Player Matchups To Watch: Region III-2A Volume 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region III-2A provides a mix of the Catawba River Region and the Midlands, with an outstanding running back and an athlete that can make plays with the ball in his hands. There are also several linebackers who are hard hitting and are guys that opposing offenses will need to be aware of when region play kicks off in late September.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the next installment at our look at player matchups to watch for select regions:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayce Brown </strong>(WR, Andrew Jackson) and <strong>Josiah Castillo</strong> (LB, Columbia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown was a frequent target in the Vols offense in 2025, and we expect that to continue in 2026. He can make the tough catches, like on a diving catch for a touchdown or flex out on the outside and catch a quick slant for quick yardage to help keep the offense on schedule. His ability to get up field quickly is impressive on screens as he knows what to do with the ball in his hands. Once he gets in the open field, he lets his speed take over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Castillo is a hard hitter at his linebacker position. He has good instincts to recognize plays and then make sure tackles when they present themselves, like on a toss sweep play where he forced the play to the outside to make the tackle for a loss. He's a good tackler in space as well as he can come up in run support and limit the play to a short gain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822187' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal'] </strong>(RB, Kennan) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823534' first='Ryker' last='Woolstenhulme']</strong> (LB, Mid Carolina)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Neal knows when to turn on the afterburners and leave everyone in the dust. He's patient in the hole and then when he sees it, he has a burst of speed down the sidelines that is fun to watch. He has good vision to be able to find the green grass and pick up extra yardage after contact because he can break arm tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woolstenhulme is solid from the linebacker position and he can come up and make tackles in the open field. He is not afraid to come up and make a hard hit on the ball carrier and will be interesting to follow against teams that like to run the ball. Even if he doesn't make the tackle, you can rest assured he'll be in on the assist to make sure the ball carrier doesn't go any further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jakobe Starkes </strong>(ATH, Chester) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1771838' first='Kaden' last='Goff'] </strong>(LB, Newberry)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goff (pictured) had an excellent sophomore season disrupting and taking away what offenses do best. He is instinctive and knows when to time his break correctly to be able to break up passes and get an offense out of rhythm, particularly on screens and quick throws. He can also stop the run effectively and can come up and make big hits on the ball carrier and he meets them in the hole right where the run is designed to go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starkes is quick and knows what to do with the ball in his hands. He took snaps at quarterback for the Cyclones in 2025, and it will be interesting to see what they choose to do with him in 2026 and that will be contingent upon the new head coach as Victor Floyd left earlier this offseason to become the new head coach at White Knoll. Regardless, the new coach will have his athletic ability to work with. And keep an eye on him in the secondary as well, as he's dynamic there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1312528' first='Braylen' last='Harley'] </strong>(LB, Andrew Jackson) and <strong>Matthew Wilson </strong>(WR, Columbia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harley made the most of his reps he got during his sophomore season with the Vols, as he was active from his linebacker position. There was one play that caught our eye where the opposing quarterback was scrambling and he was able to stay focused in coverage and when he saw the quarterback take off, he came up and made a sure tackle, showing good instincts. We think he could be on pace for a big junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson is a dynamic athlete who can make things happen with the ball in his hands. He can break tackles and keep the offense on schedule when the ball comes his way in the quick passing game or on broken plays to bail out his quarterback. He'll also line up and take direct snaps where he can show off his speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822186' first='Jaemon' last='Benson'] </strong>(DB, Kennan) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823536' first='Davis' last='Ruff'] </strong>(QB, Mid Carolina)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benson is impactful on the outside from his cornerback position. He can play press man coverage well and defeat blocks in the run game to limit the gains and get tackles for loss in the backfield. He has good range on the ball to be able to react when the ball is in the air and make interceptions and get yards after the play is made.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruff excels at keeping plays alive in the pocket and he can launch it in the air and allow his receiver to go and make the play. This is especially true on wheel routes and other quick passes to the sideline. And there are other times where he can stand in the pocket, find a man and let the speed and athleticism of the receiver take over.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->