Underrated Underclassmen: 20 to Watch in CSRA

The end of high school football season once again brought with it the departure of another senior class, with those soon-to-be graduates cleaning out their lockers for the final time and handing over the keys to the program to its future leaders.   "Hope springs eternal" doesn't only apply to baseball, as now it's time to start taking a look at who those future leaders are going to be. Some programs already have many of those questions answered, with returning starters across the board who already have plenty of varsity experience. Others will be calling up former backups to the starting lineup, or even bringing up junior varsity players and can't-miss middle-schoolers who are already ready for the big time.   This list has a mixture of both, and the key word here is *underrated*. The 2028 and 2029 classes are loaded with both new and returning talent, and this list is meant to spotlight players from the CSRA I saw last season - or, even better, ones I was warned about by opposing coaches - who showed signs of becoming future stars at their respective schools.   This list isn't meant to identify the best area players right now (don't worry, we have plenty of time to get to that), but rather a group of 20 that could join those household names sooner rather than later.   Let's dive in.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824353' first='Keiondre' last='Bell'] ATH, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler   Bell's story is akin to that of HKT as a program. It has long tormented opposing defenses by quickly getting the ball to its playmakers with space to operate while just as easily bombing it downfield. Bell did it well enough to earn All Region III-A honors last season as a sophomore, showing that he's a quick learner. Maybe most impressive about him is his veteran-like ability to use his legs to buy his receivers an extra second or two to get open rather than taking off at the first sign of pressure.   Jamarcus Bosket LB, Ridge Spring-Monetta   Tellex Lanham's defenses have been a thorn in the side of Ridge Spring-Monetta's Region III-A opponents, and now it's time to do the same in the Trojans' new home in Region II-A. Those opponents may consider themselves lucky to not have to face departing seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1592013' first='Akiem' last='Mills'] [player_tooltip player_id='1592558' first='Jabarius' last='Brunson'] [player_tooltip player_id='1820067' first='D'Toris' last='Lott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820069' first='Bryce' last='Smith'] - but a big problem remains in Bosket. Even among those senior leaders amassed 44 total tackles with 9.5 for loss. And he showed signs of being a deep threat in the passing game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1856574' first='Kaleb' last='Brooks'] DB, Blackville-Hilda   Brooks wasted little time in his first year at Blackville-Hilda turning his side of the field into a no-fly zone, repeatedly drawing the opposition's best receiver and repeatedly keeping him from seeing the football. Of course, it wasn't just in pass coverage that he had an impact - he fit in quite nicely to the "Hawks hit harder" mentality that has maintained the program's reputation for playing with physicality well beyond its size. After a strong finish to last season, Blackville-Hilda should be considered among the favorites in Region IV-A, and the 6-foot rising junior should continue to eliminate the threat of the pass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns'] QB, South Aiken   Burns had his ups and downs last year as a sophomore getting his first taste of varsity action behind an offensive line with one returning starter and with fellow soph Kaeleb O'Berry next to him in the backfield. He still passed for 1,358 yards and 13 touchdowns, and now it's time to build on that with nearly the entire line returning, star receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod'] back for his senior season, and three-time All-State selection [player_tooltip player_id='1654810' first='Drelyn' last='Brown'] coming over from Silver Bluff to give Burns and the T-Breds one of the area's most dangerous weapons.    [player_tooltip player_id='1856558' first='Bralen' last='Coleman'] WR, Blackville-Hilda   New Blackville-Hilda head coach Dwayne Garrick has always tried to keep his personnel-driven offenses as multiple as possible, which has paid off to the tune of 200 wins with a state championship and four other title appearances. Odds are he's already got big things in mind for Coleman, who at 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds can give the Fighting Hawks a threat out wide much like [player_tooltip player_id='1395064' first='Messiah' last='McFadden'] posed down the middle of the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='1840755' first='Malik' last='Cuyler'] DL, Aiken   Cuyler may not have gotten the same recognition as some of his teammates on defense, but he was still a more than willing participant any time the Hornets held a meeting in an opponent's backfield. He finished the season with eight tackles for loss and three sacks in eight games, and both of those numbers could have been significantly higher had he not been sharing with [player_tooltip player_id='1467819' first='Brandon' last='Poston'], [player_tooltip player_id='1054957' first='Gray' last='Kitchings'], [player_tooltip player_id='1840750' first='Jayden' last='Merriweather'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1840735' first='Malik' last='McLaurin']. Cuyler can play in the middle or on the end, and he can get to the quarterback from either.   [player_tooltip player_id='1840730' first='Michael' last='Francis'] RB, Aiken   Francis wasted zero time leaving a big impression for the Hornets, turning heads during the Aiken County Jamboree and then carrying that right into the regular season to show signs he could potentially be a feature back in an Aiken rushing attack that by design was very much by-committee. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry through eight games before an injury, and maybe more importantly he was a key voice in a freshman class that brought a much-needed winning attitude into the Hornets' locker room.    [player_tooltip player_id='1825146' first='Kamal' last='Grant'] LB/EDGE, Fox Creek   Grant lived in the backfield last season for Fox Creek, making a team-high 16 tackles for loss among his 63 total stops. He was also one behind [player_tooltip player_id='1816110' first='John' last='Truesdell'] for the team lead in sacks with five, and he showed he was going to find his way to the ball carrier whether that was with a hand on the turf at defensive end, standing up at outside linebacker or even in kickoff coverage. The motor can't be taught, and with some refinement over time some of those near misses in the backfield can turn into more tackles for loss, more sacks and more turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820967' first='Lance' last='Hieke Jr'] ATH, Silver Bluff   Last year's starting lineup at Silver Bluff was composed almost entirely of seniors and juniors, with the lone exception being Hieke after he worked his way onto the first team as a sophomore. And he didn't disappoint. He made huge plays for Silver Bluff in the later stages of 2025, like in what could have been a multi-pick game against Keenan or in a clutch tackling performance in a first-round playoff win over North Charleston. The leading scorer on the Bulldogs' basketball team now finds himself as one of the seasoned veterans on the football roster.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818415' first='Preston' last='Holmes'] ATH, Strom Thurmond   The defending 2A state champs have some reloading to do, with several game-breaking playmakers moving on to the college ranks. The Rebels know it will take more than one player to fill in those gaps, but one who could be ready for an increased workload is Holmes. He's been a key piece on special teams, averaging 18.9 yards on a team-high 16 kickoff returns, and he rushed for a touchdown while catching a pair of two-pointers. He's gotten his feet wet in playmaking situations, and he could be in line for a lot more.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827469' first='DJ' last='Johnson'] DB, North Augusta (pictured)   While we're on the subject of underrated, defensive back play has been one of the overlooked keys to North Augusta's continued success year after year after year. The Jackets churn out corners and safeties to the college ranks, and each time one or two leave there's a couple more ready to plug right into the secondary. Johnson may be next to add his name to that list. He's got scary size (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) and athleticism, and he proved during a call-up to the varsity basketball roster that he's not afraid to go out and fight for the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='2106793' first='Jordan' last='Mack'] DB, Bethune-Bowman   Mack wasted zero time announcing his presence in his freshman season, intercepting three passes in the Mohawks' first six games. That was a big-time debut for a player Bethune-Bowman will ask more of as the Mohawks take on a new challenge in the difficult Region VI-A. He'll have his opportunities in run support, and on rare passing occasions opposing offenses will have to be mindful of where the 5-foot-10 sophomore lines up in the secondary. Don't be surprised to see him get involved on offense and special teams, too.   Caleb Mims OL, South Aiken   South Aiken has built a strong reputation for its offensive line play, and head coach Chris Hamilton takes a great deal of pride in that being his position group. Last year's line may have been his youngest in 11 years at the helm, and lone senior [player_tooltip player_id='1822588' first='Santos' last='Whitt-Hernandez'] is on his way to Charleston Southern. It's time for the next great South Aiken lineman to step forward, and that may very well be Mims at left tackle. He's got good size and all the tools at his disposal to be the cornerstone of the line for years to come, and a strong season as a heavyweight on the JV wrestling team can only help.   [player_tooltip player_id='1865444' first='Braylon' last='Patterson'] ATH, Calhoun Falls   Patterson is a pure athlete, plain and simple. He was an honorable mention Class A All-State selection in the fall as a sophomore, and he hasn't slowed down one bit. He's already surpassed 1,000 career points on the basketball court, and he's leading all of Class A in scoring. And he's doing it the same way he plays on the football field - competing on every snap and displaying all-around athleticism on both ends. The Blue Flashes know they can use him in a variety of ways, and they know they'll be successful no matter which way they choose.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822485' first='Mikah' last='Quiller'] ATH, Fox Creek   Opponents of Fox Creek had the unfortunate realization last season that, yes, there's another one. They ignored preseason warnings by continuing to throw at and kick toward [player_tooltip player_id='1822476' first='Mekhi' last='Quiller'] (Mikah's older brother), which can't possibly continue to happen again in his senior season, right? That may seem like an easy way to avoid one Quiller, but they may soon find out that Mikah is another problem altogether. He can pick up big yardage in the passing game, is a lethal kick returner, a sure tackler and plays opportunistically in the secondary when given the chance. He'll get tested in the new Region V-AAAA, but he's continued to put in the work behind the scenes to be ready for the challenge.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818416' first='Zy' last='Rouse'] ATH, Strom Thurmond   The possibilities were seemingly endless for Strom Thurmond last season in short-yardage and goal-to-go situations. The Rebels had power backs, speed backs, a mobile quarterback, a bruiser of an H-back -- and the wildcard of a 5-foot-7, 145-pound sophomore who could do a little bit of all of that. The Rebels' WildZy package (you can say you heard it here first) paid off to the tune of 13 rushing touchdowns and a passing score - and these play calls weren't in garbage time with the game well in hand. Head coach Andrew Webb called upon Rouse in key moments throughout region play and the Class 2A playoffs, and Rouse finished the season as the second-leading scorer (82) for the state champs. What will he do for an encore? Those possibilities, too, are endless.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824057' first='Terrance' last='Smith'] ATH, Midland Valley   There are a few different directions one can go when looking for young playmakers at Midland Valley, but Smith is the pick for a sneaky underrated athlete who may shed that tag much sooner than later. He's an all-purpose threat who made the most of his opportunities in a crowded skill-position group last season. He can line up at running back or wide receiver, he can return kicks, and he can burn an opposing defense that devotes two too many eyes to [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1614255' first='Allen' last='Cummings'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1820474' first='Preston' last='Smith'].   [player_tooltip player_id='1508020' first='Issack' last='Staley'] LB/RB, Midland Valley   Midland Valley started last season with a ton of youth on both sides of the ball, with even less experience on defense. Head coach Brent Dorn was counting on senior leaders like defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1506464' first='Charles' last='Richardson'] and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1557161' first='Aaron' last='Adams'] to rub off on their younger teammates, and one of them who followed that example was Staley -- so much so that he recorded a team-best 116 total tackles. His No. 8 was in the middle of the pile more often than not, and now he has a big opportunity to lead a defense that graduated key leaders like Richardson, Adams and [player_tooltip player_id='1639651' first='Bryston' last='Newton'].    [player_tooltip player_id='1645430' first='Alkaleb' last='Terrell'] RB/LB, North Augusta   Terrell has truly embraced North Augusta's mantra of being ready when your number is called, and in his first two seasons he's patiently waited and then capitalized when playing opportunities have presented themselves to him. Touchdown runs, quarterback sacks, forced fumbles - when he gets into the game, he's looking to immediately make a play. That should lead to more and more snaps for the 5-foot-8 rising junior, especially with a slot opening up in the backfield next to [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] with [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] on his way to Gardner-Webb.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825569' first='Preston' last='Thomas-Smalls'] ATH, Calhoun Falls   Thomas-Smalls is the other half of Calhoun Falls' "Preston and Braylon show," earning Class A honorable mention All-State honors while utilizing his improvisational brilliance at quarterback to surpass 2,000 yards of total offense and more than 20 scores, not to mention his efforts on defense. The Blue Flashes took another big step forward under head coach Zak Theus, and Thomas-Smalls is a huge reason why no one should expect them to step back.

The end of high school football season once again brought with it the departure of another senior class, with those soon-to-be graduates cleaning out their lockers for the final time and handing over the keys to the program to its future leaders.