Around The State: Thriving On The Island

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout.   As the calendar flips to 2026, high school football fans in South Carolina can expect to see plenty of talent at wide receiver and defensive back this fall.    Some of the most entertaining battles of the year happen on the outside and there should be no shortage of headline bouts when the season kicks off.    Plenty of elite athletes on the boundaries have already made a name for themselves in the state and more will certainly emerge as the season unfolds. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the Palmetto State's premier perimeter playmakers.    [player_tooltip player_id='663984' first='Carson' last='Bryant'] | Wren   Bryant helped new starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1790580' first='Jacob' last='Owings'] ease into his new role by catching seven of the sophomore's 19 touchdown passes. Bryant wrapped up the season with 53 catches for 816 yards, giving him 15 touchdowns and over 1,600 receiving yards in his career. He also served as a threat in the run game, carrying the ball 31 times for 178 yards and three scores.     [player_tooltip player_id='1664545' first='JJ' last='Brown'] | Myrtle Beach   Brown's prowess in the pass game helped the Seahawks advance to the third round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs. His connection with senior quarterback Tanner Gaddy was on display throughout the season as Brown was named to the All-Region VI-AAAAA team and the ABC 15 All-Zone team.      [player_tooltip player_id='1271241' first='Chanin' last='Harris'] | Byrnes   Harris helped the Rebels bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign and rebounded from a season-ending injury that kept him out of the playoffs as a sophomore. In his junior season, Harris led Region II-AAAAA with 649 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches. Harris was also named an All-Area First-Team performer and will be counted on as a primary target for [player_tooltip player_id='2071776' first='Caine' last='Rogers']' replacement at quarterback next season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod'] | South Aiken   McLeod racked up 41 receptions for 659 yards as South Aiken's primary pass-catcher. He opened the season with an 11-catch, 200-yard performance against Silver Bluff to set the Thoroughbred single-game receptions record. First-year starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns'] III looked to McLeod often, tossing him seven of his 13 touchdown passes.     [player_tooltip player_id='1036774' first='Amare' last='Patterson'] | Bluffton   Patterson was a first-team all-state performer as he helped lead the Bobcats to their first eight-win season in eight years. Teaming up with UMass signee Region VI-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy'], Patterson hauled in 51 passes for 912 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. With Bluffton breaking in a new quarterback in 2026, expect Patterson to be targeted early and often.     [player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed'] | Hammond   Although Hammond's season ended in the SCISA Class 4A semifinals, Reed proved to be a welcome addition to the Skyhawks. The Blythewood transfer showed his prowess as a deep-ball threat and was a major target for freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1647349' first='Cade' last='Amell']. Reed also displayed a penchant for big plays in the return game.     [player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson'] | Lugoff-Elgin   Richardson was electric as a junior, serving as a prominent target in Lugoff-Elgin's aerial attack as the Demons led Region V-AAAAA in passing yards. Richardson caught 39 passes for 712 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding five rushing touchdowns and averaging over 16 yards per carry on the ground. Just for good measure, he also returned three kicks for scores.     [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams'] | Oceanside Collegiate   Williams routinely torched defenses on his way to collecting a Class 3A state championship ring with the Landsharks. Williams finished the year with 61 catches for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdown receptions. Expect him to put up more impressive numbers in 2026 as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] returns, and OCA looks to achieve a four-peat.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036784' first='Kaiden' last='Aiken'] | Blackville-Hilda   Aiken did a little bit of everything for the Fighting Hawks, lining up all over the field on defense while also contributing at quarterback and running back on offense. He did his best work at defensive back, where Aiken offered a hard-hitting presence in the run game and helped limit damage through the air en route to being named a Class A all-state honorable mention player.    [player_tooltip player_id='1172351' first='PJ' last='Chancellor'] | Daniel   Chancellor recorded six pass breakups and an interception, leading a defensive backfield that helped the Lions win double-digit games for the eighth consecutive season. The All-Region II-AAAA selection and Class 4A all-state honoree notched 30 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery.    [player_tooltip player_id='1578290' first='Rod' last='Cranford'] | Hartsville   Cranford was a first-team Class 4A all-state selection for the Red Foxes as Hartsville registered its fourth consecutive winning season. Cranford finished the year with 85 tackles, including six tackles for loss, and forced opposing offenses into eight pass breakups and one interception. He also proved to be a danger on special teams, recording three blocked kicks.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821566' first='Joshua' last='Dobson'] | Catawba Ridge   Dobson lived up to his billing as one of the nation's top cornerbacks. The five-star prospect was named to the South Carolina Football Coaches Association all-state team and was invited to participate in the Under Armor All-American game. Dobson's defensive prowess helped the Copperheads advance to the second round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs.     [player_tooltip player_id='1422637' first='Corey' last='Murphy'] | Lugoff-Elgin   Murphy picked off four passes during his junior season, giving him 10 career interceptions. The Class 5A leader in picks as a sophomore, Murphy also tallied 21 tackles to help the Demon defense hold four different opponents to 21 points or less as Lugoff-Elgin had its best season in eight years.     [player_tooltip player_id='1422592' first='Caleb' last='Pinkney'] | River Bluff   Pinkney was a key contributor on defense in River Bluff's first season under new head coach Perry Parks. After a breakout seven-interception season as a sophomore, opposing offenses were much more hesitant to throw his way during the 2025 season. Pinkney intercepted one pass and added five pass breakups, while also forcing one fumble and racking up 43 tackles.     [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] | Belton-Honea Path   Watson-Martin's playmaking ability helped the Bears make a run to the Class 3A state championship game. While he accounted for 13 offensive touchdowns, the junior also provided great coverage on defense with three interceptions and four pass breakups. Watson-Martin and the Bear defense limited 11 of their 15 opponents to 10 points or less.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604056' first='Kahlil' last='Williamson'] | Northwestern   Williamson and the Trojan defense stymied offenses all season long as Northwestern rolled to the Class 5A Division II state title. Northwestern allowed just one of its final six opponents to top 20 points and Williamson blocked multiple kicks in addition to providing strong pass defense throughout the season.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout.