On Campus: Heathwood Hall

COLUMBIA | Heathwood Hall ended the 2025 season with a major disappointment but the journey to get to the point will be remembered for a long time by the SCISA school tucked in just off I-77 in southeast Columbia.   The Highlanders reached the state championship for the first time since 2009 but came up short in the final against Northwood Academy. They finished 9-4 and knocked off eight-time defending champion and rival Hammond in the semifinals. It was the first victory over the Skyhawks after 20-straight losses in the series.   There was a lot of good with just a little bit of bad at the end.   “I feel like it was my best season from a growth standpoint,” sophomore linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1672907' first='Heyward' last='Belser'] said. “I learned a lot from the mental aspect as well with the most important piece being leadership. All these growth points factored into the first championship berth for my school in 15 years. I want to not only go to the state championship, but win the state championship.”   Where does that leave Heathwood Hall entering the 2026 season? They have to replace record-setting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] along with long-time contributors [player_tooltip player_id='1592011' first='Jackson' last='Noble'] [player_tooltip player_id='1024349' first='Julian' last='Hughes'] and Henry Morris. But there are a lot of players that contributed in 2025 that will see much larger roles this coming season.   Let's take a look at some of the key returners.   [player_tooltip player_id='1720918' first='Keon' last='Mckinley'] ATH   McKinnley did a lot of things for the Highlanders as a junior and don't be surprised if those roles increase even more during his senior season. He was the leading receiver that finished with 56 receptions for 756 yards, and he took snaps at quarterback, and they handed the ball off to him at other times. McKinnley also made plays on defense and in special teams. It's still undecided the best way to use him, but you can rest assured he's going to get as many touches as he can handle.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672907' first='Heyward' last='Belser'] LB/RB   Belser (pictured above) is up to 210 pounds this offseason and is starting to garner the attention of college recruiters. He has a knack to find the football, and he proved that with his 136 tackles last season. He's instinctive, knows how to use angles in pursuit and doesn't mind sticking his helmet in against bigger opposition. He's only going to get better and don't be surprised to see the offers start rolling in.   Jackson Dickerson RB   We have a small sample size from Dickerson on the football field, but we watched him in basketball enough to know he's fearless and overly versatile. The Highlanders top two rushers graduated but there's a solid chance that Dickerson can replace that production by himself. He comes from an athletic family and should step in from Day One to be a solid contributor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824088' first='Liam' last='Edwards'] DB   Edwards didn't have an interception last season but that's not because he wasn't around the ball a lot. He had a team-best 17 passes defended and we feel confident that's going to translate into some picks in 2026. Edwards has good size for a defensive back at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds and he can turn and run with the best receivers. He reads the play well from his safety spot and rarely finds himself out of position.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824987' first='John' last='Thompson'] LB/TE   Heathwood Hall is blessed to have a lot of linebackers that can rotate in and out and Thompson is one of those guys. Thompson tallied 42 tackles with eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a sack. He's on the bigger side at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and that makes him a presence in the middle of the defense. He's good at defending the middle and improving on making plays on the perimeter.     [player_tooltip player_id='1817611' first='Charlie' last='Taylor'] LB   We feel like Taylor just scratched the surface last season as a sophomore. He had 32 tackles and five tackles for loss, but he has a mean streak that makes him a formidable defender. His range is getting better, but he should step right in and take a lot of snaps at linebacker and possibly some at defensive end in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824709' first='Cole' last='Moore'] DE   Moore is an edge player that saw plenty of time as a sophomore. He had 26 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries to his credit. He also should step into a starting role and see his production increase. Moore uses his hands well and can shed blocks while still reading the play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822039' first='Christian' last='Hitchcock'] and Trey Small LB   We told you this linebacker group was deep and active and Hitchcock and Small are two more examples of that. Hitchcock will be a returning starter and be one of the more experienced leaders on the defense this season. He finished with 52 tackles, six tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a fumble caused and a fumble recovery. There is a lot of experience returning on defense, but his leadership will be key. Small saw limited action as a sophomore but he's a three-sport athlete that should blossom more in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821910' first='AJ' last='Morgan'] DE/OL   Morgan is a fluid lineman on both sides of the ball that will be asked to be a two-way player again for his senior season. He had 24 tackles and five tackles for loss while manning the interior of the offensive line. He gets out well in front of plays and can lead block on the perimeter or pass block to create a nice pocket for the quarterback.   Dub Taylor OL/DL   Taylor was just a freshman last season but that didn't stop him from leaving his mark. He's going to be one of the better linemen on the team in 2026, regardless of which side of the ball it's on. Taylor is physical and could develop into one of the better prospects of the 2029 Class before it's all said and done.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824089' first='Levi' last='Glass'] DL/OL   Glass is a nose guard on defense and a guard on offense that uses leverage to his advantage. The Highlanders are looking to add depth, but Glass has the ability to perform at a high level on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He only had 14 tackles and four tackles for loss but he should push his way into a larger role in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821901' first='Will' last='Goodwin'] DB/WR   Six seniors graduated that had double digit receptions, so Goodwin is going to have to step up on offense and become more of a factor, but we think he has the skills to do so. He played sparingly in nine games last season, but he did have an interception while providing coverage on special teams and depth on both sides of the ball.

COLUMBIA | Heathwood Hall ended the 2025 season with a major disappointment but the journey to get to the point will be remembered for a long time by the SCISA school tucked in just off I-77 in southeast Columbia.