GSPD and Lowcountry Week 1 Players To Watch

A lot of the state has already played a game, and players are starting to make impacts – some expected and some unexpected. But if you look across the landscape of the Lowcountry and the GSPD area there are several players that have caught our attention after just one week.   There are some on this list that haven't played yet. But we feel confident enough to include them in the Players to Watch for Week 1.   Here is a very broad look at some of the players that we will be keeping a close eye on this coming weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary'] RB, Hampton County   Singletary has a chance to start out the season with back-to-back impressive performances. Last week, he went for 125 yards on just eight carries (over 15 yards per carry) and has a great chance to replicate those numbers this week in a contest against Allendale Fairfax. The Hurricanes are going to be a heavy favorite and that will give Singletary another chance to get his reps in early and potentially put up big numbers again.      [player_tooltip player_id='1824864' first='Malachi' last='Mitchell'] DL, Ashley Ridge   The senior defensive lineman registered 11 tackles and a tackle for loss in the Swamp Foxes season-opening loss to Berkeley on Monday. But Mitchell was active and made his presence known against a Stags team that ran the ball 58 times. Mitchell will be a huge key against teams that like to run it and that is exactly what Cane Bay, the Ashley Ridge opponent this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt'] OL, Berkeley   The Stags shocked many by rushing the ball 58 times for 323 yards in the win over Ashley Ridge. That means Britt and his cohorts up front had a big day pushing the pile. LJ Washington and [player_tooltip player_id='1151306' first='Bryson' last='McGee'] both had over 80 yards rushing with seven different backs carrying the ball. Berkeley hosts Winter Park (FL) this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664526' first='Malcolm' last='Gordon'] LB, Bluffton   The junior totaled 12 tackles and a tackle for loss in the 49-0 win over Whale Branch last week. Gordon moves well at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds and that came in handy last week. The Bobcats face a more formidable opponent this week in Andrew Jackson so there is potential for Gordon to put up another week of good numbers.     [player_tooltip player_id='1822035' first='Ashton' last='Kellermann'] WR, Philip Simmons   The junior started the season with a nine-catch, 206-yard performance in a loss to Hanahan. Even though the touchdown passes went to Omonte Taylor and [player_tooltip player_id='1167204' first='William' last='Hollifield'], Kellermann was the top target of [player_tooltip player_id='1821540' first='Hayes' last='Goddard'], who threw for 267 yards in the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821469' first='Owen' last='George'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1604010' first='Caleb' last='Parrish'] LB, Academic Magnet   George averaged over 20 yard per carry and finished the night with 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Academic Magnet finished with 244 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Parrish finished with nine tackles, four tackles for loss and ran the ball once for 10 yards as the Raptors opened the season with a victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816916' first='Khrishawn' last='Smith'] RB/LB Marlboro County   Smith is another player that made the most of his opportunities in the season opener. The sophomore scored three touchdowns and accounted for 73 yards on just five touches on offense. He added two tackles and an interception on defense. They had over 500 yards of total offense and if Smith becomes more of a factor on offense that might free someone else up to get more defensive snaps.   [player_tooltip player_id='781859' first='Kadin' last='Thomas'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1321038' first='Justyn' last='Joint'] RB, Cheraw   Thomas was efficient and spread the ball around in the season=opening win. He finished 8-of-11 for 111 yards and threw touchdowns to three different receivers. But it wasn't all Thomas in the 48-7 win over McBee. Joint went for 101 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. The going gets tougher this week against a talented Marlboro County team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] RB, and Deuce Stephens RB, Loris     Loris opened the season by scoring 56 points in the first half. There was a running clock in the second half but that still allowed a lot of players to see action. Purcha and Stephens each ran for two touchdowns in the dominating first half. Loris now takes a step up in classification to face a Conway team that played much better defense last week than they did a season ago.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820945' first='Hunter' last='Onley'] LB, Conway   Speaking of that Conway team, they held an explosive Wilson offense to just 13 points on Friday night. Onley was right in the middle of things with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and pass deflected. The Tigers are going to face another high-flying offense in Loris this week so Onley will have to be just as active again.   [player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan'] RB, Stratford   The transfer from Goose Creek showed that he's fully healthy in the season-opening loss to Summerville. The Knights put up 30 points on the Green Wave and McGowan was a huge part of that success. He scored on runs of 73 and 20 yards and went for almost 200 yards in the loss. Stratford faces Daniel this week so it's another tough opponent, but McGowan gives the Knights an explosive element to the running game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] DL, and [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett'] DL, Cross   The Trojans recorded seven shutouts last season and started off 2025 in the same fashion with a 32-0 blanking of Calhoun County. Broughton led the defensive effort with eight tackles and Bennett added six tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. Both players also contributed on the offensive line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817380' first='Cedric' last='Burkes'] RB/LB, North Charleston   Burkes played all over the place in the Cougars 24-0 win over Military Magnet. He was one of the main ball-carriers and played a huge role on a defense that pitched a shutout. The challenge will be a lot larger this week with a balanced, experienced Cross team playing a visit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1734485' first='Tristen' last='Howard'] QB, and [player_tooltip player_id='1822808' first='Jalen' last='Boston'] LB, Wilson   Howard completed 78 percent of his passes and threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Conway. Boston finished with 10 tackles and a sack as Wilson only allowed three field goals in the win. Boston had a great running mate in [player_tooltip player_id='1827461' first='Jordan' last='Davis'], who finished with nine tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. Wilson gets a Gilbert team that struggled offensively last week against Lexington.