HSSR Media Day 2026 Highlights

The HSSR Hosted Their 40^th Annual Football Media Day On July 22 At The USC Indoor Football Practice Facility

By Roger Lee

Special Writer

Columbia – Football players from across the state converged on the USC Indoor Practice Facility July 22 for the annual High School Sports Report Football Media Day.

“We greatly appreciate Coach Shane Beamer, the university and its athletic department for again opening their facility to us,” said HSSR Publisher Billy G. Baker. “It’s a terrific setting for an event designed to highlight high school athletes. I also want to thank all the players and coaches for their participation.”

The 2026 event brought players to the facility near Williams-Brice Stadium for photos and interviews. With the season fast approaching, coaches and athletes, including those who landed on the HSSR Top 100 List, shared their thoughts on returning for Friday Night Lights.

Below is a sampling of what some of the coaches in attendance had to say.

Blythewood

One of the teams that will mix it up again in Class AAAAA this Fall is Blythewood.

James Martin is entering his fourth year as the team’s head coach. The Bengals finished at 4-8 last season after falling to Dorman in the second round of the playoffs but are looking for better results this season.

“Preseason has gone really well,” Martin said. “During offseason workouts, the kids worked tremendously hard and that’s how we want it. We’ve been looking forward to getting to this point. We have so many returning players and some of them already have Division 1 offers. I’ve had a lot of these guys since they were freshmen, so we have gotten to develop them over the years. We are excited about this season.”

Linebackers Dillon Hutcherson, Amari Fisher and Chris Long, defensive end Josh Reaves, offensive lineman Reed Paolucci, running back Landon Strong and quarterback James Veasey are drawing a lot of interest from college scouts.



“We are really excited about our defense,” Martin said. “On offense, we have some players with good speed. We have a strong culture and try to build character, and the kids have really bought into what we are doing. The guys who have been a part of that for four years are 100 percent bought in and it has trickled down to the others.”

Gray Collegiate Academy

Last season Gray Collegiate Academy finished 11-3 after being eliminated by South Florence in the AAAA Lower State Championship. This season the War Eagles make the jump up to AAAAA.         

“We are going into 5A with truly a 2A sideline in terms of depth so we understand it will be a challenge for us,” said De’Angelo Bryant, who is entering his third season as the team’s head coach. “However, one thing our young men do such a great job of is they understand the value of work. Since I’ve been here, getting them to buy in has never been a problem. It has been more about being able to add my style to what they already had. It’s more about challenging them each day.”

Gray also has multiple players receiving major college interest.

“Lineman Jack Armstrong will be a four-year starter for us,” Bryant said. “He has been a tremendous leader for us on that offensive front. He is very versatile guy committed to The Citadel. Quarterback Xavier Wright became the starter last year after the first three games of the season. His stats, for a freshman, and the way he took care of the football, were unreal. He is humble but hungry.”

Treyvon Williamson returns after rushing for more than 2,200 yards and scoring more than 20 touchdowns. He is going to play some at linebacker this season as well.

Armstrong and Williamson both made the 2026 HSSR Top 100 List.

Corey Gleaton is back after topping 1,200 receiving yards last year and making six interceptions. He is also a great kick returner.

“We have a lot of other guys who have stepped up this offseason, including some who have switched positions,” Bryant said. “A lot of them will play both ways.”

Northwood Academy

It is safe to say Northwood Academy has experienced a turnaround since former First Baptist coach Johnny Waters took over the Chargers’ program.

During his first season at Northwood, the team improved to 6-5. During his second, the Chargers finished at 10-3 and as the SCISA 4A State Champion.

Northwood is out to defend that title.

“We return nine starters on offense,” Waters said. “Quarterback Kevin Johnson is a stud, one of the best. We came here (Columbia) for Shane Beamer’s 7 on 7 and won it. Our defense took a little hit, but I feel good about our younger guys. Overall, we have a very experienced football team.”

The team returns its entire offensive line and some talented receivers. Waters says he will put receiver Drew Wolfe up against anyone. After all, he made key catches against Heathwood Hall last year’s state championship game.

The squad had to replace a running back who topped 1,500 rushing yards before graduating but seems to have found their guy in Timberland transfer Duece Faison.

Elliott Parrott has transferred from Stratford and helps the Chargers fill a need at punter/kicker.

“He is in the mix for Clemson and App State,” Waters said. “He is hitting field goals from 55 yards out. He won the punting competition during a camp in Chicago.”

Johnson and Wolfe made the HSSR Top 100.

The team is young at linebacker, but its coach says he feels really good about his defensive backs.

“We have a bunch of really good kids who are very coachable,” he said. “Every game will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it. This group isn’t sitting back because we won a state championship. They are hungry.”

