2026 Preview: Porter-Gaud Cyclones

<!-- 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 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.&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>Confidence is not an issue at Porter-Gaud.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fact the Cyclones are coming off a five-win 2025 season need not apply.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matt Neighbors' team is loaded on defense and walking some star power back on offense. There's a mix of experience and youth and even more depth than the program had a year ago. But none of that matters if the doubt creeps in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far, so good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“State championship,” senior defensive back and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823299' first='Amir' last='Chisolm']</strong> said during last week's Prep RedZone Media Day at Philip Simmons when asked of his expectations. “I like my guys better than anybody's. I feel like we have our pieces together. We can get there and we'll see at the end of the season.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Certainly, there are more reasons to believe in this program than not. Chisolm has the type of wheels that make him dangerous at receiver, tailback or corner. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1820730' first='Daven' last='Brown'] is a big name to know up front, while linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817932' first='Beanie' last='Brown']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823302' first='Allen' last='Chisolm']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820725' first='Julian' last='Buxton']</strong> have all sorts of talent and experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offense is still working through a quarterback back between <strong>Logan Ferarro</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817934' first='Cam' last='Werntz']</strong> but the pieces around them are solid. Names like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816620' first='Gibbes' last='Allen']</strong> (tailback), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820726' first='Wilson' last='Yarborough']</strong> (receiver) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823297' first='Alexander' last='Stiglic']</strong> (right tackle) should be well known in the SCISA ranks soon enough. And the likes of safeties <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820731' first='Laken' last='Hawkins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820735' first='Huck' last='Nevin']</strong> aren't far behind. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indeed, the development has become clear, and the entire team's comfort level has grown right along with an increase in numbers around some of the stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We are very happy with what we've got,” Neighbors said. “Our roster has grown a ton. Before I got here, it was below the 40 range. Last year it was [mid-40s]. This year, its 51. Everything from last year, we've got a whole new offensive system even from two years ago. The defensive system has some new wrinkles thrown in, and we were pretty good on defense last year. So I'm excited about it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823299' first='Amir' last='Chisolm']</strong> WR/DB, 2027 (pictured) - Even just on the offensive side of the ball, calling Chisholm a receiver is a disservice to what he can do. Yes, he is a potential deep threat when he's lined up outside, but he did most of his damage last fall while lining up in various tailback sets - including the pistol - where making sure the ball getting into his hands wasn't an issue. That's how important his speed is to this offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820730' first='Daven' last='Brown']</strong> DL, 2027 - Brown brings a massive upside for a guy who chimes in just below 6-feet tall. He showed that last season, when he tied for the team lead with 16 tackles for loss, and then again this spring at the Carolinas Coaches Combines at Woodland. There aren't many SCISA offensive lineman who can handle him one and one, and the Cyclones are counting on just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820726' first='Wilson' last='Yarborough']</strong> WR, 2027 - Yarborough led the Cyclones in receptions (32), yards (320) and touchdowns (four) last fall. And while he might not even be the primary target this fall, his targets will likely increase in valuable spots when Porter-Gaud elects to put the ball in the air. He can also pitch in on special teams and defense from time to time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820725' first='Julian' last='Buxton']</strong> LB, 2027 - This defense has so many returning pieces that Buxton often gets lost in the shuffle. But his consistency as a tackler takes care of a lot of issues that slip beyond the front line. He made 77 total stops last year, and the vast majority of those were the solo variety in space.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823297' first='Alexander' last='Stiglic']</strong> OL, 2027 - Stiglic is a perfect fit for Porter-Gaud's offensive tackle spots. He's 6-foot-4 and has a solid reach that prevents opposing defensive ends from getting into his body and driving him backward. That's important, because the pace of this offense is often determined by simply delaying defenders for a split second. As he continue to develop with his rush blocking, he could be a force by the time mid-season rolls around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18412886/691c8f95ac7978a674189cc7u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a566887410d9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Shealy</strong> RB/DB - Shealy ran for 1,086 yards and nine touchdowns. His 321 yards in the season opener against Hilton Head Christian was his highlight game, but he added four more 100-yard contests before it was over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scott Tibbals</strong> QB - The dual-threat quarterback passed for 747 yards and six touchdowns and ran for another 538 yards and seven scores.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816623' first='Scooter' last='Brown']</strong> DL, 2029 - Yes, there is another player with this last name you need to be aware of. Scooter is going to start at defensive end and has the quickness to change the flow of a game in a heartbeat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816620' first='Gibbes' last='Allen']</strong> RB, 2028 - Allen was used sporadically in 2025, rushing just nine times (75 yards, one touchdown). However, he's going to take on the RB1 job this fall and will be charged with keeping this offense balanced when it needs to be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1823302"],"_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-6a566887415e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chisholm isn't necessarily a newcomer as much as it is more about 2026 starting to show everyone just how good he can be. He led the team with 117 tackles and tied for team lead in tackles for loss (16) without much fanfare attached to his production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time around, the now-junior has an opportunity to take his play-wrecking capabilities to new heights while both roaming the middle of the field or even coming off the edge in an effort to get into the backfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->