2026 Preview: Hilton Head Christian 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 through 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.   2025 was an up and down year for the Eagles of Hilton Head Christian, as they finished 6-6 with a loss to Wilson Hall in the second round of the SCISA playoffs.   With a plethora of talent returning on both sides of the ball, 2026 is a year where they are trying to make a deeper run as the season kicks off on the road against John Paul on August 14.   “We're excited. We've got a lot more experience. We were pretty young last year. Everybody knows what they're doing and they're hitting their groove now so we're ready for the season,” senior quarterback and linebacker Kres Langhlas (pictured above) told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Philip Simmons last week.   The Eagles return eight starters back offensively that includes all but one guy on the offensive line beginning with [player_tooltip player_id='1820222' first='Owen' last='Musser'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820224' first='Josh' last='Koepke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822739' first='Austin' last='Marshall']. [player_tooltip player_id='1820221' first='Chase' last='White'] is tentatively slated to get the start at running back and [player_tooltip player_id='1818735' first='Wes' last='Langhals'] is slated to start at one of the receiver positions. This is an offense that likes to throw the ball around quite a bit and averaged 30 points per game, and the cohesiveness on the offensive line will be key in 2026.   “They actually enjoy hanging out with each other, which I think is huge, which is going to allow our quarterback to have enough time to be able to sit back and go through his reads. And if he has enough time to throw the ball with ([player_tooltip player_id='1822732' first='Jackson' last='Richardson']) and ([player_tooltip player_id='1607177' first='Joey' last='Houpt']) being able to run routes. I think it's going to be tough to where you can't find a way to double team these guys. You're going to have to find a way to put pressure and hope you have enough speed and power to get to our quarterback,” offensive coordinator John Houpt told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Philip Simmons last week.   The defense returns eight starters starting up front on the defensive line at end with [player_tooltip player_id='1822738' first='Logan' last='Baker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822736' first='McClure' last='Talbert'] at safety. Jaciel Castellanos and [player_tooltip player_id='1825218' first='Hudson' last='Factor'] are expected to start on the defensive line as well. There are quite a few guys that will flip from the offensive side to the defensive side of the ball like the Langhlas brothers at linebacker and cornerback and having that competition will make everyone better.   “They were so young last year, and their confidence is just growing. We always go out every day when we do throw, we try to go against all eight on defense because we run a 3-4 just to make it tough on us. We don't run 7-on-7 just to win 7-on-7 games. We try to run our defense and our offense, so we know when we get to August, how to run the system,” Houpt said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1607177' first='Joey' last='Houpt'] WR, 2027 – Houpt was a guy that was a jack-of-all trades for the Eagles in 2025. He was the team's leading receiver with 69 receptions for 1313 yards and 13 touchdowns. The explosive play is an attribute he wants to continue to grow in. He could also flip over at linebacker and hold down the fort with 31 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss and two sacks and two forced fumbles. And he was also the team's punter with 19 punts with six of them landing inside the 20.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822732' first='Jackson' last='Richardson'] WR, 2027 – Richardson is a downfield threat at receiver as he returns for his senior season. He had 45 receptions for 645 yards and five touchdowns in six games for the Eagles in 2025. He told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Philip Simmons last week that he wants to focus on blocking downfield and creating space for his teammates.   Kres Langhlas QB, 2027 – Langhlas prepares to take over the reins full time for the Eagles after throwing for 1793 yards and 19 touchdowns in six games in 2025. He also showed an ability to make plays on the ground with 387 yards and 7 touchdowns in five games last year. He played linebacker last year as well and held his own with 39 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns.   Langhlas on something he wants to take to another level in 2026: “Just my IQ as a quarterback. Just use my brain to pick apart defenses as well as my legs.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1820220' first='Hayne' last='Burden'] DE, 2028 – Burden returns as one of the leaders up front on the defensive line, and he was all over the football as the team's leading tackler. He had 105 tackles, four sacks and 13 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble in 2025.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1820221' first='Chase' last='White'] LB, 2028 – White is a sure tackler from his linebacker position, and has what you're looking for at the position. He can read the run well and clog up run lanes and get into the backfield quickly after recognizing the play. He can move well from sideline to sideline to make tackles in the pass game as well. He finished 2025 with 82 tackles, 1 sack, five tackles for a loss, an interception and one fumble recovery.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Reid McCollum QB – McCollum threw for 1400 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games, while also rushing the ball 73 times for 231 yards and five touchdowns.   Finn Ussery DB – Ussery was the team's second leading tackler on defense with 87 total tackles and five tackles for a loss. He could also flip over to the offensive side at receiver, where he had 8 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1820464' first='Keyvon' last='Aiken'] DB, 2028 – Aiken will be counted on as one of the leaders in the secondary, as he can stay stride for stride with receivers and not allow them to get behind him. He finished 2025 with 31 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss with one interception and four pass breakups.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822729' first='Sam' last='Strum'] WR, 2028 – Strum is a sure pass catcher from his receiver position. He knows how to find the green grass and get open in the slot and he should be a viable target in the passing game for the quarterback in 2026. The three-sport athlete also excels on the basketball court and the soccer field.    Altizer is making a move to offensive line after spending most of the 2025 season playing on the defensive front. He was able to wreak havoc on opposing run games by taking a good first step and using his hands and quickness to get into the backfield many times before the play had a chance to get going.   The Eagles are extremely stable on that side of the ball, and Altizer is versatile enough to make the move. It will be interesting to see how the switch to the offensive line benefits him in 2026.

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 through 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.