Standout 2028s and 2029s at Midland Valley scrimmage

GRANITEVILLE | Thursday night was the first glimpse into the 2026 football season for many programs and fans alike around the state.   For some, that first look in 2026 was also the first look at varsity competition, or the first step into the starting lineup, or the first time taking the field in competition with elevated expectations after showing signs of potential a year ago.   We saw plenty of that Thursday night at Midland Valley, with a four-team scrimmage offering each team three opportunities to play on a 40-yard field in a round-robin format.   Joining the host Mustangs were Barnwell, Colleton County and Lake Marion, with plenty of talented youth on display from each.   Of course, there are several in the Class of 2028 from each program who have already made a name for themselves, like [player_tooltip player_id='1615063' first='Preston' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] from Midland Valley as rising juniors carrying with them plenty of deserved hype. The same goes for [player_tooltip player_id='2106780' first='Daylen' last='Ferguson'] from Lake Marion after a breakout freshman season a year ago.   Several others, though, are looking to make those leaps this season. Here's a look at some junior and sophomore prospects who caught our eye at L.L. Willis Stadium.   CLASS OF 2028   Midland Valley is spoiled with talent in its junior class, with the aforementioned Smith and Gleaton as headliners who certainly did not disappoint during Thursday's scrimmage. Three junior defensive backs are ready to leave their mark on this program, and each showed off some of that potential during the three mini-games - [player_tooltip player_id='1821367' first='Triston' last='Garrett'] for his ability to quickly cover a ton of ground from sideline to sideline, [player_tooltip player_id='1821371' first='Amir' last='Hicks'] for his tackling ability and active hands to break up passes, and [player_tooltip player_id='1824060' first='Carson' last='Johnson'] for his ability to deliver the big hit both in the secondary and behind the line of scrimmage.   Case Davis has seen his fair share of action over the last couple of seasons for Barnwell, and the star baseball player could be ready to take on a bigger role on the football field. He's had an impact at linebacker and is projected to start there, but with the Warhorses returning very little production on offense he could be in line for some more work at running back than in years past. He ran it well Thursday. [player_tooltip player_id='1822077' first='Kymani' last='Buxton'] is another junior ready for a bigger role, and he's slated for a starting spot in the secondary.   Colleton County brings back a handful of starters on offense this season and has some difference-makers in the trenches, which should be a good omen for the Cougars to run the ball successfully. [player_tooltip player_id='2092993' first='Christian' last='Brown'] could be one of the main beneficiaries, and Thursday he showed good patience and a nice burst as he followed behind his blockers before eventually reaching the end zone.   CLASS OF 2029   One of the sophomores Midland Valley head coach Brent Dorn is most excited to see at full speed is Braylon Fuller at defensive back, and Fuller's drive to compete was on display even after the competitive portion of the festivities was over. That's a switch that always stays on for Fuller. Another sophomore showing potential for an impact later on down the line is [player_tooltip player_id='1816682' first='Dallas' last='Dundy'] at running back, a position that's been very productive for the Mustangs in recent years. Dundy proved to be tough to bring down, bouncing off of would-be tacklers.   Barnwell was a team that counted on a ton of young contributors last year, and the same will be true in 2026. It will be especially true at the wide receiver and defensive back spots, with [player_tooltip player_id='1825108' first='Bridgedon' last='Youmans'] and Jaiden Patterson slotted as two-way starters for their sophomore year. Both made an impact in the secondary last year, and they'll take on expanded roles this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1825107' first='Malikhi' last='Black'] is another youngster who has seen his spot on the roster switch from linebacker to lineman, where he'll have some talented veteran leaders to follow.   Billy Grant is listed as a tight end for Colleton County, and he's got good size on his 6-foot-4 frame and looks to be a more than capable blocker who can help out up front for a Cougars team with plenty of beef on the lines. That's a good sign for skill position players like Trevy Manigo to find running room, and Manigo, a projected starter at safety, showed Thursday he can also find his own if it's not immediately there.   Lake Marion has playmakers in its sophomore class that could and should be long-time leaders for this program, and that starts with Ferguson after a productive freshman year. He and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1817981' first='Dante' last='Wright Jr'] combine to form a talented sophomore backfield with veteran blockers like junior [player_tooltip player_id='1821426' first='Larry' last='Gore'] heading into year three as a starter. The youngsters also have versatility to match their talent and potential, like sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1817968' first='Bryceton' last='Vogt'] who can line up in several spots on the front seven defensively or pitch in on offense at tight end.

GRANITEVILLE | Thursday night was the first glimpse into the 2026 football season for many programs and fans alike around the state.