On Campus: Gray Collegiate War Eagles

WEST COLUMBIA | As recent as the 2023-2024 school year, Gray Collegiate was competing in Class 2A where they won a state title in 2021 and played for another in 2023. But now because of rule changes by the South Carolina High School League with a multiplier being used for kids outside of a school's attendance zone, the War Eagles will be competing in Class 5A, the largest classification in South Carolina.   As we saw during our recent visit, Gray Collegiate will still probably only dress out anywhere between 35-40 players max, but that doesn't take away from the fact that these kids can go. They will have a lot of two-way standouts and that's just fine for a group of rising seniors that have provided leadership to the program over the last two seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='1647592' first='Corey' last='Gleaton'] [player_tooltip player_id='1319663' first='Royce' last='Williamson'] [player_tooltip player_id='1422610' first='Jack' last='Armstrong'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] are at the forefront of that leadership.   It's going to be a challenging schedule for the War Eagles. They play Hilton Head, River Bluff, James Island, Mountain View Prep, South Florence and Dutch Fork in the non-region portion of the schedule. They have a defending state champion and state runner-up in that list before facing the likes of Sumter and Ridge View in region play.   “It's the same mindset we've had the last few seasons and just continue to fight,” Gleaton said this week. “We have a lot of heart and want to work. After we lost in the semifinals last year, we got right back to work. We're going to continue to fight together. We feed off each other's energy and will be ready to go.”   Here is a look at 13 players that will be ready to make a splash in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1319663' first='Royce' last='Williamson'] WR/DB and [player_tooltip player_id='1647592' first='Corey' last='Gleaton'] WR/DB   We grouped these two players together because they are almost interchangeable. They're two of the top playmakers in the Midlands and they're standouts on offense, defense and special teams. We don't expect that to change much in 2026. Gleaton caught 52 passes for 1,243 yards (almost 24 yards per reception) with 12 touchdowns while Williamson (pictured) added 42 catches for 725 yards and eight touchdowns. They combined to register 99 tackles and 14 interceptions on defense. They got better and better as the season progressed and there's reason to believe they just scratched the surface on their potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] RB   Williamson added a dimension that was missing from the War Eagles attack in 2024. The junior rushed for 1,662 yards and 25 touchdowns and he could easily top the 2,000-yard mark in 2026. He's durable, can run between the tackles and has the speed to reach the corner and take it the distance. He averaged just over 16 carries per game but that was because Gray Collegiate rested him in the second half of several games where they had large leads. He's somehow gotten even bigger and stronger since the end of last season and that should result in Williamson being able to handle 20+ touches per game and still be effective.    [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'] QB   Wright was the newcomer on the scene last season, but it didn't take long for the freshman to make a splash on the varsity level. He was receiving reps early in the season, but when [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] suffered an injury, Wright moved into the starting role and never relinquished it. He completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 2,202 yards and 22 touchdowns. Wright does all the little things correctly and plays with such poise you don't know if the War Eagles are ahead or behind on the scoreboard. He has all the tools to be one of the next great quarterbacks to come out of South Carolina.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824729' first='Domarion' last='Wilson'] LB   Wilson was a plug and play guy last season when he saw action in 10 games. He was able to get experience at several of the linebacker spots and should settle into one or two this season as a starter. He's physical and runs well to be able to make plays all over the field. Gray Collegiate lost its entire starting linebacker group last season and will channel in players like Wilson to be key contributors in 2026. Wilson contributed 39 tackles and four tackles for loss.    RJ Oliver DB   Oliver is a sophomore that played in nine varsity games last season. He contributed 19 tackles and an interception but will be counted on for much more in 2026. The secondary has a lot of different options, but Oliver should fit nicely in at one of the safety spots. He can cover or come up and offer support in run defense as well. Oliver is part of a talented 2028 Class for Gray Collegiate that just needs the experience to go along with the upside they provide.   [player_tooltip player_id='2083018' first='Carson' last='Cartwright'] DL   Cartwright is one the more intriguing prospects on the War Eagles. He's a work in progress but his overall size and athleticism allowed him to register 68 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 13 games last season. He's 6-foot-6 and can play on the interior at defensive tackle and have his hand on the ground or come off the edge to apply pressure. Once he figures everything out about leverage and technique, he's going to be almost impossible to block in a one-on-one situation.    [player_tooltip player_id='1422610' first='Jack' last='Armstrong'] OL/DL   Armstrong is built to be a two-way standout and that's just what he did a season ago. We ultimately believe his future is on the offensive line, but he did contribute 37 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks last season. Armstrong is one of the strongest players in all the Midlands and he can overpower opponents at times. He's experienced and disciplined and that is one of the traits he's picked up because he's the son of a coach. We expect Armstrong to end his career as one of the most coveted offensive linemen in the 2027 Class.     [player_tooltip player_id='1824178' first='Trey' last='Johnson'] OL/DL   Johnson has the size and intangibles college coaches look for in an offensive lineman. He's 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and plays with a mean streak, which is a huge benefit. He's agile and moves well for a player his size. He's likely to see more time on defense in 2026 so his stamina and endurance will be on display for much of the season. He's been a multi-year starter so paired with Armstrong, the War Eagles are well equipped to have a solid nucleus to build around.    Jason Epps LB/S   The War Eagles were hit hard by graduation on defense and in particular at the linebacker spot. There are high expectations for Epps to come in and be a huge contributor right away. He was able to get under the bright lights of varsity football last season for limited reps, but the expectation is for him to become a full-time starter in 2026. Epps is a hybrid defender that will play linebacker and safety. He's got the body for both positions at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds that flies around to the football.   Hampton Boling LB/LS   Boling was called up from the junior varsity team late in the season and made two starts after being called up. He moves well and reads and reacts to plays very quickly. He's going to gain experience quickly and be counted on to be one of the leaders on defense. The War Eagles had four players last season that were credited with over 100 tackles each and all four have graduated. There's a lot of tackles to go around and Boiling should take up some of that slack. He's also a long snapper, which is a skill that could open some eyes as well.   Ryan Mobley DB/S   Mobley is another player that was able to see action later in the season and he even added a scoop and score against Aiken. He finished with 15 tackles in four games but will be counted on heavily this season. He's athletic and will be able to match up with taller receivers as well as the smaller, quicker slot guys. He's going to have to be one of the leaders in the secondary and play a lot of snaps for a roster that is probably going to be 40 players or less.   Weston Mims P/K   Mims is bigger than your average kicker and the left footer has a huge leg to boot. He's got a quick release on punts and a strong leg for kickoffs and field goal/extra point attempts. He's also calm under pressure as evidenced by his game-winning kick on the road against Hilton Head in the third round of the playoffs. He's going to be a weapon in forcing teams to drive 80 yards after a kickoff and giving the coaching staff options from the 25-yard line and less.

WEST COLUMBIA | As recent as the 2023-2024 school year, Gray Collegiate was competing in Class 2A where they won a state title in 2021 and played for another in 2023. But now because of rule changes by the South Carolina High School League with a multiplier being used for kids outside of a school's attendance zone, the War Eagles will be competing in Class 5A, the largest classification in South Carolina.