Biggest Offseason Storylines In Class 4A

The South Carolina High School League has completed the two-year realignment plan, transfers are occurring faster than we can keep up with and coaches are changing schools as this article is being written.   But that's not going to stop us from looking at some of the current storylines for Class 4A in 2026. This is how things look in the middle of February and we're sure there might be more changes and challenges on the horizon, but we will keep you updated with those as we receive them.   We know all about athlete [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] (transfer to Westside, No. 2 in 2027 rankings), DL [player_tooltip player_id='1591712' first='Seth' last='Tillman'] (South Pointe, No. 4, 2027)) and the Irmo tandem of DL [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] (No. 6, 2027) and DL [player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings'] (No. 8, 2027).     Here is what else we know as of now.   REALIGNMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS   South Pointe and South Florence played for the Class 4A state championship, and both are back with a chance to reach the championship game once again. The Bruins lost coach Drew Marlowe to Sumter and replaced him with Dutch Fork assistant coach Scott Braswell.   South Pointe won the title but must replace athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1819627' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] - the 2025 PRZ Player of the Year. But the Stallions still have Tillman along with 2027 athletes [player_tooltip player_id='1603697' first='Zymier' last='Gordon-Miles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'], 2027 LB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg'], 2027 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1604450' first='Joshua' last='Norris'], 2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1809702' first='Amari' last='Dogan'] in the mix. The Bruins will have 2028 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1615015' first='Warnell' last='Prew'], 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1907565' first='Cam' last='Jones'], 2027 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1820912' first='Luke' last='Thayer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823529' first='Travis' last='Sansbury'] back.   The newcomers to 4A have some highly rated players. Irmo has played in the last two Class 5A, Division II state championships and dropped down in the new realignment. We've already mentioned Bryant and Jennings, but they also have 2027 OL [player_tooltip player_id='756223' first='Nate' last='Carson'] and 2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1604012' first='Jamar' last='Grissett'] returning. Add in 2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1856841' first='Britton' last='Davis'] and 2028 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady'] and the Yellow Jackets will be a team to watch. (Editor's Note: Incoming North Carolina transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1675598' first='Tai' last='Phillips'] will be featured in this Friday's Community Film Room, giving you a solid breakdown of Irmo's newest star.)   Some others to take notice of that dropped down from 5A will include Indian Land with 2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] and 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1422617' first='Jackson' last='Conner'] back after the Warriors finished with an 11-2 record and the two losses came against eventual state champion Northwestern.   TL Hanna went 10-2 and was eliminated from the playoffs by Indian Land. They will rely on 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1664582' first='Elijah' last='Grimes'] and 2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1664486' first='Jaylon' last='Watson'] to still be a factor in Class 4A this coming season. Greenville went 7-5 last year but boosted a healthy stock of players that include 2028 RB/QB [player_tooltip player_id='1050653' first='Kiishawn' last='Farrow'], 2028 athlete Tristian Bryant, 2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1664480' first='JaQwon' last='Haygood'] and 2027 DL/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1664361' first='John' last='Conners'] among others that will contribute greatly.   Myrtle Beach went 8-4 last season and had one of the better crops of returners from across the state with 2028 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1615100' first='Makhi' last='Shaw'] (a 2025 summer transfer from Kingstree), 2028 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1506630' first='DP' last='Jordan'], 2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1603757' first='Amare' last='Brown'] and 2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1664545' first='JJ' last='Brown'] in the mix. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1672909' first='Camden' last='DeBruhl'] will be taking over the job full time, but he's had some experience behind center the last two years.   Gaffney is probably going to have a lot to say as well. The Indians will get a huge boost from Irmo transfer 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White'] to join 2027 RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1604058' first='Kareem' last='Shaw'] in the backfield. They also return 2027 OL [player_tooltip player_id='691267' first='CJ' last='Brooks'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey'], 2027 TE [player_tooltip player_id='1790749' first='Trason' last='Smith'] and 2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1664489' first='Ayden' last='Montgomery'] in a stocked classification. The defense will be led by 2028 DB [player_tooltip player_id='873100' first='Zion' last='Dawkins'] back as well.   TEAMS THAT WILL STILL BE A FACTOR   There are teams that competed in 4A in 2025 that feel like they left some unfinished business on the field. One of those include Westside, who will lean on 2028 DL [player_tooltip player_id='403133' first='Christian' last='Webb-Scott'], 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1664575' first='Malachi' last='Peterson'] and 2029 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1881741' first='Bear' last='Woods'] among others to give them a chance to become a contender again. North Augusta did a lot of good things last season before crashing out in the playoffs. They will look to 2027 RB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] and 2028 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1827469' first='DJ' last='Johnson'] to be leaders after a dominant 2026 Class graduated. We're also taking a good look at both of the Jackets' two quarterbacks coming this week.   