High School Football

All-Midlands High School Football Preseason Team


Lower Richland High receiver Larry Collins is one of the top prospects in the state this year and has offers from both USC and Clemson.
Lower Richland High receiver Larry Collins is one of the top prospects in the state this year and has offers from both USC and Clemson. dmclemore@thestate.com

OFFENSE

QB – Logan Bailey (Chapin/Sr., 6-0/198)

Threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 as a junior.

RB – Terrance Wilson (Batesburg-Leesville/Sr., 5-9/200)

Rushed for 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago.

RB – Slade Carroll (Lexington/Sr., 5-10/205)

Rushed for 1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns last year.

RB – Andrew Plante (Westwood/Sr., 5-8/203)

Rushed for 1,445 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

WR – Larry Collins (Lower Richland/Sr., 6-3/200)

One of state’s top receiving prospects has offers from nine Division I schools, including USC and Clemson.

WR – Jayson Hopper (Lexington, Sr., 6-1/200)

Caught 55 passes for 623 yards and seven touchdowns.

WR – Alec DeBoer (Dutch Fork/Sr., 6-0/190)

Had 39 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns last season.

TE – Will Register (Chapin/Jr., 6-4/200)

Had 18 catches for 262 yards as a sophomore. Committed to South Carolina over the summer.

OL – Torrey Boone (Westwood/Sr., 6-3/335)

One of key parts on Redhawks’ front. Has offer from S.C. State.

OL – Hunter Blackmon (Lexington/Sr., 6-3/255)

Second-year starter on Wildcats’ offensive line.

OL – Raquan Niles (Richland Northeast/Sr., 6-4/283)

Big force on RNE O-line and can squat 535 pounds.

OL – Trumaine Fleming (Airport/Sr., 6-3/310)

Anchor at tackle on Eagles’ offensive line.

OL – Braylen Waldo (A.C. Flora/Sr., 6-4/255)

Was voted team’s most improved player last season.

DEFENSE

DL – Tay Pringle (Brookland-Cayce/Jr., 6-3/260)

Starting to get a lot of interest from Division I schools. Had seven sacks last season.

DL – Desean McMillan (Cardinal Newman/Sr., 6-1/245)

Had 45 tackles and two sacks last season. Has offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Presbyterian.

DL – Tromayne Mikell (A.C. Flora/Sr., 6-3/245)

Had 47 tackles, including 16 for loss and five sacks as a junior.

DL – Mason Ray (Swansea/Sr., 6-3/230)

Had 43 tackles and 51/2 sacks last season.

LB – T.J. Brunson (Richland Northeast/Sr., 6-1/200)

Louisville commit had 134 tackles as a junior.

LB – Brandon Hill (Heathwood Hall/Sr., 6-3/215)

Duke commit registered 116 tackles last season.

LB – Trey Mitchell (Lexington/Sr., 6-2/208)

Had 172 tackles and 5 ½ sacks last year.

DB – Stephen Davis Jr. (Dutch Fork/Sr., 6-4/207)

Ranked as third-best prospect in state, according to 247Sports. Committed to play at Auburn.

DB – Nick Graves (Lexington/Sr., 6-2/170)

Had four interceptions last season. Has committed to play at The Citadel.

DB – Khris Pam (Blythewood/Sr., 6-0/185)

Bengals’ top defensive back. Has offers from 10 Division I schools.

DB – Dominick Byars (Brookland-Cayce/Sr., 6-1/170)

Led Midlands with six interceptions last year.

ATH – Brandon Tillmon (River Bluff/Sr., 6-2/215)

Rushed for 1,000 yards and threw for 1,000 yards last season. Has committed to Liberty to play baseball and football.

P/K – Christian Kinsley (Lexington/Sr., 6-3/215)

Was 6-of-9 on field goals and averaged 35.5 yards a punt last season.

HONORABLE MENTION

Quarterbacks – Avery Armstrong (Dreher); David Israel (Blythewood); Ryan Lee (Spring Valley); Yafari Werts (Newberry)

Running backs – Coleman Pope (A.C. Flora); Charles Balkcom (Brookland-Cayce); Ty’Juan Fulton (Spring Valley)

Wide receivers – Cole Owens (Ben Lippen); Eric Weber (Blythewood); C.J. Wright (Airport)

Tight end – Phillip Holliday (A.C. Flora)

Offensive line – Chris Mitchell (Westwood); Cole Armstrong (Lugoff-Elgin); Prince Howard (Spring Valley)

Defensive line – Nigel Brown (Richland Northeast); Matthew Boring (Lexington); Tyrone Kelly (Camden)

Linebackers – Michael Johnson (White Knoll); Maurice Pauling (Fairfield Central); Octavious Green (Pelion)

Defensive backs – Dinichie Ashe (Ridge View); Jacquarius Hair (Batesburg-Leesville); Thurman Trapp (Keenan)

ATH – Malik Bennett (Hammond); Chance Walker (Swansea); D’Marco Ziegler (Ridge View)

Punter/Kickers – Evan Estridge (Chapin), Justin Salters (River Bluff)

Lou Bezjak

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 11:14 PM with the headline "All-Midlands High School Football Preseason Team."

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