2026 Preview: James Island Trojans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>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.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe"><em>Simply head to our subscription page</em></a><em>&nbsp;and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elevate the standard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's the challenge for coaches and players from James Island head coach Jamar McKoy for his Trojans heading into 2026, after falling one game short of a state title to Summerville to cap off a 12-2 campaign in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We want to try and get better from last year because we came up short and now, it's momentum for us to get back. It's that time now,” senior defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1896110' first='Rob' last='Grant'] </strong>told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Philip Simmons on July 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Said McKoy: “Elevate the standard, and do more. The only way you can get more is to do more. So that's what we intend to do and that's what we're doing."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans are expected to be explosive again offensively and return eight starters from an offense that averaged 38 points per game in 2025, beginning with <strong>Dallayce Richardson </strong>on the offensive line at right guard. <strong>Ridge Smith </strong>is expected to get the start at left guard, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819174' first='Brennan' last='Hammond'] </strong>will anchor the center position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='485450' first='Mykell' last='Warthen'] </strong>transferred to the Trojans from Fort Dorchester, and is expected to get the nod at running back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense returns four starters that gave up an average of 14 points per game, and is expected to be strong up front with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers'] </strong>back at linebacker. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817511' first='Carter' last='Patno'] </strong>will come alongside Bowers at linebacker. <strong>Mannix Chestnut </strong>is anticipated to start on the defensive line and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2180510' first='Jamier' last='Stanley'] </strong>will anchor one of the corner spots. <strong>Burns Travis </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818952' first='Paul' last='Taylor'] </strong>will hold down the back end of the defense at the safety spots as well. The Trojans did get a transfer who is expected to start at nickel with <strong>Jock Pendergrass </strong>in the fold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819172' first='Isaac' last='Lorentz'] </strong>returns as the kicker and punter while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820396' first='Copeland' last='Nixon'] </strong>is expected to be the long snapper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2026 season opener against Oceanside Collegiate approaches on August 21, it's about taking it one day at a time for the Trojans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Every day isn't going to be the best day. Every day isn't going to be the worst day. Just keep stacking days, keep working hard, keep doing your thing. We're proud of them. We take no days off. We take nothing for granted and continue to elevate the standard,” McKoy said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664605' first='Sam' last='Crumpton'] </strong>TE, 2027 (pictured above) – Crumpton was the team's second leading receiver with 45 receptions for 645 yards and five touchdowns. He is a sure pass catcher with the ball in his hands and is tough to guard with his size. He recently committed to Charleston Southern University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036776' first='Israel' last='Harris'] </strong>OL, 2027 – The Liberty University commit will be the leader up front on the offensive line for the Trojans. He possesses all the intangibles that you want at the position – size, hands and aggressiveness. He takes the fight to the opposing lineman and has a motor that will run for four quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Harris on commitment to Liberty: “They run the ball a lot. I like Coach Bill (Durkin), the offensive coach. Coach (Jamey) Chadwell is an awesome head coach. The campus is beautiful.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1896110' first='Rob' last='Grant'] </strong>DL, 2027 – Grant was all over the football from his defensive line spot in 2025, registering 35 tackles and 15 (yes, 15) tackles for a loss. Grant told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Philip Simmons that he wants to improve on reading and recognizing the blocks and movement of opposing offensive linemen once the ball is snapped. McKoy told us he is starting to pick up interest from colleges and he's the undeniable leader of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] </strong>WR, 2027 – The All-Region selection from 2025 returns for his senior campaign as one of the top receivers in the state. He is a home run threat to score every time he touches the ball as he finished with 55 receptions for 1,409 yards and 18 touchdowns as the team's leading receiver. He has numerous offers, including recent ones in June from App State, Virginia and Coastal Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820390' first='Brady' last='Dantzler'] </strong>QB, 2027 – The two-sport athlete contributed on both sides of the ball in 2025, and is expected to take the reins as the Trojans' starting quarterback in 2026. On offense, he did more than hold his own and he could take designed quarterback runs and show off some impressive speed as he could outrun defenders. He has good vision to be patient for the blocks to develop as well. His role on defense was at safety where he could come up in run support and keep the opposing back at bay and make sure tackles – he finished 32 tackles in 2025. He plays baseball and the Trojans have only had him for a few weeks, according to McKoy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>McKoy on Dantzler: “Brady is trying to get his timing down, (and) his relationship with the receivers and understanding run protection and pass protection. Brady has been a backup the last couple of years behind his perennial, powerhouse all-star brother, Connor. But we feel in our heart of hearts that Brady will, and can get it done for us. He's had some major flashes this summer of superstardom, and we're excited for what he can do for us this fall. He can do some things that his brother necessarily couldn't. And we're going to play to his strengths this fall.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16496433/6951a28ae973529892f8fa5eu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ernrn","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5bc6d72de91"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor Dantzler </strong>QB – The older brother of Brady had a stellar senior season for the Trojans, throwing for 3495 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2025, while also being a threat on the ground, rushing for 348 yards and six touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malachi Washington </strong>RB – Washington was the Trojans' leading rusher in 2025 during his senior campaign, rushing for 729 yards and six touchdowns, with two games over 100 yards rushing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1895719' first='Jordan' last='Kendrick'] </strong>WR, 2028 – Kendrick played in all 14 of the Trojans' games last year and finished as the team's fourth leading receiver in 2025, with 29 receptions for 455 yards and three touchdowns. He could be on pace for a huge junior season and McKoy is excited about what he brings to the table.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Deuce Prioleau </strong>DB, 2028 – If you want a guy who can stride for stride with his receivers, Prioleau is your guy. He sticks it to the opposing receiver with tight coverage on the outside, not allowing them to create separation. We were also impressed with his ability to defeat blocks and make tackles in space. He finished with 27 tackles in 2025 as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1819171"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5bc6d72e122"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schrecker is dynamic in the slot and catches everything coming his way – whether it's a slant or helping his quarterback out on a scramble when the play breaks down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He knows how to find the green grass and doesn't try to dance in space. He finished 2025 with 17 receptions for 275 yards and one touchdown. McKoy says he's had a great summer and will fill the void left by graduated senior James Hurteau, who was the team's fourth leading receiver with 46 receptions wiht 558 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->