Two teams down on the coast in the Lowcountry could also play a role in the postseason. We will start with Bluffton after they finished 8-3 last season. The Bobcats have 2027 WR's [player_tooltip player_id='1036774' first='Amare' last='Patterson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820466' first='Roman' last='Benjamin'] 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1422587' first='Kordell' last='Holley'] and 2028 DB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1827471' first='Aaiden' last='Howell'] back to provide a spark. Hilton Head finished 11-2 last season and had two of the more productive players coming back in 2027 RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] (1,110 yards rushing and 81 tackles) and 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] (93 tackles and 14 tackles for loss). They will also have 2028 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1820344' first='Jayson' last='Arrieta'] back on what should be a stacked defense.   WHO ARE THE NEXT STARS?   We've touched on players from the 2027, 2028 and 2029 Classes so far but let's take a closer look at the Class of 2029. There are several players that have already made their mark and a few more that are ready to take those next steps.   You've heard about these kids, but you will hear a lot more about them over the next three seasons.   We've already talked about South Pointe and Westside, but they have some young players ready to make a splash. The Stallions have a budding star in freshman RB [player_tooltip player_id='1301740' first='Ra'Sean' last='Brown'] while the Rams have talented WR [player_tooltip player_id='1817438' first='Jae' last='White'] ready to team with Woods in the passing game.   The CSRA looks to be loaded as well. South Aiken DB [player_tooltip player_id='1840728' first='Jaydon' last='Moore'] doesn't back down from a challenge and is going to develop into one of the best. Aiken has two players in LB [player_tooltip player_id='1840741' first='Johnny' last='Dobbs'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1840730' first='Michael' last='Francis'] that will be well known sooner rather than later. Add North Augusta DL [player_tooltip player_id='1839899' first='Dez' last='Davis'] into the mix and Region 5-4A is set for years to come.   The Upstate region isn't left out of the mix with York Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1881803' first='Ta'Mir' last='Thrower'], Easley WR [player_tooltip player_id='1825491' first='Malachi' last='Debnam'] and Greer QB [player_tooltip player_id='2106784' first='Xavier' last='Sammet'] leading the youth movement. And don't discount the development of Lucy Beckham LB [player_tooltip player_id='2106764' first='Alex' last='Clamp'] out of the lowcountry.   THESE QUARTERBACKS HAVE NEXT   Each year we cycle through quarterbacks, but the future seems to be bright, at least on the 4A level. You have throwers, runners and just the best athlete on the field taking snaps.   Let's start with Fountain Inn's [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] (pictured), who threw for 2,069 yards and rushed for 785 yards while accounting for 39 touchdowns. Riverside's [player_tooltip player_id='463113' first='Gideon' last='Merhib'] is another dual threat after throwing for 2,361 yards, rushing for 822 yards and responsible for 27 touchdowns.     Clover will have a new coach in Bennett Swygert, and he will have a reliable QB in [player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey'] to run the show. Jody Jenerette is the new coach at Conway, and he will use the talents of [player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg'] to run the show. Legg will benefit from having Jenerette calling the shots.   Aiken's [player_tooltip player_id='1853105' first='Tanner' last='Padgett'] probably just scratched the service last season and could see his numbers double from what he posted last season. North Myrtle Beach has [player_tooltip player_id='1822553' first='Will' last='McNeely'] back under center along with new coach Perry Woolbright on the scene. Woolbright is a former quarterback himself so that should help McNeely greatly. May River QB [player_tooltip player_id='1763286' first='Luc' last='Tran'] is a game-manager that rarely throws the ball but relies on a running game that went for over 3,000 yards last season. Tran rushed for 455 yards and five touchdowns.   All the quarterbacks already mentioned are in the 2027 Class, but we also want to mention Lugoff-Elgin's [player_tooltip player_id='1823858' first='Zach' last='Williams'] from the class of 2028. He threw for 2,443 yards and 19 touchdowns a season ago and with the talent being built around him could be even more effective in 2026.   OTHERS TO WATCH   We've covered a lot so far, but we wouldn't feel comfortable if we left out mentioning these players.   Greenwood is talented on the offensive line, and the best might be 2028 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1818427' first='Jayden' last='Cunningham'], who is a bulldozer when needed. Lugoff-Elgin will benefit from the transfer of RB [player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning'] from White Knoll to pair with 2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson'] and 2028 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1823864' first='Jace' last='Coleman'] on a Demons roster that might be the most talented they've had in years.   South Aiken will lean heavily on 2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod'] and 2028 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1615072' first='Levar' last='Gilchrist'] to try and improve on the 5-6 record last season. AC Flora has been hit hard by graduation as well as transfers but has a solid building block returning in 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='2083700' first='Jaylin' last='Simmons'], who rushed for 1,237 yards last season.   Fox Creek is making the move up from Class 3A and has 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1824044' first='Bryson' last='Crawford'] returning after rushing for 1,391 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. May River has a chance to be a factor with 2028 LB/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1763272' first='Michael' last='Poole'] back in the fold. Catawba Ridge is moving down from Class 5A and they've been hit by transfer as well but have talented 2027 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson'] returning.

The South Carolina High School League has completed the two-year realignment plan, transfers are occurring faster than we can keep up with and coaches are changing schools as this article is being written.