2026 Preview: Eastside Eagles

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.   There will be plenty of new faces on both sidelines for Eastside football this 2026 season. This year's region realignment has bumped the Eagles from Region II in Class 5A to Region I. That move offers Eastside more typical rivals than before as it is one of five Greenville County schools in the region.   On their own sideline, the Eagles must replace a handful of three-year starters who graduated last season. That includes guys that did a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball such as Peyton Schrader and Lucas Tankersley.   Coach Andre Woolcock is confident those big shoes can be filled this season and it all starts with No. 1. That's the new jersey number for Eastside senior [player_tooltip player_id='1822219' first='Christian' last='McDowell'] (pictured). This isn't your typical offseason jersey switch. For the Eagles, that No. 1 jersey means everything.   "In our program, you don't get to pick No. 1. The head coach and the previous owner decide who gets it." Woolcock said at Prep RedZone Media Day at Fountain Inn. "It was no secret that Christian was going to be in that jersey for us this season. Pound-for-pound, he's the toughest kid in our program. ... Lucas and Peyton would tell you that he's been the toughest kid in our program."   McDowell is coming off an All-Region season last year in which he found the end zone on both sides of the ball. The defensive back/wide receiver returned two of his three interceptions for scores and added two receiving touchdowns and one rushing.   "It's an honor. ... It's for a leader within the program. You have to lead by example with everything you do," McDowell said. "I got it passed down from Peyton, so I have to live up to what he did for the program."   McDowell is in the unique position of being a team leader at wide receiver in an offense that's run heavy. The best chances for him to lead by example on that side of the ball come with blocking. That's also the forte of senior center [player_tooltip player_id='1819676' first='John' last='Donovan'] .   "Run blocking is the best. I love contact," Donovan said. "As a senior, I want us to be really strong in the run game and I want to coach up the guys next to me up front."   Donovan will look to pave the way for [player_tooltip player_id='1719852' first='Kelyn' last='Durham'] , who should be the featured running back this season after rushing for more than 600 yards last season. Durham will also be a defensive leader at safety. Jamarion Perrin, [player_tooltip player_id='379094' first='Lyndez' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2106779' first='Bennett' last='Hyde'] are others who could see plenty of action on both sides of the ball.   While it may not be normal at most 5A schools to have two-way starters, Woolcock says his program embraces it.   "We want to put the best 11 on the field, whether it be special teams, offense or defense," Woolcock said. "We've got two-way starters who would get upset with us if we try to take them off the field."   There's currently a four-man competition to replace Schrader at quarterback. Seniors Colt Hampton and Peyton Burns, and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1816868' first='Kason' last='Clark'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816712' first='London' last='Butler'] are battling there.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1819676' first='John' last='Donovan'] C, 2027 - Donovan plays with the toughness and edge that Woolcock says is needed on the offensive line. He's also got his future planned out as he wants to become a firefighter after high school. "That just shows how selfless he is and he's willing to do anything for our program," Woolcock said.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818174' first='Zyair' last='Robinson'] CB, 2027 - Woolcock said Robinson is a player who kind of flew under the radar last season. He said that won't be the case for the 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='379094' first='Lyndez' last='Smith'] ATH, 2028 - At 6-foot-0 and 270 pounds, Smith is an intimidating presence whether he's running for you at linebacker or running over you at tailback. He was an All-Region performer on defense last season, where he can play linebacker or on the line. Smith posted 61 tackles, including 12 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a blocked punt, 100 yards rushing and a touchdown last year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822390' first='Frank' last='Stathakis'] DL, 2027 - On a defense loaded with seniors last season, Stathakis ranked second on the team with seven sacks. He also tied for the team lead with three fumble recoveries.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1719852' first='Kelyn' last='Durham'] RB/S, 2027 - While Tankersley and Schrader ran for more than 1,800 yards last season, Durham was also a big contributor to Eastside's 3,100-plus yards of rushing offense. Durham ran for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, he had 21 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss and an interception. While Durham likes to bring a safety mentality to running back, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound junior can zoom right past defenders as well. At the Carolinas Coaches Combine in Spartanburg in April, Durham clocked a 4.66 in the pro shuttle.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Peyton Schrader QB/LB - Schrader capped a terrific career by filling up stat columns last season. He passed for 1,245 yards and 15 touchdowns, rushed for 896 yards and 10 scores, and had 63 tackles, one sack, one interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery on defense. The three-sport star was named Region II-5A Male Athlete of the Year.   Lucas Tankersley RB/LB - Like Schrader, Tankersley did it all last season - just like he did for the previous two. He had 91 tackles, including 17 tackles-for-loss and four sacks, to finish with 335 stops in his career. He also rushed for 921 yards and 12 touchdowns. Schrader and Tankersley are still teammates as each are linebackers at Charleston Southern.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1819688' first='Ean' last='Johanning'] LB, 2029 - Despite all those seniors on defense, Johanning was able to make an impact as a freshman as he had 32 tackles and an interception. "Ean's moving from defensive back and we're excited to see what he can do at linebacker," Woolcock said.    Like Johanning - who he's teammates with on Eastside's wrestling team, Hyde also was an impactful freshman last season. He also had exactly 32 tackles and one interception. Hyde put an impressive stamp on his first season with a 13-tackle performance in the Eagles' playoff loss to Gaffney.   Hyde was also a contributor on the other side of the ball as he caught five passes, including a touchdown catch.   "He's going to do some really good things for us," Woolcock said.

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.