2026 Preview: Lower Richland Diamond Hornets

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.   Lower Richland's football team has heard the chatter.   The players have heard the doubt, that surely the Diamon Hornets are due for a step back after a team that went 6-5 last year lost practically every major contributor.   The numbers support that theory. Lower Richland will begin the 2026 season without the players who accounted for 86.7% of their rushing yards and 86.8% of their receiving yards a year ago. The projected starting lineup is loaded with seniors and juniors, but for many it will be their first time as varsity starters.   They hear it, and they're using it as fuel.   "We've got a lot of people doubting us," quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1817639' first='Raymond' last='McLaughlin'] said at last week's Prep RedZone Media Days at Westwood. "I just want us to come into this season and prove everybody wrong, because we've got a lot of people doubting us."   That may be the theme all season long for Lower Richland, which won six games last year in a difficult Region V-4A to reach the state playoffs and was rewarded with 16 players earning All-State recognition.   Fifteen of them were seniors, and the lone junior transferred.   That's not to suggest that the cupboard is bare. Far from it. There's just some new labels that will have to be learned.   "I'm ready to just get it on the road, start it up and have the best senior year possible, carry on with my little brothers and just play that game of football, organized football together as a team one last year, having fun," said lineman Jory Taylor. "That's what I'm looking forward to, and keeping that LANK (Let a Naysayer Know) business going. We love to say that around here. We love to just keep that LANK business going."   It's a close-knit team with a tight bond, which those veteran leaders are counting on to keep the Diamond Hornets together down the stretch in key region games heading into the postseason as they look to make a run. They're not the seniors from a year ago, but they're still putting that trust into knowing that the players lined up to either side of them are there for the same fight.   McLaughlin is back at quarterback after appearing in five games last season as a sophomore, and he'll have senior [player_tooltip player_id='1823910' first='Michale' last='Moss'] and junior Antonio Toney joining him in the backfield. [player_tooltip player_id='1823988' first='Josh' last='Tucker'] is slated to start at both wide receiver and cornerback for his senior season after doing most of his work on defense last year, and he'll lead youngsters like sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1817679' first='Zach' last='Ross'] and junior Brian Ramsey at the receiver spots.   Quincy Brown is the lone senior on the offensive line, with a trio of rising juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1817673' first='Danarion' last='Bethel'] Brennan Grooms and Taylen Mitchell looking to be strong building blocks for the next two seasons.   Taylor and Maxwell Wilson are the seniors on the defensive line, Wilson coming back as Lower Richland's top returning defender. [player_tooltip player_id='1816308' first='Malik' last='Katio'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817667' first='Mikale' last='Katio'] will contend for starting linebacker spots, and [player_tooltip player_id='1816330' first='Logan' last='Styles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817663' first='Mekhi' last='Stephens'] are projected to join Tucker and [player_tooltip player_id='1824604' first='Kayden' last='Sumpter'] in the secondary.   Though mostly new starters, this group still is leaning on experience from last year and lessons learned to improve rather than regress. An added bonus is that the returners got their first true taste of Lower Richland's tradition last season, and they're hungry to keep that going.   This will be a good season to do just that, with SCHSL realignment moving the Diamond Hornets back down to Class 3A and grouping them with more local opponents with deep ties. Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Camden, Gilbert and Swansea make up the Region IV-3A slate, and the season begins in earnest with the Aug. 21 opener at home against Fairfield Central.   "We want to go out in the first game and make a statement, make a statement that we can start something up in the state," Tucker said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1816308' first='Malik' last='Katio'] LB, 2028 - Katio is the second-leading returning tackler on the team, and after spot appearances in eight games last year it's time to assume a new role as one of the defense's mainstays.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824604' first='Kayden' last='Sumpter'] WR/DB, 2028 - Sumpter showed off his athleticism in the secondary and on kick returns last year, and after successful basketball and baseball seasons he's ready to step up as the starting free safety.   Jory Taylor OL/DL, 2027 (pictured) - A senior leader up front, the 6-foot-1, 307-pounder can play any position on the offensive line.   Maxwell Wilson LB, 2027 - Wilson is the top returning tackler from last season, having made 51 total stops with a team-leading 18 tackles for loss.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1823988' first='Josh' last='Tucker'] DB, 2027 - Tucker keeps his eyes in the backfield and does a good job of diagnosing the play rather than falling for any eye candy and getting caught out of position. His reaction time is good, and even on well-placed balls he can't reach he still has a knack for either knocking the ball away from the receiver or knocking the receiver out of bounds. He's an effective tackler coming up to stop the run, he plays the deep ball like he's the wide receiver and he looks like a natural with the ball in his hands.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Daquan Middleton TE - Middleton was a first-team Class 4A All-State selection last year as a senior, and he was a frequent and reliable target for an offense that didn't put it in the air a ton.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823904' first='Maurice' last='Horry'] OL/DL - Horry was an honorable mention All-State pick last year, with 52 total tackles and 16.5 for loss, but now is on the roster at A.C. Flora.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1817679' first='Zach' last='Ross'] WR, 2029 - Ross is a big target in the passing game, checking in at 6-foot-2 with the ability to also play some tight end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817673' first='Danarion' last='Bethel'] OL, 2028 - Bethel can play at either tackle spot and can also cause some havoc at defensive end.    McLaughlin picked up some key experience last season as a sophomore, appearing in five games and completing more than 52% of his passes with five touchdowns against only two interceptions.   He's got great size and a powerful arm, and he's only going to get better as he continues building chemistry with his receivers. That comfort level has only continued to grow during 7-on-7s, and if the offensive line can jell quickly he could be in line for a big start to the season.

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.