Lowcountry Week 0 Players to Watch

Players around the Lowcountry aren't going to have to wait much longer to start putting their offseason routines to the test.   The season-opening slate from Charleston to Hilton Head includes some of the state's top player storylines as 2025 goes from talking season to just season.   First-time starters and seasoned vets.   Those trying to go from good to great, and from great to legendary.   Some aiming to make their first marks, and others looking for an exclamation.    The Lowcountry will feature some great reasons for all of us to pay attention to the rest of the way. It will be that good of an opening week of the season.   Ty'Vai Deas QB, and [player_tooltip player_id='1816318' first='Sincere' last='Lewis'] RB, Goose Creek    Not all that long ago, these two were expected to get to plenty of real-life mentorship and likely some quality back-up reps behind a couple of seniors stars. Instead, both of those seniors transferred out and opportunity knocked for Deas and Lewis. Deas, who will be a freshman, and Lewis, just a sophomore, won't just be filling holes, either. These two players will be need to outperform there age immediately on an offensive starting lineup that features only one senior (first-year starter Willie Mantey at receiver) and will also have five new linemen. This team has been almost entirely rebuilt since the mass exodus of the offseason, and a little beginner's luck might go a long way against North Myrtle Beach.     [player_tooltip player_id='1818640' first='Tion' last='Blackney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1346277' first='Lorenzo' last='Kitching'] DBs, North Charleston    While Kitching is more known for his offensive presence, what he does on defense is a boon for at team that has been charged in recent months for replacing the vast majority of its defensive playmakers, mostly due to graduations. Kitching will start at free safety, and next to him at strong safety will be Blackney. Those two players are among the only returning tacklers in the back seven of the Cougars' 3-4 defense. But they can both fly to the ball and are more than adept in pass coverage. North Charleston has a possible defining game next week against Cross, but starting off strong against Military Magnet could be a huge confidence boost first.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] QB, Stratford   The Liberty commit has been so much to this program seemingly forever. And the three-year starter can show how far he's come by helping to at the very least put a scare into defending Class 5A, Division I runner-up Summerville. Davis has some new help in former Goose Creek Gator [player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan'] and tailback, and the line in front of them knows how to perform. But this test, as stiff as it appears on paper, could be Davis' rocket ship into another stratosphere in the state's quarterback landscape.   [player_tooltip player_id='1675500' first='Roman' last='Hood'] DL, Philip Simmons    Friday at home against Hanahan, the Iron Horses' defense is going to be asked to grow up in a hurry after a few departures this summer, not to mention graduation losses. That's why we're going to be keeping a close eye on Hood. As a sophomore last fall, he had 40 total stops and eight tackles for loss. Now, he's got a chance to increase his production significantly. Most opponents will be paying attention to [player_tooltip player_id='1271262' first='Alex' last='Tchoryk'] opposite Hood, and that should take some of the chip blocks off the edge and the like out of the equation. Those two can actively funnel opponents into the most congested portion of the field and negate some of the inexperience behind them.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] LB and [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] LB/RB, Hilton Head   Massey put himself on the map a year ago in this game when he put up 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a defensive touchdown. Czarnecki also blocked a punt attempt in that game to go along with two tackles. We bring all that up first because while the Seahawks' offensive should have a much more explosive factor to it when this team starts to peak, getting out of the gates against Stall much like it did last year could expedite the entire process for one of the teams with a realistic shot at a region title.     [player_tooltip player_id='1656653' first='Kenari' last='Koger'] RB, Colleton County    Since Koger darn near hit 22 miles per hour during the Carolinas Coaches Combines in March, we've been anxiously awaiting the start of his senior season. Chances are he's going to get bottled up a lot this fall - until he isn't. With that type of speed, three or four dog piles in a row on his carries very likely could mean next to nothing if he houses an end-around or short flair pass out of the backfield or in the slot. Colleton County intends to use him in a variety of ways, and with his versatility, his ability to impact games should be tenfold of what it was a season ago, beginning with this week's game against Hampton County.   [player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons'] DL, Beaufort (pictured)   Friday's home opener against Fort Dorchester won't just kick off the 2025 campaign, it will also be the long-awaited return of Simmons. The ultra-talented defensive tackle missed all of last fall with an injury. But it doesn't take that much brain power to remember what he did as a sophomore. That season, he piled up 78 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception. Simmons back in pads is a huge plus for a Beaufort team that finished just 2-9 last year, including a narrow loss to Fort D.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] QB Berkeley and [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] QB, Ashley Ridge    While the official result of this game was year was a 1-0 Swamp Foxes forfeit victory, the in-game fireworks with the two signal callers reminds us that the rematch of a game the Stags won 41-26 on the field is agin worth the price of admission Friday at Ashley Ridge. Last time around, Rivers was nine-of-13 for 109 yards and three touchdowns while putting up 171 rushing yards and a score on the ground on just 11 carries. Kalisz countered with a 25-of-45 performance that netted 258 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns and another 27 and a score rushing. Both of the quarterbacks should be even better in 2025, as the many of the weapons around them have improved.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165126' first='Kelvin' last='Smalls'] ATH, Baptist Hill   Smalls' oft-laughable tackle figures during his junior year last fall didn't always equate to team success in the win-loss column, but they're fun to watch. Against Clear Dot Charter this week, Smalls is going to have an opportunity to start the year with another insane tackle figure. He did that last year, putting up 14 stops to go along with a forced fumble and a sack. All signs point to Clear Dot being more prepared in 2025, but Smalls should still be able to dictate the pace of this game defensively.

Players around the Lowcountry aren't going to have to wait much longer to start putting their offseason routines to the test.