Super 60: The top players to watch this season in Midlands high school football

A look at 60 high school football players to watch for the 2023 season in the Columbia area, as compiled by The State’s sports staff. Listed in alphabetical order

Jarod Acosta, LB, Newberry: Class 2A all-state selection last year had 107 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt.

Brady Albro, QB, Chapin: Junior completed 65% of his passes for 2,150 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

Jaden Allen-Hendrix, RB, Irmo: Gilbert transfer was Class 3A all-state honorable mention, was second on team with 1,610 yards rushing and had team-high 26 touchdowns. He also had 271 yards receiving, three touchdowns.

Demencio Banks, LB, White Knoll: Led Timberwolves with 87 tackles, 9.5 for loss, five sacks and two interceptions last year.

Dylan Barbrey, OL, Airport: One of the area’s top offensive linemen and an Appalachian State commitment.

Patrick Belk, QB, Heathwood Hall: As a freshman last season, Belk threw for 1,708 yards, 11 touchdowns and also rushed for 440 yards and three scores.

Drake Braddock, QB, Gilbert: Braddock split time with Chance Jennings last season but will be the Indians’ lead signal caller this year. He threw for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022.

AJ Brand, QB Irmo: Junior is a Division I college prospect, was Class 4A all-state selection last year and had more than 2,400 yards of offense and 25 total touchdowns.

Chris Brown, LB, Keenan: Keenan’s leading returning tackler had 65 stops, two sacks and an interception.

Myles Brown, DE/LB, Ridge View: Brown is one of the leaders on Ridge View’s defense and had 65 tackles and three sacks last year.

Stephen Collier, WR, River Bluff: Collier, a Division I prospect, is back healthy after missing baseball season with a torn labrum. He had 32 catches for 356 yards and five TDs last year.

Taevian Copney WR/RB, Ben Lippen: Copney is a dual threat for the Falcons and had 831 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Jojo Crim, DB, Camden: Crim was second on the team with 94 tackles, one interception and four fumble recoveries.

Devan Crumpton, DB, Spring Valley: Senior had 65 tackles, four pass break-ups and one interception last year.

Hayden Cushman, LB, River Bluff: Transfer from White Knoll had 76 tackles, 6.5 for loss, last season for the Timberwolves.

Thompson Dubose, WR, Heathwood Hall: Led Highlanders with 45 catches for 1,074 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Jylil Favor, LB, Irmo: Linebacker was Class 4A all-state selection and had more than 100 tackles last season.

Javon Gidron, WR, Ridge View: Sophomore saw time as a freshman and will have a bigger role in the passing game this year. Gidron is part of a strong young receiving group for the Blazers.

Jayvon Gilmore, QB, Ben Lippen: Ridge View sophomore transfer has offers from Miami of Ohio and Austin Peay.

TyDarian Greer, Fairfield Central: Greer was Class 2A all-state selection and led the team with 73 catches for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 320 yards and four scores.

Jacob Hamilton, WR, Dutch Fork: Hamilton is the leading returning receiver for the Silver Foxes. He caught 30 passes for 598 yards and five touchdowns last year and forms a strong 1-2 combination at receiver with Ron DiPietro.

Averee Hickmon, RB, Camden: Hickmon rushed for a team-high 1,234 yards and 13 TDs last year.

Charles Jeffcoat, DL, Dreher: Senior is Blue Devils’ leader on defense.

Jake Jeffrey, TE, Northside Christian: Jeffrey was the Crusaders’ top receiver last season with 36 catches for 575 yards and three TDs.

Tyler Jones, DB, Dutch Fork: Jones is one of the top secondary players in Midlands and had 76 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception last year.

Dakota Jordan, DL, Dutch Fork: Jordan was Class 5A all-state selection and had 62 tackles, 13 for loss and six sacks this season.

Cortez Lane, ATH, Cardinal Newman: Camden transfer had 1,320 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns last year for the Bulldogs.

Hasaan Lee, WR, White Knoll: Had 31 catches for 553 yards and eight touchdowns. Will be WK’s top target as Austin Cunningham recovers from injury.

Trenton Lodge, RB, Dutch Fork: Senior expected to help carry the Silver Foxes’ running back load. Rushed for 384 yards and three touchdowns last year in a reserve role.

JT Lott, DE/DT, Saluda: Class 2A all-state selection had 77 tackles, 22 for loss, eight sacks and 13 quarterback pressures last year.

Jaquarius Mayrant, WR, Camden: Mayrant led the Bulldogs with 62 catches for 1,002 yards and six touchdowns.

