught up with his passing ability, we saw a few times on his film where he took it to the house on designed quarterback keepers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827578' first='Khalil' last='Williamson'] | DB | Northwestern   Williamson had a huge impact on the Trojans' secondary in 2024 on their run to the state championship. And we expect him to have another huge year in 2025. His ability to move laterally in man coverage and react to throws in the air is impressive. He can get up acrobatically and make picks. On plays where the route is designed to go deep, he doesn't allow the receiver to get behind him and make a play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg'] | LB | South Pointe   As much attention as [player_tooltip player_id='1594865' first='Brysen' last='Ginn'] gets for the Stallions' defense, Burg is all over the field from his linebacker position as well. He can line up as a down lineman or in the traditional position, but his impact is the same. He is a hard hitter and can come up and lay the lumber on the ball carrier. He can also play out in coverage and make plays. One of those plays was a pick six. He can come up in run support and takes great angles to the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] | RB | South Pointe   Brown was Mr. Do-It-All for the Lancaster Bruins over the last few seasons. On offense, they would line him up at running back and he would explode downhill with his blazing speed for a touchdown. He has great vision and ability to see the whole field. He also lined up at quarterback and could take a zone read and do the same thing once he gets out into the open field. He's also a dynamic player on defense at defensive back – he can knock balls away and anticipate and jump routes for interceptions. He will be a welcomed addition for the Stallions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1608770' first='Tyler' last='Robinson'] | DB | Catawba Ridge   Robinson heads right down the street in Fort Mill from Nation Ford to Catawba Ridge for his junior season. He made an impact on the Falcons' defense from his cornerback position with his ability to lock up receivers on the outside in man-to-man coverage. He has an ability to be physical and knock the ball away without interfering. He can recognize plays quickly and stay with the best receivers that teams have to offer. We expect he will be able to plug into a loaded secondary for the Copperheads this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603697' first='Zymier' last='Gordon-Miles'] | RB | South Pointe   Gordon Miles will spend his junior season across town with the Stallions, after rushing for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Northwestern Trojans in 2024. It will be interesting to see how South Pointe will utilize him, and how he'll work into what will be a crowded running back room. Either way, he will be a back who can push through contact while maintaining balance and speed.

We gave you the best 10 players to keep your eye on in the Catawba River Region earlier this week.