Predicting Every Team's 2026 MVP: Region V-4A

The 2026 high school football season is drawing closer by the day.   Spring practices are underway now that it's May, and before long it will be time to get all of those season previews dialed up for every team in every region throughout the SCHSL.   Consider this series to be a preview of the previews. We're taking a look at every single roster in the state to put together a list of our team MVP predictions. This particular installment dives into Region V-4A, which will still contain the four 4A teams in Aiken County with some new additions in nearby neighbor Fox Creek, which is moving up from Class 3A, and Irmo, which is making the move down from 5A to rekindle some series from generations past.   AIKEN HORNETS   [player_tooltip player_id='1840771' first='Darrenton' last='Jones'] OL, 2028   The glimpses were there last year from an Aiken High team that was desperate in year one under Steve Hibbitts to prove that it's ready to turn the corner and return to the type of successful seasons the Hornets haven't enjoyed in two decades. A late play made by the opposition here and there stonewalled a few potential victories, but it was clear that the attitude has changed, and it was mostly the younger members of the roster who were leading that charge. Aiken has several key returners who very easily could make an MVP case, but the reason we think Jones is the pick is because the one glaring weakness Aiken has had over the last decade has been a lack of continuity on the offensive line. This past season was a big step in the right direction, and Jones is the type of player who makes the others around him better. Aiken has had some solid defenses in recent years that ran out of gas because they spent too much time on the field. Jones can be a big reason that all turns around in 2026.    FOX CREEK PREDATORS   [player_tooltip player_id='1824044' first='Bryson' last='Crawford'] RB, 2027   Fox Creek is once again going through another period of transition, in more ways than one. The Predators are again on the move in classification, this time jumping up from 3A to 4A to join a group of mostly-local opponents that will be new to the schedule. Another big change is going to be Fox Creek's new big whistle, with Lemuel Lackey moving a few miles down the road to be Silver Bluff's new head coach. The Predators will have to adjust quickly, and in many cases a summer coaching change means sticking to the basics while everyone gets acclimated. One thing that Fox Creek knows has worked is handing it off to Crawford, who erupted onto the scene last season with a program-record 1,391 yards and 21 touchdowns. Duplicating a 7-yards-per-carry average should be tougher this year, but getting anywhere close to that will be more than enough to help ease some of those growing pains that will accompany the newness.    IRMO YELLOW JACKETS   [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] DL, 2027   Irmo has plenty of talent returning to the field after a second consecutive 12-win season and trip to the 5A Division 2 state championship game. The Yellow Jackets figure to be a top contender in a new-look Class 4A, and Bryant is a huge reason why. This list has a few offensive players on it, and plenty of others had valid reasons to be considered. And each one is going to be disrupted by Bryant when the time comes to face off with Irmo. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound LSU commit is a terror coming off the edge, which helped lead to team-highs last season in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (10) to give him 41 and 27.5, respectively, for his career, and don't rule him out to break up passes, force and recover fumbles, block kicks or whatever else it takes to keep winning games. That's MVP-caliber to us.    MIDLAND VALLEY MUSTANGS   [player_tooltip player_id='1615063' first='Preston' last='Smith'] RB, 2028   He wore the "C" on his chest as a sophomore for a reason. Smith is a natural leader both with his words and his actions, leading his teammates through offseason drills the same way he carried the offense at times last season. The goal for a Midland Valley offense loaded with young talent was to achieve a 50/50 balance between run and pass, even if that didn't necessarily mean an even split during an individual game. As such, there were nights that were more run-heavy, like 229- and 334-yaard performances against Brookland-Cayce and Airport, respectively, and others where his production was just as steady despite fewer carries while the Mustangs took to the skies. It all added up to a 1,262-yard season, and through his first two seasons he's averaged 7.5 yards per carry. Expect more of the same, especially now that the Mustangs' dangerous passing game won't sneak up on anyone anymore.    NORTH AUGUSTA YELLOW JACKETS   [player_tooltip player_id='1825018' first='Simeon' last='Jones Jr'], DL 2027   There could have been probably a dozen different answers in this spot, but our pick from a loaded North Augusta roster is going to be the guy that's going to occupy the most guys wearing other jerseys. The 6-foot, 332-pounder has the size and strength to require some extra attention, which will clear things up for his fellow defensive linemen and linebackers to clean up any tackles he doesn't make, and the ball hawks in the defensive backfield will capitalize on the rushed throws he forces. And that's before we get into the tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, turnovers forced and, yes, touchdowns scored on the horizon as Jones assumes his role as the leader of the next dominant defensive line at North Augusta.    SOUTH AIKEN THOROUGHBREDS   [player_tooltip player_id='1654810' first='Drelyn' last='Brown'] RB, 2027 (pictured)   This one's a little bit of a wildcard, as Brown is new to the roster after transferring over from Silver Bluff. Only he's not exactly new. Brown will be rejoining a bunch of old friends from his Kennedy Middle days for a bit of a homecoming in his senior season, and he adds more All-State credentials to a roster that has its fair share of big-name talent. Here's the reason we like Brown as the pick: Even though South Aiken was as pass-happy last season as it's ever been under Chris Hamilton, the T-Breds' best teams during his 11-year tenure have been the ones who have run the ball effectively. The quicker-than-a-hiccup Brown has rushed for a combined 2,297 yards and 22 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and he should have more than enough room for his one-cut-and-gone exploits behind an offensive line that is slated to return four of five starters.

The 2026 high school football season is drawing closer by the day.