Columbia High

Columbia High is one of the teams that will battle in the 2A ranks.

The Capitals are looking to improve on their 3-7 record last season.

“Turnovers hurt us last season,” said Stephen Roberson, who is entering his fourth season as the team’s head coach. “We are a different team this year. Because of our personnel we are morphing into something we haven’t been. We are going to throw the ball a lot more. I’m excited about our kids and the opportunity to put some points on the board. We struggled in that area the last two years.”

Deon Hollis is a wide receiver who will be featured in the offense. Running backs Umar Muhammad and Ricardo Williams will also get a lot of touches. Roberson also has big expectations for sophomore Nycari Kindard, who may line up at multiple positions.

The team has a healthy quarterback battle with junior Darius Cunningham and sophomore Julyeus Perry both having their eyes on the starting role.

Early on, the Capitals’ defense may be a bit ahead of the offense.

“We want to make sure we play sound defense, that we play gap-assignment football,” Roberson said. “That will allow our offense to get traction. I’m excited about the season and our coaching staff. Our coaches are working hard and hoping we can put something on the field Columbia High can be proud of.”

Carvers Bay

Class 1A includes more than 60 teams this upcoming school year. One promising looking team in the class is Carvers Bay.

The Bears finished 12-1 last year after being knocked out of the playoffs in the third round by the eventual state champion, Bamburg-Ehrhardt.

“We are looking to continue the tradition of Carvers Bay Football,” said coach Matthew Richards, now entering his seventh season as Carvers Bay’s head coach. “We have worked hard in the weight room all Summer, so we are hoping to take that next step.”

He says the strength for any good football team starts up front. The Bears’ leader in the trenches will be center Triston Diggs. Also key in the blocking game will be tight end Jaquan Hannah. Also, a defensive end and kicker, Hannah is on the HSSR Top 100 List.

Running back Dominique Walker will be key to moving the sticks. Joining him in that effort will be Georgetown transfer Trent Singleton, who will line up at running back, slot receiver and corner back.

“Coming off all the hype of an undefeated regular season, you have to force these young kids to understand that last year’s success doesn’t have anything to do with this year’s season,” Richards said. “We are keeping them motivated and making sure they understand they have to earn it every single day.”

Last season, Richards coached defensive backs during the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

“It was a great experience, and I got to work with some great coaches,” he said. “Seeing what some of the best coaches in the state do and how they do it makes you better. Paul Sutherland was our head coach, and he understands the character portion and how to take that to the players.”

C.A. Johnson

Rodney Barr, who is entering his second year as the head coach for C.A. Johnson, is hoping his team will improve on its 7-6 season last year in Class A.

“My first year went well,” he said. “We finished one win away from making the Upper State Championship. This season, we have 11 starters coming back on offense and nine on defense. The kids understand what the expectations are, so we are just trying to build on the success we had last year and build momentum.

Wide receiver/safety Elijah Harper returns after being a leader on both sides of the ball last year. He led the team in tackles and touchdowns. Wide receiver/corner back Carter Bennett returns after finishing second on the team in receiving and first in interceptions with 4.

Running back/linebacker Terrell Golson returns after leading in rushing and accumulating approximately 500 receiving yards.

Other key players include running back/linebacker Jeremiah Knightner, linemen Ty’Mere Evans, Jeremiah Lewis and Tremaine Gadsden and quarterback Stacey Isaac, who passed for 1,300 yards and rushed for 500 more.

“I’m real excited about where we are going and how focused the kids are,” Barr said. “It’s been a great summer so far.”

Denmark-Olar

Succeeding in Class A may be harder for Denmark-Olar, which, went 1-9 last year.

However, William Raysor, who is entering his fifth season as the Vikings’ head coach, says the numbers are up.

“We have the most interest in the program since I’ve been here,” he said. “Last Summer we only had 13 players during workouts. This Summer we had 31 kids consistently. They understand they need to put in the work and dedication early to make this program work and grow. We had a pretty good offseason so we should be able to get some good things going this year,”

Offensive guard Blake Brown is one of the players dedicated to the weight room. Nyheem Brimfield (6-4, 250) was the team’s starting QB last year before he tore an ACL. He is back and looking to make an impact at QB and as an outside linebacker. Defensive end Dilan Hammonds (6-5 215) runs about 4.5 40 and is very athletic.

“We have some guys receiving a lot of D1 interest,” Raysor said. “We can only put 11 on the field at a time, but we have about 14 kids on defense who will get after it. When you have kids that have a passion for the game, it will carry you. We will be very fundamentally sound on defense.”

The team has 17 juniors.

“It is our biggest class,” Raysor said. “They have been with me since they were ninth graders and have really bought in to our system and what I have been preaching to them. I see great things coming for that class.”