Cam McMillon, QB, Fairfield Central: As a freshman last season, McMillon was Class 2A all-state selection after throwing for 3,319 yards and 33 touchdowns. He completed 59% of his passes on the season.

Will McQueen, LB, Hammond: McQueen led the Skyhawks with 91 tackles, 27 for loss and also had seven sacks.

Taiden Mines, QB, Lexington: Mines was Class 5A all-state selection. He completed 69% of his passes for 2,240 yards and 23 touchdowns. Mines also rushed for 397 yards and six scores.

BJ Montgomery, RB, Gray Collegiate: Junior led War Eagles with 912 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Aidan Moseley, RB, AC Flora: Junior will be a big factor in Falcons’ passing and running game. He rushed for 474 yards last season and caught 12 passes for 127 yards and 11 total touchdowns.

Donovan Murph, WR, Irmo: Sophomore played last season for Our Lady of Good Counsel in Maryland and should be one of the top weapons for the Yellow Jackets passing game.

Parker Murray, QB, River Bluff: Murray enters second year as starting quarterback and threw for 1,176 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.

Luke New, QB, Pelion: New had 1,280 yards and 15 touchdowns last year for the Panthers.

Zai Offord, ATH, Gray Collegiate: S.C. State commit had 41 catches for 524 yards and three touchdowns last season. He also had 31 tackles and an interception on defense.

KD Outen, LB, Lugofff-Elgin: Outen had 123 tackles, nine sacks, seven tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

Jamel Patterson, DB, Lower Richland: Patterson was Class 3A all-state selection. Patterson had 64 tackles and four interceptions.

Caleb Pearson, QB, CA Johnson: Senior quarterback had 2,342 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns last season for the Green Hornets.

Albert Perkins, LB, AC Flora: Senior had 63 tackles and two sacks last season for the Falcons.

Lamarion Pearson, RB, Lower Richland: Pearson led the Diamond Hornets with 1,124 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.

Pedro Reyes, DB, Cardinal Newman: Transfer from New Jersey has offers from Duke, North Carolina, Cincinnati and Vanderbilt, among others. Reyes had 44 tackles and two interceptions at Absegami High School in 2022.

Edward, Robinson, DL, Blythewood: Robinson was all-state selection and Region 3-5A Defensive Player of the Year. He had 115 tackles, school-record 25 sacks, 37 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles and 29 QB pressures.

Sterling Sanders, OL/DL, Blythewood: Division I prospect had 25 tackles, nine for loss, and six quarterback pressures last year.

Christian Sexton, LB, Lexington: Sexton had a team-high 100 tackles, 12 for loss, last season.

Landon Sharpe, QB, White Knoll: Sharpe threw for 2,208 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for five TDs.

Duncan Skehan, QB, Cardinal Newman: Senior threw for 2,100 yards and 21 TDs, and also ran for five touchdowns.

JT Sowell, OL, Gray Collegiate: Senior is one of the anchors of the War Eagles offensive line. Sowell is an Appalachian State commit.

Dakari Sumter, OL, Lower Richland: Senior is 18th-ranked player in state by 247Sports for Class of 2024. Has offers from Kentucky, Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, among others.

Mike Tyler, TE, Hammond: Skyhawks tight end has offers from Cincinnati, Liberty and S.C. State. Tyler caught 16 passes for 181 yards last season.

Terrance Wells, DL/LB, Dutch Fork: Wells is one of the leaders of Dutch Fork’s defense. He had 47 tackles, 13 for loss, and five sacks last year.

Grayson White, QB, Camden: White was a Class 3A all-state selection and completed 62% of his passes for 2,157 yards and 20 TDs. He also rushed for 887 yards and 13 TDs..

Will Wilson, QB, Richland Northeast: N.C. State commit threw for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns and also rushed for 705 yards and 14 scores last season. 247Sports ranks Wilson as a three-star prospect and the 24th-best quarterback in the country for the Class of 2025. He is the fifth-ranked prospect in state by 247Sports for his class.

Will Young, ATH, Brookland-Cayce: Young likely will play a little bit of everything for Bearcats this year at quarterback, running back and receiver. Last season, he had 782 all-purpose yards on offense and 47 tackles on defense.

Deshawn Washington, RB, Brookland-Cayce: Senior rushed for 1,189 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for the Bearcats.

Elijah Williams, OL, Irmo: The 6-foot-6, 270-pound senior is Yellow Jackets’ top lineman and committed to Georgia State.