Around the State: Defensive Backs With First-Round Tests

Playoff football has finally arrived in the Palmetto State. This Friday, 160 different teams will take the first step toward playing for a state title in the first weekend of December. Despite the dropping temperatures, many offenses will be looking to provide sparks through the air this weekend and defenses across the state are hoping to shut down the aerial assaults. Here are 10 players who will need to have a big impact in the secondary if their teams hope to advance out of the first round.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592609' first='Azel' last='Banag'] – AC Flora   Banag has been a force in the defensive backfield all season as a cornerback and safety for the Falcons. The senior tallied five interceptions, including one pick-six, with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during the regular season. The hard-hitting Banag should have plenty of opportunities to go one-on-one against York quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1592333' first='Tayshon' last='Freeman'] and his targets during their opening-round matchup.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165145' first='Clayton' last='Folse'] – West Florence   Folse helped the West Florence defense clamp down during Region V-5A play as the Knights held four of their six region opponents fewer than 14 points. West Florence will need Folse to help lock down Conway's North-South standout receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1371931' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins'] in the 4A Division II opening round for the right to face Myrtle Beach. With Folse giving up five inches to Jenkins, the Knight senior will have to rise to the challenge against the Tigers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1648430' first='Riley' last='Howell'] – Fox Creek   Howell returned to the field after having surgery to remove a life-threatening brain cyst this summer and helped lead Fox Creek to its best season since 2019. In the first round of the 3A playoffs, the Predators will face a Dillon team that has lost three games this season by a combined nine points. Howell's main objective will be containing Wildcat senior [player_tooltip player_id='1165163' first='Zamaurious' last='Robertson'] - one of the top wide receivers in Class 3A and a Mr. Football finalist.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267315' first='Jayden' last='Jenkins'] – Palmetto   The Mustangs will have their hands full in the 3A opening round against unbeaten Belton Honea-Path. In the secondary, Jenkins (pictured) will have a chance to go against one of the state's top signal-callers in [player_tooltip player_id='1730056' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] from BHP. Palmetto will need everything clicking to score the upset and Jenkins could give the Mustangs' hopes a boost with a strong night in pass coverage.    [player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze'] – Gilbert   Meetze headlines a Gilbert defense that held six of its 10 opponents during the regular season under 20 points, including five in the final six games. He and the secondary will have their hands full in the opening round of the 4A playoffs against Bluffton, which boasts the North-South duo of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='402486' first='Carnell' last='Warren'] at receiver, along with an offense averaging 37.2 points per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1394968' first='Isaiah' last='Oree'] – Brookland-Cayce   Few teams will face a taller task in the opening round than Brookland-Cayce, which begins the 4A playoffs against a Gray Collegiate team that hasn't been held under 38 points in any of its last seven games. Oree will need to step up and help the Bearcats slow down the War Eagles' dynamic receiver duo of [player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816750' first='Kaleb' last='Berry'] and quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] (2026) and [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'] (2029).   [player_tooltip player_id='1452342' first='Darian' last='Simpkins'] – Walhalla   Simpkins and the Walhalla secondary will draw one of the toughest challenges of the 3A playoffs' opening round as they try to contain Shrine Bowl wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] from Christ Church. The Razorbacks haven't won playoff games in back-to-back seasons since 1994-95 and will need Simpkins to come up big if they want to advance to the second round for the second straight year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1625930' first='Oreion' last='Small'] – Darlington   Small, an all-region defensive back North-South selection, will need to be at his best in the opening round as Darlington faces the Lower State's top seed in 4A, South Florence. The Bruins have won their last seven games by an average of 43.7 points. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'] threw for 1,660 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Small's toughest matchup will be wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1639826' first='JayAun' last='Perkins'], who recorded 780 yards and 11 touchdowns on 41 catches.    [player_tooltip player_id='1351189' first='Dre' last='Walker'] – Fairfield Central   Fairfield Central's defense has shut out four different opponents this season and Walker has led the back end for the Griffins. Walker will likely draw plenty of matchups against Chesnee wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1732649' first='Braylon' last='Blanton'] in the opening round of the 2A playoffs as the Griffins face off with an Eagle offense that rolled up 106 combined points in its final two games of the regular season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1171166' first='Devon' last='Wilson'] – Mauldin   Wilson's prowess in the secondary has helped Mauldin secure its first home playoff game since 1976. The Mavericks enter the 5A Division I playoffs having won three of their last four games and are facing Boiling Springs in a rematch of a 21-14 Mauldin win back in August. Keep an eye on Wilson's matchups with wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1639803' first='Tre' last='Suber'] from Boiling Springs. Suber caught a touchdown in the Bulldogs' regular-season finale against Byrnes.

Playoff football has finally arrived in the Palmetto State. This Friday, 160 different teams will take the first step toward playing for a state title in the first weekend of December. Despite the dropping temperatures, many offenses will be looking to provide sparks through the air this weekend and defenses across the state are hoping to shut down the aerial assaults. Here are 10 players who will need to have a big impact in the secondary if their teams hope to advance out of the first round.