2026 Preview: Darlington Falcons

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   The Darlington offense in each of the last three seasons looked pretty one-dimensional.    Not so much that the Falcons only threw the ball or ran it, but rather, a heavily lopsided amount of the production came from one person.   Quarterback Jaylen Augustus.   Heading into 2026, Darlington is changing out of necessity - Augustus has graduated - but welcoming a more varied approach. New starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1818632' first='Alston' last='Singletary'] doesn't necessarily have all of the physical tools his predecessor yet.   At the same time, others are growing up around him in a hurry, too.   “We've had less turnovers and we're making more plays - and not just ‘self' plays, as a team thing,” reserve tailback (and linebacker) [player_tooltip player_id='1823880' first='Christian' last='Charles'] said at last week's Prep RedZone Media Days at South Florence. “We're executing, competing as one.”   From one side of the unit to the other, it's easy to see why that's happening.   The Falcons are returning four of their five offensive lineman, led by tackle Jaiden Williams-Green and [player_tooltip player_id='1815884' first='Grayson' last='Walker'] (formerly at center but now likely moving to guard). Receiver Zireon Shannon and tailback Maleak Duncan aren't exactly green, either. Tack on tight ends [player_tooltip player_id='1817353' first='Joseph' last='McClain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823876' first='Lavar' last='Mills'] and the experience level is there to help Singletary's comfort level growing by the day.    Spreading the wealth is also working the other direction, too.    As good as Augustus was, all those yards and touchdowns he often put up were a product of his own freelance capabilities. It led to a lot of watching one player.   “Alston has had an unbelievable June. It's been a great competition between him and [player_tooltip player_id='1816345' first='Simon' last='Whaley'] at the quarterback position. But Alston just makes us more dangerously offensively,” coach Jamie Johnson said. “He's a different type of runner than Jaylen was. He's more of a 200-pound quarterback. I think we've got some good pieces around him.”   With seven defensive players back on defense, too, Darlington believes the influx of new blood with the old will undoubtedly lead to more than the three wins the team achieved in 2025. Time will tell if the on-paper potential actually does.   Still, it had to start with a mindset.   It's safe to say the optimism is there.    “We're going to be pretty good. We're going to win a lot of games,” Charles said. “Now that we're 3A, playing different schools, I feel we'll win a lot of ball games and people will notice a change in us. We've just got to keep competing, keep doing our jobs.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1664618' first='Keontae' last='Scipio'] LB, 2027 - The leader of the Falcons' defense is back after recording 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Scipio was not only the most productive, he was probably the most valuable, especially when considering the turnovers he created. That will be even more important this fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823880' first='Christian' last='Charles'] LB/RB, 2027 (pictured) - In 13 career games, Charles has put up 64 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. That kind of clip will be highly useful if he stays on the field throughout his senior season. He and Scipio have a great connection, and the two of them and fellow linebacker EJ McBride will have opportunities to take over some games.   Meleak Duncan RB/DB, 2027 - The two ball carriers who put up more yards than Duncan's 168 from last season are now gone. In many ways, last year, though, was the warm up. He can handle a much heavier work load and will have a stout line in front of him to open up some holes. And since he missed some time with a high ankle sprain last year, rhythm wasn't really on his side. Now it will be.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823879' first='Shamod' last='Jackson'] DB, 2027 - Jackson's also likely going to see some time at receiver as a reserve, but where he can do a fair amount of damage week in and week out is at one of the team's safety spots. He's extremely flexible and productive out of a number of starting spots, and its how he put up 63 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.    FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1815884' first='Grayson' last='Walker'] OL/DL, 2028 - Walker was able to handle the center responsibilities for the Falcons last fall, and his mauler approach to the game will likely mean he can shift over to guard more for his junior year. At 5-foot-11 and 275 pounds, Walker is a ball of power who is almost always below the pads of the guy he's charged with blocking. It often results in Walker turning the defender not only away from the ball carrier, but facing the opposite direction entirely.     BIGGEST LOSSES   Jaylen Augustus QB - The three-year starter was the bulk of the offensive production during his time running the Falcons' offense. As a senior, he passed for 1,100, ran for another 900 and tallied 24 combined touchdowns.    Oreion Small LB - Darlington's second-leading tackler finished his final season with 64 stops, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL    [player_tooltip player_id='2146921' first='Kayden' last='Benjamin'] WR, 2029 - Benjamin isn't big. In fact, he's the opposite, hovering somewhere below the 5-foot-5 mark. However, he's the pure definition of a headache for opposing defenses. He's going to line up out wide and in the slot, take end-arounds and typically find himself in a decent amount of motion throughout it all.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817353' first='Joseph' last='McClain'] TE, 2028 - Darlington will be going into a lot of de facto heavy sets via 12-personnel sets (you'll see more evidence below). With McClain, the Falcons will be utilizing one of the two tight ends who saw some time last year but will become a regular part of the equation for the next two years. McClain is 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds and has the accompanying pop to make it count.    Mills didn't realize as much of his potential as anyone hoped last fall, when he missed significant time in the middle of the season. But it's impossible to see him in pads and not believed that Darlington has a multi-faceted threat coming through the ranks.    At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds (and with an 81-inch wing span), Mills is a physical blocker who can spring holes for ball carriers. He's also got soft hands and knows how to catch the ball away from his body, which makes him another excellent target for a young quarterback. He caught five passes in his limited time as a sophomore, and he may match that right out of the gate as a junior.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.

The Darlington offense in each of the last three seasons looked pretty one-dimensional.

Not so much that the Falcons only threw the ball or ran it, but rather, a heavily lopsided amount of the production came from one person.

Quarterback Jaylen Augustus.

