Midlands And CSRA 15 Biggest Player Storylines

We've already given you the preseason top 10 for the CSRA and Midlands area, so we move to the second part of our series and look at 15 players that have a highly interesting storyline heading into 2025.   There's a pair of running backs that should put up video game numbers to go along with a pair of quarterbacks that have already put up those types of numbers. There are wide receivers that will make bigger impacts and defensive backs looking to slow those guys down.   We haven't forgotten about the trenches with a few offensive lineman and defensive guys that play in the front seven. All in all, this list is players that will make huge impacts on the success of their teams.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] DB, Ridge View   The best thing to stand out about Best is his speed, no pun intended. He's one of the faster football players in the state after winning the 100M Class 5A, Division I state title this past spring. He was part of the state champion 4x100 relay team and finished third in the 200M. He has elite coverage skills and blankets the best receivers with ease. He committed to North Carolina State a couple of weeks ago and the Wolfpack might have gotten a steal in Best. He had 22 tackles and two interceptions in nine games last year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1580947' first='Jayden' last='Boyd'] WR/DB, Westwood   The numbers don't reflect the true impact Boyd has on a game. Oh, the numbers were decent – 27 receptions for 364 yards and another 11 rushes for 213 yards and a total of five touchdowns. But Boyd has elite speed as he hit 22.95 miles per hour at a combine this season. That's flat out flying for a 5-11, 175-pound player. His transfer to Westwood gives the Redhawks a bona fide threat at receiver. He is likely to be the main wide out as well as being featured in the return game. He was going to play defense if hey stayed at Fairfield Central so it will be interesting to see if he gets any snaps in the secondary with Westwood.   [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] RB, North Augusta and [player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden'] RB, Batesburg-Leesville   Doe and Wooden will likely be two of the best producing backs this season. Doe not only is a threat running the ball, but he has good hands and adds a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. He had over 2,000 yards of total offense last year and could be in line for those same types of numbers. He has a compact frame at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds but he bounces off tacklers with ease. On the other hand, Wooden is a battering ram 6-foot, 215 pounds. He looks and plays bigger than that and punishes the defense with each carry. He might be better in the fourth quarter than he is in the first quarter.     [player_tooltip player_id='816735' first='Jamel' last='Howse'] TE, Newberry   Howse is a hybrid that lines up out wide and in the slot at Newberry but is likely to make the move to tight end once he ends up at South Carolina in 2026. He's added weight since the end of last season and might even play some this year with his hand in the dirt instead of just as a wide receiver. He has a big body at 6-foot-4 and he gives the Bulldogs a multi-talented threat that will be an integral part of the offense. He's physical and can make catches in a crowd because he doesn't shy away from contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings'] DL, [player_tooltip player_id='756223' first='Nate' last='Carson'] OL, [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] WR, Irmo   Let's get this straight. Irmo has four of the top 21 players in the current rankings for the Class of 2027. [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] is the highest ranked one, but Jennings(pictured) is going to be an asset after transferring over from White Knoll. The offense is going to have a new look but with Carson leading the way up front and Miller sliding into the WR1 role, the Yellow Jackets might just make a return to the Class 5A, Division II state championship. Jennings is a 6-foot-2, 285-pound powerhouse that will help Bryant up front. Carson is 6-foot-5, 275 pounds and plays with a high motor and mean streak. Miller has great hands and coach Aaron Brand will make sure he gets plenty of touches this season.   Wynne Meetze DB, Gilbert   Meetze has the mentality of a linebacker that is playing safety. He loves and thrives on contact and that's evidenced with his 126 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups in his junior season. He showed above average coverage skills in camps this summer and that's what a lot of schools wanted to see out of him. He's like a missile on special teams and looking to hit someone from the time the ball is kicked off. If he expands on his coverage skills this fall, offers might come rolling in.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467823' first='Jayden' last='Martin'] ATH, Crestwood   Martin did a little bit of everything as a freshman – quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and returner. His role for 2025 is still being defined but if the coaching staff has a preference it's going to be receiver and defensive back. He was the second leading receiver with 22 catches for 307 yards but if the Knights quarterback situation becomes more settled, Martin could more than double those numbers in 2025. He's gotten stronger and faster in the offseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] LB, Dutch Fork   Salters will be heading into his third season as a starting linebacker for one of the better defenses in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] are two bookends that will garner most of the attention, but Salters is going to be the heart and soul of the defense once again. His value goes well beyond his numbers of 83 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He plays in the middle, is tough as nails and can make plays sideline-to-sideline. He knows where everyone is supposed to be will not allow the Silver Foxes to slip in his final prep season.   [player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins'] DB, Strom Thurmond   Simpkins is a do-all player for the Rebels but his biggest impact is likely on the defensive side of the ball. He's a shutdown player that plays freely but can be put on an island to shut down a receiver. He only totaled 19 tackles last season but added three interceptions (that he had 52 return yards total with one touchdown) and five passes defended. He also ran a punt back for a score. He caught nine passes for 138 yards and added 83 rushing yards and three touchdowns on offense. He reads and reacts quickly and should see his role increase even more this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='876560' first='Tymaries' last='Thompson-DuRant'] DB/LB, Sumter   Thompson-DuRant sneaks down and plays near the line of scrimmage as much as he does in the secondary. He finished last season with 105 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two caused fumbles, a fumble recovery, a blocked kick and an interception. He's 5-foot-10, 165 pounds but plays a lot bigger than that. He's going to team with [player_tooltip player_id='1640595' first='Davon' last='Bowman'] to try and replace the production of Jeremiah Burson (130 tackles) and Anthony Addison (112 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss).  He could be next in line to be a great Sumter defensive player.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] QB, AC Flora and [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] QB, Ridge View   The Midlands lost two quarterbacks to Power 4 schools from last season – AJ Brand (Virginia Tech) and [player_tooltip player_id='1259789' first='Will' last='Wilson'] (North Carolina State). The next two in line to take over as the top signal-callers in the area falls to Wentzky and Howard. Wentzky is coming off a season in which he threw for 2,684 yards and 28 touchdowns. He's going to have four bona fide threats at receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'], [player_tooltip player_id='1271244' first='Josh' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1592441' first='Charlie' last='Scott'] and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] so he could very easily top 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Howard heads into his junior season after throwing for 2,476 yards and 22 touchdowns. He will have [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman'] catching passes from him this fall.

We've already given you the preseason top 10 for the CSRA and Midlands area, so we move to the second part of our series and look at 15 players that have a highly interesting storyline heading into 2025.