2026 Preview: Rock Hill Bearcats

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 brought with it some growing pains for Rock Hill's football program.   New head coach, new systems, new faces in new places - all things that teams go through, and for many of those teams a 7-5 record with a trip to the second round of the state playoffs would be looked at as successful despite the circumstances.   Those programs don't reside in Football City, USA, though. The Bearcats know what the expectations are in Rock Hill, and they don't need the state championship trophies their neighbors brought home in December as a reminder of that.   Much of last year was spent getting onto the same page, and when everything clicked it worked well enough to produce a 4-2 record in the brutal Region III-5A and a home game in the first round of the 5A, Division II playoffs, which the Bearcats won in a rout over Spring Valley before falling to Byrnes in round two.   All of those things that required extra focus last year during the summer and fall months are already in place heading into the 2026 season, and now that focus can turn toward charting their own path toward December in year two under Leon Boulware.   "Everything was new, so we all had to just combine together and get together," wide receiver/defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1088328' first='Nigel' last='Lightner'] said during the final Prep RedZone Media Days stop at Westwood. "Now we're a really good team and have really good team bonding, and we're just really good with each other."   Rock Hill clawed its way to some tight wins in region play, a good sign for a group that returns nine starters on offense and 10 on defense including a host of players who earned All-Region honors.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816894' first='Myles' last='Brooks'] returns after an honorable mention All-State junior season, and he'll lock down one of the starting cornerback spots while also logging snaps at wide receiver. Lightner is another All-State pick and is in the same boat as Brooks, roaming the back line at free safety while also competing for one of the receiver spots, and [player_tooltip player_id='1635381' first='Kaleb' last='Wright'] brings All-State credentials of his own to his inside linebacker slot.   The Bearcats return plenty on the offensive line, with guard [player_tooltip player_id='1820817' first='Christian' last='Payton'] and tackle/long snapper [player_tooltip player_id='1820823' first='Elijah' last='Alcala'] coming back after All-Region seasons. Rising junior Michael Tadi will anchor the line at center, and Campbell commit [player_tooltip player_id='2104507' first='Ames' last='Oliver'] like Tadi has transferred in from North Carolina and will fill the other tackle spot.   That will only continue to help [player_tooltip player_id='1816896' first='Jonah' last='Young'] develop after an honorable mention All-Region sophomore season heading into his junior year with plenty of veteran weapons at his disposal. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1818213' first='Devan' last='Erby'] joined him on the All-Region team last year, and the Bearcats have added South Pointe transfer - and North Carolina A&T commit - [player_tooltip player_id='1603697' first='Zymier' last='Gordon-Miles'] at another RB spot.   Veterans Lightner, Brooks and [player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'] will team with rising juniors like Corinthian Bowser and [player_tooltip player_id='2151273' first='Amaren' last='Neely'] to give the Bearcats a deep, talented receiver group.   Those same players will patrol the secondary, which should be one of the better units in the state. The Bearcats added [player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp'] from Lewisville, where he was a multi-time All-State defensive lineman, to take an outside linebacker spot in their 3-4 defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1823452' first='Donovan' last='Franklin'] joines Wright in the middle after a productive 2025. Rock Hill also boasts one of the most valuable special-teamers in the state with Davidson commit [player_tooltip player_id='1818204' first='James' last='Heckard'] handling kicking and punting duties.   SCHSL realignment means a new-look Region II-5A. Rock Hill will still face Northwestern and Fort Mill in league play and will now add Boiling Springs, Dorman and Spartanburg in a five-game sprint toward the postseason.   "We love the competition. We love to compete," said Wright. "We love the teams that we've got to play in the games ahead."   They won't have to wait long to compete. Up first is an Aug. 21 date at Irmo in a matchup in which the Bearcats can quickly send a message that last year is well behind them.   "Rock Hill football, the tradition's back," Brooks said. "It's time for everybody to start respecting us."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1816894' first='Myles' last='Brooks'] WR/DB, 2027 (pictured) - Scoring a total of 14 total touchdowns across four different categories suggests that Brooks is a problem with the ball in his hands, which is true. But that's only part of it. The James Madison commit is also a problem without the ball, establishing himself as a lock-down defensive back who takes his receivers out of the play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1088328' first='Nigel' last='Lightner'] WR/DB, 2027 - Division I offers keep trickling in for Lightner, who added one from Duquesne on Monday not long after the Bearcats headed home from Westwood. He's a multi-sport athlete who was named Male Athlete of the Year at Rock Hill, an award which speaks for itself. He has a high-level motor and competes all the way through each rep, meaning a pass break-up or turnover can happen at any time he's near the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='2104507' first='Ames' last='Oliver'] OL, 2027 - It's not just the size that will get you, though at 6-foot-6 and 272 pounds Oliver certainly does have plenty of it. It's more what he does with that size. The Campbell commit has an 82-inch wingspan and pairs that with nimble footwork, and we expect him to have a big season leading the Bearcats up front.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'] WR/DB, 2027 - Watkins, like Brooks a recent James Madison commit, neared 1,000 yards of all-purpose offense last year with 10 touchdowns with four interceptions, 22 pass break-ups and zero touchdowns allowed on defense, and he also brings in a winning attitude after helping South Pointe to last year's 4A state title.   FILM ROOM   [player_tooltip player_id='1635381' first='Kaleb' last='Wright'] LB, 2027 - What we love about Wright is that he has the size at 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds to play with the necessary physicality to lead the defense from his middle linebacker spot, yet he has the athleticism to make the plays you'd expect more out of an outside backer or bigger defensive back. A big plus there is that means Rock Hill doesn't need to substitute in obvious passing downs to get him off the field in favor of a linebacker with a little more range. He has the vision and explosiveness to get through gaps in a hurry, diagnosing the play and then accelerating to meet the ball carrier. And, once he gets there, said ball carrier isn't getting away.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Kolben Thompson LB - Thompson was an honorable mention All-State pick last year as a senior after logging 116 total tackles (10 for loss) with eight sacks.   Zaire Williams DL - Williams joined Thompson on the honorable mention All-State list, wrapping up his high school career with a 54-tackle (12 for loss), nine-sack campaign.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Corinthian Bowser WR, 2028 - Bowser is an MVP-caliber talent on the basketball court while also earning honors in track and field, and on the football field he can take over one of those receiver spots to give a teammate, or teammates, also playing defensive back a breather.   Michael Tadi OL, 2028 - Tadi has transferred in from West Charlotte to join a veteran offensive line, and the 6-foot, 290-pounder will anchor it from the center position.    Young started nine games last year as a sophomore, passing for 1,637 yards and 12 touchdowns while earning honorable mention All-Region III-5A honors.   He's back to lead the offense again after a productive offseason, and there's no shortage of veteran weapons around him. He's only going to get better as he continues to get stronger and develop his understanding of the offense, and this year he could cement himself as a household name in the state.

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.