2026 Preview: Hillcrest Rams

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.   When season one in the head coaching career of Amos Lamb begins in August, it will mark Hillcrest's fourth head coach in the last nine years. That could spell trouble at many schools, but not at Hillcrest. Each new coach there has continued the Rams' recent tradition of winning. Over the first 56 years of the program, Hillcrest suffered 44 losing seasons. Over the last 13 years, it's had none.   Lamb has been a big part of those winning teams. He was Greg Porter's offensive coordinator in 2014 when Hillcrest won a state championship and shattered the school's single-season scoring record with 677 points (45.1 points per game). Last season, Lamb was the offensive line coach for Bennett Swygert, the only coach besides Porter to record double-digit wins in a season in school history.   "Man, I've had the opportunity to learn from some good head coaches," Lamb said.   When Swygert left to become head coach at Clover, he left Lamb anything but a bare cupboard. The Rams have talent all over the field, starting with veteran quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1604046' first='Jackson' last='Free'] , who's set for his third season as a starter. Free had more than 2,700 yards of total offense last season and accounted for 35 touchdowns.   "To have somebody that explosive but can also throw, it's really very exciting to be able to coach him," Lamb said. "He's an awesome leader for us too."   Leading the protection for Free up front will be center [player_tooltip player_id='1603877' first='Max' last='Barnes'] (pictured), who Lamb calls the "engine" of the offense. Barnes is joined by another returning starter on the offensive line in [player_tooltip player_id='1818931' first='Lucas' last='Hancock'] at right tackle.   Lamb, who's developed a reputation as an offensive line guru over his years as an assistant across the Upstate, has been working with Barnes since Barnes was a young child.   "We lost our guy (Swygert) and a lot of our family was lost," Barnes said. "I think (Lamb being promoted to head coach) was everything we needed. He was here for so long, to finally get the head coaching job ... it was what we all needed."   After a breakout sophomore season last year, [player_tooltip player_id='1051192' first='Nydarrian' last='Allen'] looks to be Hillcrest's lead running back this year. Trey Booker, a 225-pound senior, also returns after rushing for 211 yards and two touchdowns.   A total of 11 different Rams caught touchdowns last season and five of those return. Among those back are 2025 leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1149053' first='Luke' last='McCourry'] (471 yards, 22.4 yards per catch), [player_tooltip player_id='1724433' first='Kadyn' last='Stevenson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820617' first='Tyler' last='Tolbert'] (248 yards, four receiving touchdowns, 23 yards per kickoff return).   Perhaps Hillcrest's most inexperienced group overall is the secondary, but it's led by the very experienced [player_tooltip player_id='1819677' first='Gavin' last='Sullivan'] . Sullivan has been on the varsity team since his freshman season. One returning starter with Sullivan in the defensive backfield is junior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1823190' first='Xavious' last='Peay'], who had 24 tackles - including 20 solo stops, a team-high six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.   "As a senior, I'm looking to pick up the younger guys and understand what everybody has in every coverage," Sullivan said. "I just want to know what we have to do top to bottom an be an extension of our (defensive coordinator) on the field."   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1818942' first='Cory' last='Collins'] leads a big, physical defensive front for Hillcrest. He's joined there by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1818940' first='Matthew' last='Neal'] (43 tackles in 2025), junior [player_tooltip player_id='1820663' first='Mesheon' last='Jones'] (10 QB hurries), 310-pound junior [player_tooltip player_id='1547109' first='Josef' last='Hudson'] and sophomore EJ Thompson.   The Rams return a ton of linebackers including [player_tooltip player_id='1819156' first='Oliver' last='Boland'] (55 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss last season), [player_tooltip player_id='1615047' first='Kyle' last='Jackson'] (49 tackles), [player_tooltip player_id='1817594' first='Jamarion' last='Keith'] (40 tackles), [player_tooltip player_id='1824902' first='Logan' last='Dingle'] (39 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='1819162' first='Brandon' last='Kelton'] (35 tackles). Other linebackers to watch for Hillcrest this season are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1937870' first='Quintarius' last='Scott'] and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1341039' first='Tyvin' last='Grady'].   "That whole box (defensive linemen and linebackers) will be huge with regards to how we do this year," Lamb said.   On special teams, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1820612' first='Easton' last='Demarski'] is back to handle all the kicking duties again. Demarski, who's 11 points shy of the school's career kick-scoring record of 133 points, was 7-of-11 on field goals last year with a long of 44. He averaged 34 yards per punt and had 38 kickoffs result in touchbacks.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1604046' first='Jackson' last='Free'] QB, 2027 - While still maintaining a terrific running ability, Free has progressed to making more plays with his arm than his feet as he's gotten older. Last season, he passed for 2,641 yards with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for 241 yards and nine scores. Three of those touchdown passes went for 80 yards or more.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603877' first='Max' last='Barnes'] C, 2027 - After having his sophomore season interrupted by injury, Barnes recovered in a big way last season. Perhaps the most impressive part of the 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior's game is his ability to quickly adjust to the blocking task at hand after snapping the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051192' first='Nydarrian' last='Allen'] RB, 2028 - Allen is looking to build off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 655 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught seven passes for 43 yards.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818942' first='Cory' last='Collins'] DL, 2028 - Hillcrest's front seven is seemingly all juniors and Collins is the leader of the pack. Last year, Collins had 34 tackles including a team-high four sacks.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1819677' first='Gavin' last='Sullivan'] DB, 2028 - Hillcrest's tenacious defensive front often doesn't allow many tackles for Sullivan, who had 21 stops last season. When he gets the chance though, he doesn't miss. Film shows that he's an excellent open field tackler. Sullivan displays an ability to read the play well enough to always be headed in the direction of the ball. "He's very physical, very respectful and very knowledgeable about the game," Lamb said.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Josh Smith RB - In a backfield where five different Rams rushed for more than 200 yards last season, Smith led the way with 721. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns.   Jaden Brinkley OL - Paving the way for Smith last season was Brinkley, who collected a team-high 51 pancake blocks. He's now doing his blocking at Wofford.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='2126408' first='Isaiah' last='Crumpler'] WR/DB, 2029 - Powered with lightning speed, Crumpler is a budding track star at Hillcrest and football may not be far behind. Crumpler, who runs a 4.4 40, is already on the radar of colleges.   EJ Thompson DL, 2029 - There's strong and then there's "having your viral video shared by ESPN SportsCenter's social media accounts" strong. That's what happened in March when Thompson broke Hillcrest's school record with a 585-pound squat.    Stevenson burst on the scene as a freshman last season as he caught 20 passes for 356 yards (17.8 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. He also led the Rams in kickoff returns with 14 for 246 yards (17.6 yards per return).   With a full varsity season under his belt as a freshman, the future is bright for Stevenson moving forward.

