Quarterback a position of strength in Midlands

The Midlands football scene will, no doubt, be a hot topic in about four three weeks when spring practice kicks off, and quarterback appears to be a position of strength in the area.

Here’s a look at the top quarterbacks returning, as well as some first-year starters we expect big things from:

BIG PRODUCERS

There are four guys in the area who put up better than 2,000 yards passing and 20-plus touchdowns as underclassmen last season.

▪  Ben Lippen senior Patrick McClure (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) passed for more than 2,500 yards last season.

▪  Lower Richland’s Tevaughn Higgins (6-2, 190) is a rising junior who put up more than 2,200 yards and 20-plus touchdowns for the Diamond Hornets.

▪  Calhoun County’s rising senior Terrance Brunson (6-3,235) put up 2,100 yards and more than 25 touchdowns for the Saints.

▪  Gray Collegiate’s Bryce Fields (6-1, 180) is another rising senior, and he put up more than 2,200 yards and 25-plus touchdowns for the War Eagles.

TAKING OVER

▪  Airport’s Brett Burnett (6-2, 200) is not a first-year starter, but the rising senior missed most of 2015 with an ACL injury. He returns this year, and with a big arm and solid skills set, should be one of the Midlands’ leaders at quarterback.

▪  Lexington will be breaking in a new quarterback in rising junior Chase Crouch (6-0, 185), and he has shown a strong arm in the offseason.

▪  Dreher will also be breaking in a new quarterback in Matthew Campbell (6-2, 155), who has looked good in offseason workouts.

▪  Look for rising junior Trad Beatty (6-5, 210) to take over the job at Chapin.

▪  Brookland-Cayce will have rising sophomore Reed Charpia, who played some as a freshman, taking the wheel full time for the Bearcats.

▪  Ridge View has a battle going between Tre High and JaVon Anderson for the spot.

▪  Spring Valley will possibly see rising junior Quincy Hill taking over for the departed Ryan Lee.

RANKING THE QBS

Note: This ranking consists only of previous starters.

1. Brett Burnett, Senior, Airport

2. Tevaughn Higgins, Junior, Lower Richland

3. Patrick McClure, Senior, Ben Lippen

4. Terrance Brunson, Senior, Calhoun County

5. Michael “Bubba” Williamson, Junior, North Central

6. Corey Stone, Senior, Mid-Carolina

7. Bryce Fields, Senior, Gray Collegiate

8. Devin Beckley, Senior, Camden

9. Jalen Smith, Senior, Westwood

10. Stanley McManus, Senior, Fairfield Central

11. Aloysius Jackson, Senior, Richland Northeast

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Quarterback a position of strength in Midlands."