Potential Splash Players To Watch in the GSPD

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As teams retool for the 2026 season, players on every roster are looking to make a big splash next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Grand Strand Pee Dee, the departure of many talented seniors and injuries to potential young stars last year means ample opportunities for new names to emerge as the season progresses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 15 players who may not have broken out in 2025, but could put up eye-catching numbers this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823603' first='Christian' last='Bennett'] | Carolina Forest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A rising senior in Carolina Forest's run-oriented spread offense, Bennett has played behind two-time Region VI-5A Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] at running back. With Fox's graduation, Bennett should exponentially more opportunities to carry the ball for the Panthers, who are gunning for their fourth consecutive region title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821034' first='Marcus' last='Brown'] | Socastee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile athlete who's become a standout on the basketball court, Brown (pictured) is a shifty receiver target. He could play a critical role in breaking in a new quarterback for Socastee after the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id='1429140' first='Christian' last='Royals'], who threw for a 1,463 yards last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18479965/68c57cb4c4628c0a802bd1f6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39de29"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823525' first='De'Eric' last='Davis'] | South Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After two years backing up [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'] in the Bruins' offense, Davis will be handed the keys as a senior. He's thrown 46 passes over the past two season with two touchdowns through the air while adding two rushing scores, with his most prolific outing coming last season against Fort Dorchester when he went 9-of-14 through the air for 195 yards and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22705538/68c613f6d54522d550a566fa' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39de73"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1672909' first='Camden' last='DeBruhl'] | Myrtle Beach</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeBruhl backed up Tanner Gaddy last season and stepped in for the injured senior against Irmo, going 14-of-27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns against the eventual Class 5A Division II runner-up. As a junior, DeBruhl should have command of the Seahawk offense and will bring multiple years of experience in the system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821266' first='Meleak' last='Duncan'] | Darlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duncan moved to offense last season and served as a complementary back last season as [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] was responsible for nearly 50 percent of the offense's rush attempts. The big-play potential of Duncan and Augustus' graduation should result in a spike in touches for the rising senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22386689/692df6dae9186a4e3f0b3166' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39de98"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jahkel Fields</strong> | Cheraw</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fields saw time at running back and defensive back last season for the Braves. Cheraw graduated two of its top three rushers from 2025, along with leading tackler Demaurice James as well. Add in the graduation of fellow cornerback Jihad Lee and Fields should have plenty of chances to make more plays next fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1824191' first='Amari' last='Green'] | Wilson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson's lost its top receiver to graduation as Myquan McWhite departs after accouting for 46 percent of the Tigers' receptions, 50 percent of their receiving yards, and 42 percent of their touchdowns in 2026. As the only underclassman with a catch last season, Green has a chance to work his way up in the rotation.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26707481/68c7471aa517800e3f2297d5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39deba"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1816981' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] | Conway</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson ranked third on the Tigers in rush attempts as a freshman and was Conway's top rusher who didn't double as a quarterback. With [player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820949' first='Makhai' last='Canty'] likely to continue serving as signal-callers, Johnson is recovering from a knee injury and could be called on to carry more of the rushing responsibility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26436971/68bcacd3311bcde4fa3a7b52' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39ded8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amari Jordan</strong> | Darlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan was Darlington's top underclassman defender as a sophomore, tallying 28 tackles and four tackles for loss. The Falcons graduated five of their top eight tackles from the 2025 roster, so Jordan will need to step his game up even more during his junior campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1818220' first='Mikyi' last='Littles'] | Marlboro County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlboro County loses [player_tooltip player_id='1823833' first='Tremayne' last='Ashford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey'] at wide receiver and/or tailback, meaning quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney'] will need a new target to emerge. Littles is a prime candidate after ranking fifth in receiving yards for the Bulldogs despite making just eight catches due to a broken collarbone during his sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23563762/68b273e75a5ae08122049f93' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39def9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1614136' first='Deon' last='McCall'] | Hartsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCall showed flashes as a freshman in the secondary, making eight tackles in limited playing time for the Red Foxes. The graduation of [player_tooltip player_id='1592473' first='Kylif' last='Miller'] could mean additional opportunities for McCall in the back end of the Hartsville defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22377575/691df26bda75fadc2015cdd9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39df18"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kobe McDonald</strong> | Cheraw</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonald sat behind senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='781859' first='Kadin' last='Thomas'] as a freshman, throwing just 10 passes and carrying the ball nine times. With Thomas gone, the offense will likely run through McDonald as the Braves look to secure their third consecutive winning season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1822295' first='Jaylen' last='Morris'] | Lamar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris had his hand in nearly every aspect of Lamar's 2025 season. He threw nine passes, rushed 18 times, caught five passes, and recorded 26 tackles. Lamar graduated two quarterbacks, its top rusher, and its top receiver, so Morris should see his role greatly increase as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22601071/69120a40587a47867dcaa661' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696e85e39df38"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823873' first='Zi'Reon' last='Shannon'] | Darlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darlington's aerial attack will look completely different in 2026 as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] and his top four pass-catchers all depart. Shannon will need to provide leadership in all areas as a senior wide receiver next season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derahjae Wheeler</strong> | Manning</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With defenses focusing on [player_tooltip player_id='1820895' first='CJ' last='Robinson'], who caught 47 passes for 876 yards and 13 of Lovell Stevenson's 15 touchdown passes last season, Wheeler could emerge as a crucial second option. Wheeler was one of only three players to catch a touchdown last season for the Monarchs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->