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.

When season one in the head coaching career of Amos Lamb begins in August, it will mark Hillcrest's fourth head coach in the last nine years. That could spell trouble at many schools, but not at Hillcrest. Each new coach there has continued the Rams' recent tradition of winning. Over the first 56 years of the program, Hillcrest suffered 44 losing seasons. Over the last 13 years, it's had none.

Lamb has been a big part of those winning teams. He was Greg Porter's offensive coordinator in 2014 when Hillcrest won a state championship and shattered the school's single-season scoring record with 677 points (45.1 points per game). Last season, Lamb was the offensive line coach for Bennett Swygert, the only coach besides Porter to record double-digit wins in a season in school history.

"Man, I've had the opportunity to learn from some good head coaches," Lamb said.

When Swygert left to become head coach at Clover, he left Lamb anything but a bare cupboard. The Rams have talent all over the field, starting with veteran quarterback Jackson Free Jackson Free 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2027 State SC , who's set for his third season as a starter. Free had more than 2,700 yards of total offense last season and accounted for 35 touchdowns.

"To have somebody that explosive but can also throw, it's really very exciting to be able to coach him," Lamb said. "He's an awesome leader for us too."

Leading the protection for Free up front will be center Max Barnes Max Barnes 6'0" | 300 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2027 State SC (pictured), who Lamb calls the "engine" of the offense. Barnes is joined by another returning starter on the offensive line in Lucas Hancock Lucas Hancock 5'11" Hillcrest | 2027 SC at right tackle.

Lamb, who's developed a reputation as an offensive line guru over his years as an assistant across the Upstate, has been working with Barnes since Barnes was a young child.

"We lost our guy (Swygert) and a lot of our family was lost," Barnes said. "I think (Lamb being promoted to head coach) was everything we needed. He was here for so long, to finally get the head coaching job ... it was what we all needed."

After a breakout sophomore season last year, Nydarrian Allen Nydarrian Allen 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Hillcrest | 2028 State SC looks to be Hillcrest's lead running back this year. Trey Booker, a 225-pound senior, also returns after rushing for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

A total of 11 different Rams caught touchdowns last season and five of those return. Among those back are 2025 leading receiver Luke McCourry Luke McCourry 5'11" | 179 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2027 SC (471 yards, 22.4 yards per catch), Kadyn Stevenson Kadyn Stevenson 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2029 State SC and Tyler Tolbert Tyler Tolbert 5'7" Hillcrest | 2027 SC (248 yards, four receiving touchdowns, 23 yards per kickoff return).

