Receiver Position Strong in New Region V-4A

To say the passing game is finally catching on for prep football programs in the new Region V-4A would be quite the understatement.   Yes, previous versions of the region were defined by prolific rushing threats like Terrence Smith and Jevon Edwards from South Aiken, Traevon Dunbar from Midland Valley and [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] from North Augusta, and that's just from the last three senior classes.   But that doesn't mean the teams from this region - Aiken, Fox Creek, Irmo, Midland Valley, North Augusta and South Aiken - haven't shown the ability to move it well through the air. The 2026 season should be one that features a lot of successful pitch-and-catch from region teams, even with several of them returning runners with big-time credentials.   Here's a quick peek at some of the top receivers on track to return to their respective rosters for at least one more season. plus a glance at those who should be in line for a lot more targets with the seniors in front of them having cleaned out their lockers for the last time.   AIKEN   The Hornets were very much a run-heavy team in year one under Steve Hibbitts, but Aiken's by-committee approach wasn't because [player_tooltip player_id='1853105' first='Tanner' last='Padgett'] couldn't make the throws and his receivers couldn't make plays in space - there were just so many good options to run the football. [player_tooltip player_id='1840715' first='Tarrant' last='McKenzie'] is back as Aiken's top returning wide receiver after snagging 29 balls for 283 yards last season, and he proved to be just as effective on quick screens as jump-ball opportunities. With second-leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1840708' first='Caleb' last='Griffin'] lost to graduation there's an opening for someone like [player_tooltip player_id='1840740' first='Stephan' last='Pope'] to step into an expanded role after showing plenty of playmaking ability as a freshman.    FOX CREEK   [player_tooltip player_id='1824044' first='Bryson' last='Crawford'] set a new program single-season rushing record last year, and [player_tooltip player_id='1821681' first='Brandon' last='Wallace'] proved to be a dangerous runner from his QB position, but by no means did that mean Fox Creek shied away from throwing the football. Playmaker extraordinaire [player_tooltip player_id='1822476' first='Mekhi' last='Quiller'] returns for his senior season after leading the team with 18 catches for 348 yards and four touchdowns, and [player_tooltip player_id='1822490' first='Char'tavious' last='Weaver'] also proved to be a downfield threat by averaging nearly 30 yards per catch with a couple of touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1648430' first='Riley' last='Howell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1819969' first='Manny' last='Abro'] were both seniors last season, which could lead to more activity in a receiving role for [player_tooltip player_id='1822485' first='Mikah' last='Quiller'] to further showcase his skills.    IRMO   The Yellow Jackets dropped down to Class 4A after back-to-back trips to the Class 5A, Division 2 state championship game, and despite some offseason movement on the roster Irmo still brings back plenty of talent to this CSRA-heavy region. Five of Irmo's top seven receivers from last year are slated to return, and leading the way is all-purpose threat [player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady'] after catching 33 balls for 510 yards with 10 total touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1820287' first='Ethan' last='Singletary'] is a speedster who rolls over a 21.7-yards-per-catch average from last year, and Demarion Arrington could be ready to make a big leap forward after averaging 16 yards per catch as a sophomore. It won't take long for the region's defensive backs to become very familiar with Irmo's passing game.    MIDLAND VALLEY   Midland Valley brings back a ton of talent from last year, and rising senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='644030' first='Xavier' last='Geter'] will have plenty of familiar targets to choose from every time he drops back to pass. The Mustangs return eight players who combined to catch 138 of the team's 139 completions last season, with six making at least 10 catches. Hybrid tight end/wide receiver extraordinaire [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] is the top returning receiver with 540 yards and seven touchdowns on 34 catches, and deep threat [player_tooltip player_id='1824045' first='Jaylen' last='Washington'] isn't far behind after hauling in 23 balls for 447 yards and four touchdowns. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1820474' first='Preston' last='Smith'] also averaged nearly 20 yards per catch with three touchdowns, while sure-handed [player_tooltip player_id='1614255' first='Allen' last='Cummings'] had a solid junior season with 31 catches for 342 yards and four scores. Not bad considering the Mustangs' offensive production was nearly a 50-50 split between rushing and passing.    NORTH AUGUSTA   The 2026 season will be another opportunity for North Augusta to show how it doesn't ever truly need to rebuild - the Jackets just reload. They were senior-dominant in the receiving corps last year, and with Cam Frazier [player_tooltip player_id='1734538' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1734528' first='Toian' last='Nabriat'] all departing it will be time for North Augusta's younger receivers to make names for themselves. [player_tooltip player_id='1819541' first='Ky'Dre' last='Wright'] is already well on his way to doing that, having recently received his first Division 1 offer from Cincinnati, and [player_tooltip player_id='1839952' first='Zay' last='Harris'] could be ready to take a step forward after proving himself in the fire of a run to the basketball state championship game. Returning running back [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] is going to take on a much heavier load with [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] off to Gardner-Webb, and he'll be a safety valve for quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1819537' first='Collin' last='Tillman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary'] as they lead the offense for another season.    SOUTH AIKEN   South Aiken has a headliner at wide receiver in rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod'] (pictured) after a Class 4A All-State season that included 42 catches for 657 yards and seven touchdowns to lead a much more pass-heavy T-Breds offense. McLeod came over from Kennedy Middle already with the height and leaping ability to be a jump-ball receiver, and he's continued to expand his skillset to truly become a complete receiver. Offers have started rolling in for McLeod in the last few weeks, with Appalachian State, Miami (Ohio), Mercer and Old Dominion all reaching out since late January. He'll receive even more attention this fall, especially after the departures of South Aiken's No. 2 and No. 3 receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='1822590' first='Zay'lynn' last='Hightower'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820075' first='Keon' last='Raysor'] due to graduation. Rising junior Jack Ziegler is the second-leaving returning receiver, and Silver Bluff transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1654810' first='Drelyn' last='Brown'] gives quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns'] one of the area's most explosive playmakers as a potential game-breaking coming out of the backfield.

To say the passing game is finally catching on for prep football programs in the new Region V-4A would be quite the understatement.