Predicting Every Team’s 2026 MVP: Region IV-5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The calendar has flipped to May so it's time to really start breaking down what we can expect for the 2026 football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already seen a lot of transfers, and more are sure to come this summer. But what we can do is begin analyzing who will be the MVP for every team in the SCHSL as it stands today. This is just a guess as we don't know yet who might emerge over the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are our best guesses for Region IV-5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BLYTHEWOOD BENGALS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172352' first='Reed' last='Paolucci']</strong> OL, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of times when you're looking for an MVP, the offensive linemen are overlooked. But Paolucci is the exception to the rule. He's been a fixture on the Bengals offensive line and shown versatility in playing a multitude of positions. He proved his worth just a couple of weeks again when he dominated the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Spartanburg by earning MVP honors there. He displays great feet and quickness but also has the upper body strength to match or exceed what he will see from a defensive lineman. He also brings leadership to a Bengals team that brings back a lot from last year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20752417/691a592d750b30681085d3e3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a03976c12b7b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>GRAY COLLEGIATE WAR EAGLES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong> RB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a recent visit to Gray Collegiate, the first thing that caught our attention is how much bigger Williamson has been since we saw him last year during the season. He's taller and checking in at a solid 200 pounds but he hasn't lost any quickness or breakaway speed. The War Eagles are moving to Class 5A and will need Williamson to be a workhorse. He's proven he can fit that bill since he's coming off a 1,662-yard, 25-touchdown season. Gray Collegiate will likely only dress out 35-40 players so you might even see Williamson play some defensive end, which he did a good bit at Gilbert two seasons ago. He could be poised for a 2,000-yard season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26615002/69064243463a680a36e7b426' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a03976c12baf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RIDGE VIEW BLAZERS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard had his junior season cut short when he was injured in the second game of the season. The Blazers stayed the course and won eight games, but it would have been a lot easier with Howard running the show. Now that he's fully healthy, the expectation is Ridge View will be one of the challengers in Class 5A. Howard isn't the biggest or the quickest quarterback in the 2027 Class, but he can absolutely spin it. He can make all the throws and has one of the strongest arms in the state. The ball explodes out of his hand. Being the son of a coach, he's a student of the game and makes his reads quick and knows how to get rid of the ball before the defense has a chance to bring pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16204109/691749c24d257e32227e9fdd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a03976c12bc4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SPRING VALLEY VIKINGS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817131' first='Joshua' last='Mickey']</strong> DL, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings are coming off a 2-9 season in coach Norman Washington's first season, and the foundation is having to be reconstructed at Spring Valley. Mickey is a good place to start. He brings consistency, leadership and development to a young squad still trying to gain its footing. Mickey has been a terror in the weight room this offseason and he's been the one to hold his teammates accountable, which is a trait the coaching staff has been looking for among the players. Others look towards Mickey for that type of leadership and are drawn to the actions more than the words he speaks. He should skyrocket past the 35 tackles and nine tackles for loss he recorded last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23431683/68dc0d008a737b07e9b64af7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a03976c12bd5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SUMTER GAMECOCKS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson (pictured) is a tank and has proven what he can do as a runner as a two-year starter with the Gamecocks. But with new coach Drew Marlowe in tow, you can expect to see more of Richardson in the passing game as well as the running game. Marlowe has a track record of throwing it all over the field (see <strong>LaNorris Sellers</strong> and <strong>Messiah Jackson</strong>) so you will probably see a more refined Richardson this fall. He ran for 1,502 yards and 31 touchdowns last season while adding 651 yards passing and four TD's last season. He has a real chance to be over 1,000 yards in both categories in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19708165/691410fa1e6fee66dfb5c78b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a03976c12be5"} /-->