These Midlands football players have the biggest shoes to fill this season
The start of the high school football season in South Carolina is a week away, and there are plenty of holes to fill on Midlands teams left by star players.
Guys such as KZ Adams, Jayden Bradford, Antonio Williams, CJ Stokes and Nick Emmanwori are off to college or transferred to other school. Here are nine players with some of the biggest shoes to fill in the Columbia area:
Caleb Ford and BJ Montgomery (Gray Collegiate)
The sophomore duo has the tough task of replacing KZ Adams, one of the top running backs in state history who signed with Georgia State. Adams rushed for 3,344 yards and 42 total touchdowns last year and finished with 8,117 rushing yards and 117 TDs in his career. Ford was Adams’ backup last season and ran for 390 yards and four scores. Montgomery had three carries for 31 yards and a TD. Gray Collegiate coach Adam Holmes said both will see a lot of time at tailback this year.
Breylon Boyd and Donald Tomlin (Ridge View)
The two players are battling it out to win the starting spot at quarterback left by three-year starter and S.C. State signee Andre Washington, who had more than 3,200 yards of total offense and 36 TDs last year. Boyd was the backup last year and threw three passes. Tomlin was the starting quarterback at Heathwood Hall last year before transferring to the Blazers. Tomlin threw for 1,191 yards and 10 scores last season for the Highlanders.
Aidan Canzater (Hammond)
The senior takes over starting running back duties from CJ Stokes, who had multiple 1,000-yard seasons and signed with Michigan. Canzater rushed for 576 yards and eight touchdowns as Stokes’ backup last season.
Jacob Hamilton (Dutch Fork)
The senior looks to become the Silver Foxes’ top option at receiver in place of Clemson signee Antonio Williams, who had 80 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021. Hamilton is the team’s top returning receiver with 15 catches for 296 yards last season.
Keshaun Dawson and Aden Jones (Spring Valley)
The two players are battling it out at quarterback to replace South Carolina signee DQ Smith, who was a three-year starter and had more than 2,100 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns last season. Neither saw varsity action at quarterback last season.
Nick Johnson and Mitchell McKay (Heathwood Hall)
Johnson, a senior, and McKay, a junior, look to fill the defensive tackle void left by Lenoir-Rhyne signee Rondarius Porter, who had 89 tackles and 10 sacks last season. Johnson was third on the team with 70 tackles, 18 for loss and two sacks a year ago. McKay had 27 tackles.
Brady Albro and Weldon Gunter (Chapin)
The two are battling out to replace Jayden Bradford at quarterback. Bradford is one of the top-ranked QB prospects in the Class of 2024 and transferred to IMG Academy in Florida. He had almost 2,500 yards of total offense and 27 TDs last season. Albro is the leader to replace Bradord right now, but Gunter should see some time. Albro attempted six passes on the varsity level last season, while Gunter is a transfer from Dutch Fork who played middle school football at Chapin.
Jylil Favor and Xavier Montgomery (Irmo)
The two juniors are trying to fill the role left by South Carolina signee Nick Emmanwori, who played linebacker, was all over the field and was credited with more than 200 tackles and four sacks last season. Montgomery had 45 tackles and four sacks in 2021.
Qua Howard and Amaghi Reed (Keenan)
Howard and Reed are looking to make up for the loss of Catawba signee Marquece Williams, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards and had 57 tackles on defense. Howard is a transfer from Northwestern High in Rock Hill and rushed for 410 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Trojans.
This story was originally published August 9, 2022 at 6:30 PM.