Heading into 2026, Darlington is changing out of necessity - Augustus has graduated - but welcoming a more varied approach. New starting quarterback Alston Singletary Alston Singletary 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Darlington | 2029 State SC doesn't necessarily have all of the physical tools his predecessor yet.

At the same time, others are growing up around him in a hurry, too.

“We've had less turnovers and we're making more plays - and not just ‘self' plays, as a team thing,” reserve tailback (and linebacker) Christian Charles Christian Charles 5'7" | 170 lbs | LB Darlington | 2027 State SC said at last week's Prep RedZone Media Days at South Florence. “We're executing, competing as one.”

From one side of the unit to the other, it's easy to see why that's happening.

The Falcons are returning four of their five offensive lineman, led by tackle Jaiden Williams-Green and Grayson Walker Grayson Walker 6'1" | 290 lbs | OL Darlington | 2028 State SC (formerly at center but now likely moving to guard). Receiver Zireon Shannon and tailback Maleak Duncan aren't exactly green, either. Tack on tight ends Joseph McClain Joseph McClain DL Darlington | 2028 SC and Lavar Mills Lavar Mills 6'1" | 240 lbs | TE Darlington | 2028 State SC and the experience level is there to help Singletary's comfort level growing by the day.

Spreading the wealth is also working the other direction, too.

As good as Augustus was, all those yards and touchdowns he often put up were a product of his own freelance capabilities. It led to a lot of watching one player.

“Alston has had an unbelievable June. It's been a great competition between him and Simon Whaley Simon Whaley West Florence | 2027 SC at the quarterback position. But Alston just makes us more dangerously offensively,” coach Jamie Johnson said. “He's a different type of runner than Jaylen was. He's more of a 200-pound quarterback. I think we've got some good pieces around him.”

With seven defensive players back on defense, too, Darlington believes the influx of new blood with the old will undoubtedly lead to more than the three wins the team achieved in 2025. Time will tell if the on-paper potential actually does.

Still, it had to start with a mindset.

It's safe to say the optimism is there.

“We're going to be pretty good. We're going to win a lot of games,” Charles said. “Now that we're 3A, playing different schools, I feel we'll win a lot of ball games and people will notice a change in us. We've just got to keep competing, keep doing our jobs.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

Keontae Scipio Keontae Scipio 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Darlington | 2027 State SC LB, 2027 - The leader of the Falcons' defense is back after recording 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Scipio was not only the most productive, he was probably the most valuable, especially when considering the turnovers he created. That will be even more important this fall.

Christian Charles Christian Charles 5'7" | 170 lbs | LB Darlington | 2027 State SC LB/RB, 2027 (pictured) - In 13 career games, Charles has put up 64 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. That kind of clip will be highly useful if he stays on the field throughout his senior season. He and Scipio have a great connection, and the two of them and fellow linebacker EJ McBride will have opportunities to take over some games.

Meleak Duncan RB/DB, 2027 - The two ball carriers who put up more yards than Duncan's 168 from last season are now gone. In many ways, last year, though, was the warm up. He can handle a much heavier work load and will have a stout line in front of him to open up some holes. And since he missed some time with a high ankle sprain last year, rhythm wasn't really on his side. Now it will be.

Shamod Jackson Shamod Jackson Darlington | 2027 SC DB, 2027 - Jackson's also likely going to see some time at receiver as a reserve, but where he can do a fair amount of damage week in and week out is at one of the team's safety spots. He's extremely flexible and productive out of a number of starting spots, and its how he put up 63 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.

FILM REVIEW

Grayson Walker Grayson Walker 6'1" | 290 lbs | OL Darlington | 2028 State SC OL/DL, 2028 - Walker was able to handle the center responsibilities for the Falcons last fall, and his mauler approach to the game will likely mean he can shift over to guard more for his junior year. At 5-foot-11 and 275 pounds, Walker is a ball of power who is almost always below the pads of the guy he's charged with blocking. It often results in Walker turning the defender not only away from the ball carrier, but facing the opposite direction entirely.

BIGGEST LOSSES

Jaylen Augustus QB - The three-year starter was the bulk of the offensive production during his time running the Falcons' offense. As a senior, he passed for 1,100, ran for another 900 and tallied 24 combined touchdowns.

Oreion Small LB - Darlington's second-leading tackler finished his final season with 64 stops, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Kayden Benjamin Kayden Benjamin 5'3" | 101 lbs | WR/ATH Darlington | 2029 SC WR, 2029 - Benjamin isn't big. In fact, he's the opposite, hovering somewhere below the 5-foot-5 mark. However, he's the pure definition of a headache for opposing defenses. He's going to line up out wide and in the slot, take end-arounds and typically find himself in a decent amount of motion throughout it all.

Joseph McClain Joseph McClain DL Darlington | 2028 SC TE, 2028 - Darlington will be going into a lot of de facto heavy sets via 12-personnel sets (you'll see more evidence below). With McClain, the Falcons will be utilizing one of the two tight ends who saw some time last year but will become a regular part of the equation for the next two years. McClain is 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds and has the accompanying pop to make it count.

Lavar Mills

SC #269

TE #10

HEIGHT 6'1"

WEIGHT 240

POS TE

CLASS 2028

View Player

Lavar Mills

State: South Carolina

School: Darlington

Mills didn't realize as much of his potential as anyone hoped last fall, when he missed significant time in the middle of the season. But it's impossible to see him in pads and not believed that Darlington has a multi-faceted threat coming through the ranks.

At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds (and with an 81-inch wing span), Mills is a physical blocker who can spring holes for ball carriers. He's also got soft hands and knows how to catch the ball away from his body, which makes him another excellent target for a young quarterback.

He caught five passes in his limited time as a sophomore, and he may match that right out of the gate as a junior.