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] QB, Lamar   Pierce did all he could against a good Darlington team last week. He ran for 48 yards and two touchdowns and added 187 yards passing and completed 10-of-16. He also saw time on defense and contributed three tackles and an interception. Pierce threw two interceptions in the loss but is going to be a weapon all over the field for the Silver Foxes this season.    Antuan Faison ATH, Timberland   Faison is another two-way standout that made his presence felt on both sides of the ball. He ran for 81 yards and added nine tackles on defense. The Wolves typically play a lot of different guys at running back but Faison showed he could handle more carries as well as being a stalwart on defense.     J'Mari Jones WR, Lake City   Lake City has not always been known as a team that likes to throw the football, but Jones made a case that they might want to consider it more. He caught four passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers are going to need to open it up against Timberland this week so Jones could be in line for another huge game.      [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1823880' first='Christian' last='Charles'], Darlington   Charles might be a little undersized to play middle linebacker but that didn't stop him from making 13 tackles and three tackles for loss last week. He always seemed to be around the ball and made good decisions in his pursuit angles. We sort of knew what to expect out of Augustus and he delivered. The senior went 12-of-19 for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 55 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422638' first='Cam' last='James'] RB, and Gabe McLaughlin RB, South Florence   The Bruins have been known to use a lot of different running backs, and it was the same last week in the win over West Florence. James and McLaughlin each scored two rushing touchdowns and helped support the efforts of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'].  James went for 150 yards on just 10 carries and Jackson added 79 yards on 14 attempts.     [player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford'] QB, Summerville   Summerville came into the 2025 season wondering who would replace Jaden Cummings at quarterback and after one week at least, it looks like it will be Stafford, a transfer into the program. He helped guide the Green Wave to 35 points in the win over Stratford and he gives the team a big arm that can make all the throws. The battle for the starting nod went to the last few weeks of preseason so Stafford has to continue to play well to keep a stranglehold on the job.        [player_tooltip player_id='1025771' first='Keryien' last='Brown'] LB, Dillon   All Brown did last week was rack up 19 tackles in the season-opener. That number is not that eye-popping considering Brown is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 13.4 tackles per game and finished with 147 on the season. He makes the Wildcats defense go and Thomas and his teammates will be looking for a bounce-back performance this week against Socastee.    Savion Garrett LB, Fort Dorchester   The Patriots opened with a hard-fought 17-6 win over Beaufort on Monday night and Garrett was a defensive force all game long. He finished with eight tackles and two tackles for loss and that was a key, but he also was a steady presence as a senior starter in the middle of the defense. Fort Dorchester faces a young Goose Creek team this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] QB, Hilton Head   Raniszewski is looking to build off a sophomore year in which he threw for over 1,300 yards and it got off to a good start against Stall. He threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for a 12-yard touchdown. His development is going to be key, and the Seahawks have a tough test on the road at James Island this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592342' first='Connor' last='Dantzler'] QB, James Island   Coming off a season in which he threw for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, Dantzler (pictured) started off with a two-touchdown performance in a win over Gray Collegiate. He threw for 208 yards on 20-of-31 passing and added a rushing touchdown to go along with 24 yards on the ground. He accounted for all three touchdowns in the win and is poised to have a huge senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] RB/LB, Hartsville   Hillman saw most of his playing time on defense as a freshman but will have every opportunity to be one of the main ball-carriers for the Red Foxes this season. He's fast and quick and that should translate into a backfield that the top ground gainers from last season. The game against Carolina Forest will be the season opener.   [player_tooltip player_id='284135' first='Kamren' last='Long'] QB, Carolina Forest   Long has a legit running back next to him in [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] so it's going to be on his shoulders and arm to take some of the pressure off. He's in his first year starting and he's proven in the preseason that he can make the throws needed to move the chains. If Long can be accurate and make some plays with his legs as well, Carolina Forest could have one of the best offenses on the coast.

A lot of the state has already played a game, and players are starting to make impacts – some expected and some unexpected. But if you look across the landscape of the Lowcountry and the GSPD area there are several players that have caught our attention after just one week.