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

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The calendar has flipped to June 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 during camps and 7-on-7 events that's sprinkled on the calendar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is our look at the teams in Region III-5A<strong>. </strong>This region stayed the same as the last realignment two-year cycle so these teams are very familiar with each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CHAPIN EAGLES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2182512' first='Clinton' last='Gentry']</strong> DL, 2027 (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there is one thing we've learned by watching Cory Helms coached teams over the last several years is they're going to be tough, disciplined and not back down from anyone. Helms has had turnaround seasons at Cardinal Newman and Pelion and now he's going to try to do the same for Chapin. He has a building block in Gentry, a hard-nosed, aggressive player that's going to plug into the defensive line to wreak havoc as much as possible. He works hard and Helms expects him to be a disruptive, violent player this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18031295/693106a56f3c5abdcb40ea1fu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a2a1d0821d43"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DUTCH FORK SILVER FOXES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts']</strong> QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's just face the facts. When you're the four-time defending state champion, there's an abundance of talent to pick from. With apologies to the likes of DL [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] and DL [player_tooltip player_id='1422589' first='Peyton' last='Bishop'] among others, we went with Knotts. He's going to be the one guiding the offense for a second consecutive season. His confidence grew each week last year and by the time the Silver Foxes knocked off Summerville in the state title game, Knotts had full understanding of the offense and made great decisions with the ball. We think he could take a monumental leap in performance this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16738154/68d18d0aab2f611abc6fd213u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a2a1d0821dd5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LEXINGTON WILDCATS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker']</strong> QB, 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crocker was forced into action as a freshman and while it might have been a year or two sooner than expected, he more than held himself accountable. He's a coach's son (OL coach Justin Crocker is his father) and he is tough as nails. He had a handful of games last season where he physically got beaten up but he always got up and went back to the huddle. He's smart, athletic (he was the starting catcher for the Wildcats baseball team) and plays with passion and hunger. He gained valuable experience last season and that should translate to better production this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19843898/6938c8b692752ff4074cdbbau0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a2a1d0821e08"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RIVER BLUFF GATORS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078102' first='Darius' last='Carter']</strong> WR/ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We saw Carter twice last season in person, and he didn't disappoint in either contest. He's explosive, a ball hawk and has a knack for making the big play when needed. Carter attacks the ball at its highest point and never feels like the defender is good enough to cover him one-on-one. His offers are starting to roll in from the Group of 5 schools, and we should see that continue. He caught 62 passes for just over 900 yards last season, and we think he could reach the 75-catch, 1,200-yard mark this season. He's a threat on special teams and also plays defensive back when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22413761/68c815325435b5deb2e1b150u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a2a1d0821e39"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>WHITE KNOLL TIMBERWOLVES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817584' first='Brayden' last='Weston']</strong> OL/DE, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weston was more than likely the Timberwolves best offensive lineman as a sophomore, but new coach Victor Floyd believes he's going to be a natural fit playing a defensive end spot this fall. The 5-foot-10, 250-pounder plays with a high motor, toughness and never takes a play off. Floyd said he didn't know much about Weston when he took the job, but he's done everything asked of him and has become a natural leader. He checks all the boxes to be a great high school football player and Floyd believes defensive end might be his best position when all things are said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->