Player Matchups To Watch In Region III-5A Volume 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region III-5A will be seeing some changes in 2026 as teams from the Upstate and Catawba River Region will meet up with each other, similar to the old Big 16 back in the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were athletes then, and it's no different in next time around. We're kicking off a series where we'll be looking at some different individual matchups that the new-look region will provide. And there are some star-studded ones here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas'] </strong>(DB, Dorman) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means'] </strong>(QB, Northwestern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both players return for their senior seasons after stellar campaigns in 2025.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas finished with All-Region honors, and it's easy to see why. He has great size for the position and you can tell that he's a student of the game with his ability to read what a quarterback is trying to do and then he reacts quickly to make a play on the ball. He can tip balls in the air and his ability to get yards after an interception is fun to watch, too. His play was a big reason why the Cavaliers advanced to the third round against Dutch Fork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Means returns after leading the Trojans to a second straight state championship in 2025, after throwing for 2782 yards and 30 touchdowns. But what separated him from what other Northwestern quarterbacks have done in the past is his ability to run the ball, where he led the team with 1239 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has good command of what the Trojans want to do offensively, and can get it to his playmakers by finding the mismatches and taking advantage of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] </strong>(RB, Dorman) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823343' first='Malik' last='Darby'] </strong>(LB, Northwestern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Means has a burst of speed in the open field that is so fun to watch. When he gets to the second level, it's normally a house call. He has great vision that allows him a level of explosiveness combined with an ability to break through arm tackles easily. He has great lateral movement and ability to change direction when needed as well. He had over 1400 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darby has a knack for defeating blocks for the Trojans and forcing opposing running backs (or wide receivers) on jet sweeps to turn back inside. That's where he and his teammates are able to finish off the play and a lot of times, it's a tackle for a loss on the play. He can clog up run lanes and not allow the back to get going and build momentum. Darby was fifth on the team with 31 solo tackles and 23.5 tackles for loss in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820446' first='Jameson' last='Terrell'] </strong>(WR, Fort Mill) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819842' first='Tyvion' last='Hall'] </strong>(DB, Boiling Springs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terrell is a speedster with the ball in his hands and is a home run threat. Opponents will have to know where he is at all times. He runs great routes and knows how to get open. He can catch balls near the sideline or he can take a quick slant 75 yards to the house if you lose track of him. He's shifty in space and can make plays after the catch which adds an element that is helpful to have at the receiver position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hall's ability to close on the ball quickly and react when it's in the air is something to keep your eye on as we head into this new look region. He knows how to bring the physicality to the receiver without interfering and once he recognizes the routes, it can be a big play down the opposing sideline for an interception. He made one play on film where he read a screen and nearly got a pick for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2071106' first='Mason' last='Burt'] </strong>(DB, Fort Mill) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819429' first='Imri' last='Logan'] </strong>(QB, Boiling Springs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burt (pictured above) had a solid sophomore season at safety and was able to show his athletic ability in being able to tip balls in the air, or make a big hit to prevent completions. He can track down opposing running backs from one side of the field to the other and come up in run support. He finished with 34 solo tackles and multiple pass breakups in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logan is a dual threat quarterback who can roll out and find an open man in the pass game, or he can take off on called quarterback runs and pick up yardage quickly with his speed and athletic ability. He made one back shoulder throw where the receiver was able to adjust and get a first down, and that's something teams will have to be aware of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816896' first='Jonah' last='Young'] </strong>(QB, Rock Hill) and <strong>Tristan Collins </strong>(DB, Spartanburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young helped the Bearcats advance to the second round of the playoffs against Byrnes last year, and his arm was a big reason why. He can launch it to his receivers and has the vision to keep his eyes downfield and influence the safety to get his receivers open out in space, and most of the time, it's a touchdown. But if you get too caught up in that, he can beat with his legs too and if he's able to find a lane, he could pick up yards and he helps keep the offense on schedule. He threw for 1637 yards and 12 touchdowns in 9 games in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins returns for his senior season as the leader of the pack in the room for the Vikings secondary. He can come up and lay the lumber on the ball carrier and has impressive closing speed on the ball. He has good instincts to be able to recognize what plays are coming and then he's a good finisher of plays when they present themselves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->