2026 Preview: Hartsville Red Foxes

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When Hartsville quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] pointed out that Hartsville “always has a 4.4 guy at running back,” he wasn't simply identifying current teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] and his freakish wheels.    Whatever is in the Red Foxes' water has been there for some time, and we don't need to rattle off all the speed demons who have come through the program.    But as the 2026 season approaches, maximizing those track stars in pads are again going to take center stage - if the even bigger picture can come into focus.    “We always have athletes. It's more about teaching those athletes what to do,” Wallace said June's Prep RedZone Media Day at South Florence. “That's what we've done a really good job about [this offseason]. We always have guys who can fly around the field. Those guys have helped open up the field some more.”   Hillian and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] are the headliners, as anyone who has watched those rising juniors the last two seasons or during one of their GPS or laser-testing sessions can tell you. But to do more than last season's 7-5 finish, blending it with the rest of the game has to matter, too. That's where the offensive line and the defense as a whole were addressed for the better part of the last six months.    Those responsible for springing the offense's Big Three are now comprised of returning guard Fred Turner and four new starters after former center [player_tooltip player_id='1820409' first='Crayton' last='McKnight'] moved to defensive tackle. Sophomore Vance Horton is slotted for center, and he'll be sandwiched by four upperclassmen.   On the other side of the ball, eight returning starters will be highlighted by linebackers Ziyon Mason and [player_tooltip player_id='1822989' first='Jamyari' last='Scipio-Bishop'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578290' first='Rod' last='Cranford'] at safety, sure, but a scheme change wrapped around some new defensive coaches means moving into a 3-4 from the 4-2-5 the team used in recent years. And that puts even more of the onus onto McKnight and big defensive ends Pat Rhoad and Levy Henry while keeping the additional two linebackers free to make plays and move around depending on the play call.   Cranford said the high hopes aren't simply stemming from preseason optimism. He and Wallace said a renewed focus on the weight room and little habits are all paying dividends.    “We know what we're capable of. We've just got to show the world,” Cranford said. “My teammates and I are more focused and have more attention to detail. Effort. Effort.”   And a whole bunch of speed won't hurt, either.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] QB, 2028 (pictured) - Wallace's first year as the full-time starter had to be looked at as a success. He threw for more than 1,500 yards and had a four-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio. Yet, he can be even better this fall. Wallace, at times, struggled with his completion percentage, especially early in the year. Over time, that number ticked up some. If he can be even slightly more accurate on the completion rate, the offense takes another jump.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] RB, 2028 - With speed to burn and a 1,000-yard rushing season already in his back pocket, Hillian is on the verge of going after some of the school's most notable tailbacks in the last decade. He averaged 8.7 yards per carry last fall, and we're not simply getting caught up in the moment by saying he should flirt with double digits in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] WR, 2028 - It appears that Hartsville is going to put even more pressure on defensive backs charged with covering Hickmon by leaving him on the outside by himself even more. With his speed, that's going be an advantage for the Red Foxes. Hickmon was one of three players who topped 500 receiving yards as a sophomore. The other two have now run out of eligibility.    Fred Turner OL, 2027 - In this offense, guys like Turner are worth their weight in gold. The quick-footed and active guard is seemingly always moving, and often in a lateral fashion. The reason is clear; Hartsville's stable of tailbacks are all looking for that cut-back lane to spring a huge run, and putting the defensive line on skates is a great way to accomplish that. Turner is pretty darn good at making that task look easy.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1820409' first='Crayton' last='McKnight'] DL, 2027    McKnight will be making the move from offensive center to nose guard for his senior year, and while we don't have much reel to show you at his “new” position, the physicality he brought to the other side of the ball last year has to be taken into consideration. McKnight is a load at 5-foot-11 and 325 pounds. He ripped off 28 reps on the 185-pound bench during the Carolinas Coaches Combine back in March. McKnight and the Red Foxes' defense will need him to disrupt opposing offenses as well as he was doling out blocks a year ago.     BIGGEST LOSSES   Aaden Starnes OL - Starnes was a sizable anchor on an offensive line that helped produce about 5,000 yards of total offense. He played both guard and tackle during his final two seasons in uniform before signing with Newberry.    Chris Price DL - The big man in the trenches was often a focal point for opposing offensive blocking schemes yet still managed to put up 61 tackles and 22 tackles for loss. He signed with North Carolina A&T.    Kylif Miller RB - Miller led the team in carries, yards and rushing touchdowns last fall en route to a 1,000-yard campaign, He also caught eight passes for another 100+ yards and a touchdowns.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Daniel Taylor RB, 2029 - Hartsville saw enough out of Taylor as a freshman and during the first two-thirds of the offseason to promote him up the depth chart enough where he'll now be one of the team's third primary ball carriers. Anyone who has watched the Red Foxes knows that player will have some production, too.    Vance Horton OL, 2029 - Horton's arrival allowed the Red Foxes to move McKnight to the other side of the ball. Horton isn't huge at 5-foot-11 and somewhere around 230 pounds, But he is pretty athletic and is now playing for a defensive coordinator with some experience getting the most out of high-motor guys.     The defensive staff is excited about McCall's long-term abilities and even used some reserve snaps to start getting his feet under him during his freshman season.    He's going to start in the secondary as a sophomore, and his eight tackles from last year are almost assuredly going to start looking pretty paltry within a few games this fall. McCall is pretty adept in run support, whether he's starting in open space or lined up at the snap in direct man-to-man coverage.

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.