Midlands Best: Five Biggest Unsung Players

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.   Every coach in the state of South Carolina will be happy to talk to you about the highly recruited kids on their team. But start asking about the unsung guys that just make things happen and the coaches light up. They understand the importance of having players that excel at the high school level and make everyone around them better.   Trust us when we tell you this is an incomplete list. Coaches were sending in nominations even after this story entered the system. The Midlands are littered with glue guys and here is a list of five we thought deserved special mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816823' first='Zauron' last='Mack'] CB/WR, Chapin   The junior transferred from Dutch Fork and is going to play a prominent role for the Eagles. He has great length and speed, and his coverage skills are top notch. He has a chance to contribute at both cornerback and wide receiver. His role was limited on the Dutch Fork varsity as he spent most of the year playing junior varsity, but the Chapin coaching staff believes he can be a contributor on both sides of the ball as well as on special teams.   It's going to be interesting to watch his development to see which side of the ball better suits his skill. [player_tooltip player_id='1824923' first='Charlie' last='Todd'] will be a benefit to Mack because he's experienced and been through the Friday night wars already.   Chapin coach Cory Helms: “He's a great teammate and all the kids gravitate towards his effort and energy. He has a chance to be a lockdown type of corner and a playmaker at receiver.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1781924' first='Jessiah' last='Thompson'] DL Airport (pictured)   There's strong and then there's [player_tooltip player_id='1781924' first='Jessiah' last='Thompson'] strong. The senior already holds the school record with a 715-pound squat, and he has bench pressed 415 pounds. He's a tank in the middle of the defensive front and going to be impossible to move against the running game.   The Eagles were winless a season ago but with [player_tooltip player_id='1819887' first='Justin' last='Conyers'] at linebacker and [player_tooltip player_id='1816249' first='Yave' last='Castanedas'] also on the defensive line, the coaching staff believe they have pieces defensively to change that tide in 2026. It's going to be a huge challenge but with an anchor in the middle of the line, it makes the job a little bit easier.   Airport coach Chis Napier: “He holds everyone accountable in the weight room and in our offseason conditioning. Thompson is one of the strongest players I've ever coached. He takes every rep seriously and that mentality transfers over to the playing field.”     [player_tooltip player_id='1822445' first='Davis' last='Livingston'] DL/OL Swansea   The senior has been playing varsity football since his freshman year and up until this point has started on the offensive or defensive line every season. This year you can expect him to start on both lines of scrimmage. He started as a defensive player then transitioned to offense and now will be counted on both ways.   Playing alongside the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1804680' first='Kevin' last='Sightler'] and Jeremyah Waymyers will allow Livington the luxury of having experienced guys around him.   Swansea coach Willie Fox: “It looks like he's going to start on both sides of the ball for us. He's a natural leader and always does it from a positive frame of reference. He spent part of his summer at Palmetto Boys State and is an outstanding student. He's one of the guys that makes coaching fun.”     [player_tooltip player_id='1823988' first='Josh' last='Tucker'] DB, Lower Richland   Tucker is going into his senior season and will be a big-time contributor for the Diamonds. He missed some time last season but managed to get on the field for 10 tackles, an interception and three passes defended. He's a legit 6-foot-1 with long arms and can cover a wide range in zone or blanket a receiver in man-to-man.   The belief is that Tucker will be the next in a long line of solid defensive backs for Lower Richland. His development is going to be key for a defense that allowed 21 points per game a season ago.     Lower Richland coach Marlin Taylor: “What makes Tucker unsung is he's not your typical in your face or me, me type of kid. He is a hard worker that leads by example both on and off the field. He has a 3.8 GPA and is a three-sport athlete that loves to compete.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1822669' first='Worth' last='Thomasson'] OL/DL Camden   Thomasson will be a three-year starter on the offensive line this coming season and that has only happened twice in the 10 years Brian Rimpf has been the head coach of the Bulldogs. He plays center and holds the responsibility of directing a lot of the traffic upfront. He's 6-foot-1, 315 pounds and holds his own at the point of attack and on the second level.   The Bulldogs have been successful over the entire course of Rimpf's tenure and if Thomasson and his fellow offensive linemen can continue to dominate in the ways of the past, Camden will be right in the mix of things again.     Camden coach Brian Rimpf: “Thomasson is very consistent which is one of the best qualities of any player at any position. He dominates the line of scrimmage. He already has 26 varsity starts and has played in big, meaningful games at some of the toughest stadiums in the state. He is never phased by the magnitude of the game.”

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.