Perhaps Hillcrest's most inexperienced group overall is the secondary, but it's led by the very experienced Gavin Sullivan Gavin Sullivan 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Hillcrest | 2027 State SC . Sullivan has been on the varsity team since his freshman season. One returning starter with Sullivan in the defensive backfield is junior cornerback Xavious Peay Xavious Peay 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Hillcrest | 2027 SC , who had 24 tackles - including 20 solo stops, a team-high six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

"As a senior, I'm looking to pick up the younger guys and understand what everybody has in every coverage," Sullivan said. "I just want to know what we have to do top to bottom an be an extension of our (defensive coordinator) on the field."

Junior Cory Collins Cory Collins 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Hillcrest | 2028 State SC leads a big, physical defensive front for Hillcrest. He's joined there by senior Matthew Neal Matthew Neal Hillcrest | 2028 SC (43 tackles in 2025), junior Mesheon Jones Mesheon Jones 6'3" Hillcrest | 2028 SC (10 QB hurries), 310-pound junior Josef Hudson Josef Hudson 6'2" | 310 lbs | DL/OL Hillcrest | 2028 State SC and sophomore EJ Thompson.

The Rams return a ton of linebackers including Oliver Boland Oliver Boland 6'0" Hillcrest | 2028 SC (55 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss last season), Kyle Jackson Kyle Jackson 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Hillcrest | 2028 State SC (49 tackles), Jamarion Keith Jamarion Keith 6'0" | MLB Hillcrest | 2027 SC (40 tackles), Logan Dingle Logan Dingle 6'0" Hillcrest | 2027 SC (39 tackles) and Brandon Kelton Brandon Kelton 6'0" Hillcrest | 2028 SC (35 tackles). Other linebackers to watch for Hillcrest this season are sophomore Quintarius Scott Quintarius Scott 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB Hillcrest | 2029 SC and transfer Tyvin Grady Tyvin Grady 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Hillcrest | 2028 State SC .

"That whole box (defensive linemen and linebackers) will be huge with regards to how we do this year," Lamb said.

On special teams, senior Easton Demarski Easton Demarski 5'11" | 160 lbs | K/P Hillcrest | 2027 State SC is back to handle all the kicking duties again. Demarski, who's 11 points shy of the school's career kick-scoring record of 133 points, was 7-of-11 on field goals last year with a long of 44. He averaged 34 yards per punt and had 38 kickoffs result in touchbacks.

STARS SET TO SHINE

Jackson Free Jackson Free 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2027 State SC QB, 2027 - While still maintaining a terrific running ability, Free has progressed to making more plays with his arm than his feet as he's gotten older. Last season, he passed for 2,641 yards with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushed for 241 yards and nine scores. Three of those touchdown passes went for 80 yards or more.

Max Barnes Max Barnes 6'0" | 300 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2027 State SC C, 2027 - After having his sophomore season interrupted by injury, Barnes recovered in a big way last season. Perhaps the most impressive part of the 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior's game is his ability to quickly adjust to the blocking task at hand after snapping the ball.

Nydarrian Allen Nydarrian Allen 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Hillcrest | 2028 State SC RB, 2028 - Allen is looking to build off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 655 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught seven passes for 43 yards.

Cory Collins Cory Collins 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Hillcrest | 2028 State SC DL, 2028 - Hillcrest's front seven is seemingly all juniors and Collins is the leader of the pack. Last year, Collins had 34 tackles including a team-high four sacks.

FILM REVIEW

Gavin Sullivan Gavin Sullivan 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Hillcrest | 2027 State SC DB, 2028 - Hillcrest's tenacious defensive front often doesn't allow many tackles for Sullivan, who had 21 stops last season. When he gets the chance though, he doesn't miss. Film shows that he's an excellent open field tackler. Sullivan displays an ability to read the play well enough to always be headed in the direction of the ball. "He's very physical, very respectful and very knowledgeable about the game," Lamb said.

BIGGEST LOSSES

Josh Smith RB - In a backfield where five different Rams rushed for more than 200 yards last season, Smith led the way with 721. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns.

Jaden Brinkley OL - Paving the way for Smith last season was Brinkley, who collected a team-high 51 pancake blocks. He's now doing his blocking at Wofford.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Isaiah Crumpler Isaiah Crumpler 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB/WR Hillcrest | 2029 SC WR/DB, 2029 - Powered with lightning speed, Crumpler is a budding track star at Hillcrest and football may not be far behind. Crumpler, who runs a 4.4 40, is already on the radar of colleges.

EJ Thompson DL, 2029 - There's strong and then there's "having your viral video shared by ESPN SportsCenter's social media accounts" strong. That's what happened in March when Thompson broke Hillcrest's school record with a 585-pound squat.