2026 Preview: Keenan Raiders

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.   Last year was a disjointed one, to say the least, for Keenan's football program.   The Raiders couldn't recapture what led to an eight-win 2024, stumbling backward to a 3-8 record in 2025 and looking more often than not like a team that couldn't make up its mind about exactly what it wanted to be on a given day.   That's a dangerous example to set for a program with so many young players incoming, which is why the Raiders' veteran leaders are stepping up to make sure the brotherhood from before returns before they leave.   "I definitely want to bring back the support and love we have for each other. Whether win or lose, we always pick each other up at the end of the game," edge rusher/linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1615103' first='Conrad' last='Hampton'] said at last week's Prep RedZone Media Days at Westwood. "Texting each other, on the bus, after the game, we always pick each other up either way. So I definitely want to bring that more toward this season, for sure, because we've got younger ones coming in, freshmen, and I definitely want to show them that same love and same support."   Hampton and his teammates on the defensive side of the ball will be watched closely this season after a talented group last year didn't get enough help from the offense and suffered breakdowns that contributed to 29.1 points per game for the opposition.   The linebackers should be stout, with Hampton joining All-State pick [player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon'] [player_tooltip player_id='1817638' first='Tavares' last='Lively'] and Kristian McQueen to lead the group, plus a bit of a wildcard in Richland Northeast transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1822782' first='Donohue' last='McNeal'] who can line up at linebacker, on the defensive line or even at quarterback.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818234' first='Ethan' last='Jackson'] and Kaedon Lumpkins are returning leaders on both lines, and the Raiders will have plenty of two-way talent like [player_tooltip player_id='1664508' first='Jordan' last='Wilson'] ready to make plays in the secondary.   Wilson will again assume a starring role at wide receiver, where he'll be joined by [player_tooltip player_id='1821762' first='Marcus' last='Simpson Jr'] and potentially with [player_tooltip player_id='1818235' first='Jamauri' last='Johnson'] returning back to his natural position after filling in at quarterback last season while Keenan awaited a transfer ruling.   That could lead to a potent passing attack, but [player_tooltip player_id='1822187' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal'] didn't hesitate to name the team's best path to victory.   "Running the ball," he said.   Of course, he's earned the right to say that after surpassing 1,000 rushing yards last season and earning Class 3A All-State recognition.   His teammates laughed, not at the notion but of how quickly he blurted it out.   "Put the ball into (O'Neal's) hands, let him do what he can do," Jackson added. "Of course, I'm going to be out there blocking for him. He'll get into that end zone regardless."   Head coach Jarrett Neely has stressed to his team the importance of buying in every day, and he's hopeful that the program embracing four core values of discipline, accountability, brotherhood and effort will be apparent to the community as the Raiders look to push last year's three-win total, the program's worst since the shortened 2020 season, far out of their memory.   It's a fresh slate for Keenan following SCHSL realignment, with the Raiders returning to Class 2A with a league schedule featuring far more local opponents that won't require as much travel as during the previous cycle.   Andrew Jackson, Chester, Columbia and Mid-Carolina are the new region foes, with Newberry the lone holdover from Region IV-3A. The Raiders' first opportunity to show they're back on the right track will be the Aug. 21 opener at Swansea.   "With me being in the program for four years already, I've already played in 2A my freshman year and 3A in my sophomore and junior year," Jackson said. "Now we're back in 2A, and it's still the same goal at the end of the day."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon'] LB, 2027 - Dixon earned honorable mention Class 3A All-State honors after a monster junior season, piling up a team-high 124 total tackles (13 for loss) with four sacks, four forced fumbles and seven QB hurries.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818234' first='Ethan' last='Jackson'] OL/DL, 2027 - Jackson is a force up front on both sides of the ball for the Raiders. On the offensive line, he helped clear the way for a run game that averaged six yards per carry. On defense, he added 37 total tackles with four for loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822187' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal'] RB, 2027 (pictured) - Opposing defenses knew O'Neal would be getting the ball plenty last year, and that still didn't do them much good. The first-team All-State pick rushed for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 192 carries, and we may see him get a little more involved in the passing game this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664508' first='Jordan' last='Wilson'] WR/DB, 2027 - Wilson's a threat whenever the ball is nearby. He'll be a big help in the passing game, where he gained 513 of his 863 total yards last season, and he's a capable playmaker in the secondary, too. And there's no break from him on special teams. He was one of the best in the state last year on punt returns, averaging 23.3 yards per attempt.   FILM ROOM   Kaedon Lumpkins OL/DL, 2027 - It doesn't take long to see Lumpkins is an interior lineman with a keen understanding of how to win the leverage game. As an offensive guard, he pushed defenders aside to carve out running room while also standing tall against both tackles and ends in pass protection. He also showed his burst at defensive tackle, and his vision and agility were on display when he, even at 5-foot-11 and 265 pounds, found ways to fit between the guys across from him to either clog the line of scrimmage or plant a ball carrier in the backfield. He's a strong, high-IQ player, and after watching his film you won't be surprised to learn he was a 3A state qualifier in wrestling, finishing second in the Lower State as a heavyweight with a season record of 21-3.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Tyreik Davenport-Smith DL/LB - Davenport-Smith had a huge senior season in 2025, earning honorable mention All-State honors while finishing with 93 total tackles and team-bests in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (7.5).   QuaShaun Hampton OL/DL - The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder leaves behind big shoes to fill, in more ways than one, on both sides of the ball. He finished the season with eight tackles for loss, and in February he committed to Chowan.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1818235' first='Jamauri' last='Johnson'] QB/WR, 2028 - A natural receiver, Johnson brought continuity to the offense last year by starting a majority of the season at quarterback and leading the team in passing while the Raiders awaited a transfer ruling. The 6-foot-4, 170-pounder also averaged 9.2 yards per carry.   Kristian McQueen LB, 2029 - McQueen introduced himself in a big way as a freshman, finishing fifth on the team in total tackles with 43 while sharing the team lead with four forced fumbles. He also was credited with eight QB hurries.    Hampton's best trait is his relentlessness. Watch the film, and before the snap you'll wonder why the 5-foot-8, 165-pound kid has his hand in the dirt across from an offensive tackle with 100+ pounds on him. By the time you finish that thought, Hampton is bringing down the ball carrier somewhere behind the line of scrimmage, or he's chased him from one sideline to the other to bring him down.   That doesn't change when he lines up at linebacker, and he does a great job of remaining in control to keep from taking himself out of plays. So it's no surprise that he finished last season with 67 total tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries, nor is it that he finished wrestling season ranked eighth in 3A in the 175-pound class.

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.