CSRA's Best: Zone's Top 10 Must-Watch Players

The CSRA is geared up for a big 2026 season, in more ways than one.   State title defenses will be focal points, as will region championship chases in new-look leagues under the new SCHSL realignment.   Key to those races will be loads of talented returning stars to area rosters. Players with All-Region and All-State honors under their belts, players with major college offers already to weigh, players who will be asked to do even more after big seasons - they're all here.   This isn't a ranking of the zone's 10 best players, though. The "short list" of those guys ended up well north of 30, which meant it was time for us to change the approach to this list.   Instead, part one of our three-part look at the CSRA is a list of the 10 must-watch players. These guys all belong on any "best of" list, and these are the ones we're most excited to see take the field on Friday nights this fall. They're ones who will have the ball in their hands, and they're ones who will both be chasing after and clearing space for those that do.   Without further ado, here's our list in alphabetical order.   [player_tooltip player_id='644030' first='Xavier' last='Geter'] QB, Midland Valley   Geter showed tremendous growth in year two as the Mustangs' QB1, and that's not to say he struggled in year one. He torched three consecutive Class 5A defenses to start the season on his way to 2,124 yards and 20 touchdowns on a 60% completion rate, and he added 481 yards and eight more scores on 67 carries. He proved he can make any throw that's asked of him, and he showed his ability to progress through his reads rather than taking off running if the first man wasn't open. Midland Valley brings back a ton of talent at the skill positions, meaning the chemistry they and Geter have is only going to get stronger.   [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] TE, Midland Valley (pictured)   Speaking of all that talent returning at the skill positions, it's only fitting for Geter's top receiver to follow him on this list. Gleaton joined his quarterback on the All-Region IV-4A team last season after hauling in 34 catches for 540 yards and seven touchdowns, and there's no reason to think the 6-foot-1, 215-pound rising junior is going to slow down any time soon. Division I offers have been rolling in, most recently one from East Carolina, and plenty more should follow as he continues to dominate the weight room and the field of play. Size, strength, speed, hands, leaping ability - if you want it, he's got it.   [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] DL, North Augusta   Jones has had a massive offseason, dominating camps and drawing all kinds of attention to keep the momentum rolling after a Class 4A All-State campaign a year ago. The size and strength are one thing, but the relentlessness is what truly sets him apart - and also is what significantly limited his snaps during spring practices when there was nothing for him to prove. He only plays at one speed, and that's a big problem for opposing offensive linemen, quarterbacks and running backs to deal with for four quarters. Making things even more problematic is that North Augusta is so talented up front that opponents have to pick their poison in terms of where to assign an extra body. And it still probably won't help.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod'] WR, South Aiken   The area's best receiver, McLeod has achieved that status by not simply resting on his physical gifts. He was an impressive specimen from the first day he walked over from Kennedy Middle to South Aiken, and he's only continued to refine his game since then. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder developed an early reputation as a jump-ball specialist, then worked tirelessly on his route-running to where he's become just as dangerous on screens and other quick-hitters, and he's quick to work his way down the field once the ball is in his hands. The Appalachian State commit caught 42 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns last year, and we expect to see more this year as he gets another season with [player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns'] at QB, and with a more dynamic run game and a more seasoned offensive line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='McMillan'] QB/DB, Bamberg-Ehrhardt   Seventy touchdowns. Seventy. Feel free to take a moment and let that sink in. Bamberg-Ehrhardt was the SCHSL's only undefeated team last season, and the Red Raiders wouldn't face many arguments if they claimed to be the most dominant team in the state. McMillan piloted the offense with lethal efficiency, completing 81.4% of his passes for 4,225 yards and 47 touchdowns against only five interceptions while also rushing for 951 yards and another 23 touchdowns on only 95 carries. The defending Class A state champs bring back plenty of McMillan's favorite targets, which is a scary thought for opponents who hoped the Red Raiders would be easier to defend this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819832' first='Jayden' last='Peeples'] ATH, Barnwell   His action was limited last year due to injury, but Peeples bookended his sophomore season with monster performances that both announced his presence and also reinforced the idea that he's one of the area's most dynamic playmakers. He went for 96 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while also intercepting a pass in the end zone in the opener against a stout Blackville-Hilda team, rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns in less than a half against Williston-Elko, then returned from injury at the end of the regular season with 104 yards against Edisto, 190 yards and two scores against Whale Branch and 103 yards and a touchdown against Timberland. He wasted little time making up for lost time, and we expect that upward trajectory to continue.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467819' first='Brandon' last='Poston'] DL, Aiken   Poston cemented his spot as one of the state's most fearsome pass rushers, ranking among the best across all classifications with 10 sacks despite missing some time. He had a whopping 21 tackles for loss, added another 12 QB hurries and forced a couple of fumbles on his way to All-Region IV-4A honors, attracting more college attention along the way. He's a big-time disruptor coming off the edge for an Aiken defense full of playmakers, which should only free him up to continue being a serious problem on Friday nights.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818416' first='Zy' last='Rouse'] ATH, Strom Thurmond   What an introduction Rouse made for himself last season. The sophomore announced his presence in a big way, earning more and more touches - and trust - from his teammates and coaches during the biggest stretch of the Rebels' 2A state championship run. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound spark plug had the ball in his hands during some of the season's most critical moments, taking direct snaps in short-yardage and goal-line situations to either extend drives or score touchdowns. The first few times it may have been by surprise, but it didn't take long for opposing coaches to have sufficient film on him. And it still didn't matter. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry while rushing for 554 yards and 13 touchdowns with a couple of two-point conversions, and he also threw a touchdown pass in what everyone figured was an obvious rushing situation. He'll play significant snaps this season at running back, wide receiver, quarterback, free safety and anywhere else he might be needed to make the big play the Rebels need. We expect the encore to be just as exciting.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811094' first='Josh' last='Simpkins'] OL/DL, North Augusta   Noth Augusta has one of the best defensive lines in the entire state, and the offensive line has cleared more than enough space for the Jackets to routinely light up scoreboards at a high clip. Simpkins is a big reason why both of those statements are true. He's a rare two-way starter at the Class 4A level, with the 6-foot-2, 245-pounder staking his claim as North Augusta's starting left tackle and a fearsome edge rusher on the other side of the ball. His motor complements his physical gifts, and it goes without saying that his conditioning is strong enough that he can continue to be an impact player on both sides of the ball late in games - and late in the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615063' first='Preston' last='Smith'] RB, Midland Valley   Smith didn't end up with a "C" on his chest as a sophomore by accident. Even as a youngster, he displayed the type of leadership qualities to be selected as one of the team's captains. And he backed it up with his play. Smith earned All-Region IV-4A honors after rushing for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdown on only 162 carries while also catching 18 passes for 346 yards and three more scores. Midland Valley's offensive philosophy has focused on finding a 50/50 split between the run and the pass, but that doesn't necessarily mean on a game-by-game basis. Smith dominated some bad weather games that limited the pass, and even when the Mustangs chose to air it out more he was right there to give them a big-time carry any time it was required.

The CSRA is geared up for a big 2026 season, in more ways than one.