MaxPreps 2013 South Carolina preseason football Fab 5

MaxPreps 2013 South Carolina Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard 1. Northwestern (Rock Hill)
Head coach: Kyle Richardson
2012 finish: 12-3; Class 4A-II finalist
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Kyle Richardson will be working with quarterback Mason Rudolph for the third straight season. For opposing defenses, that’s a scary thought. Richardson’s "Air Raid" offense will light up the scoreboards again this fall. Northwestern also returns a capable group of receivers. The team’s defense, which faltered at times a year ago, needs to improve if the team is to capture its first state title since 2010.

See the Top 15 South Carolina football dynasties

2. Byrnes (Duncan)
Head coach: Bobby Bentley
2012 finish: 12-2
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With the departure of Chris Miller, Bobby Bentley resumes the role of head coach at Byrnes. With his familiarity with the program, there’s no reason to think Byrnes won’t continue to operate at the level of a national power. Bentley’s sons, Shuler (a senior) and Jake (a freshman) are both quarterbacks for the Rebels, who also return two top receivers in Shaedon Meadors and Greg McHam.

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3. Dutch Fork (Irmo)
Head coach: Tom Knotts
2012 finish: 11-4; Class 4A-I finalist
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This should be the best Dutch Fork team that Tom Knotts, the pioneer of the Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) football dynasty, has had since arriving in 2010. The team returns a three-year starter behind center in Derek Olenchuk, a 1,400-yard rusher in Matt Colburn, and a massive offensive line. On defense, it returns super sophomore Stephen Davis Jr., who already holds several scholarship offers. A play-maker needs to emerge at receiver. This team lost in the state finals last year. Anything short of a state title this fall would be disappointing.

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4. Goose Creek
Head coach: Chuck Reedy
2012 finish: 13-0
Team preview

A tumultuous ending to its 2012 season — being disqualified from the state playoffs — provides fuel to the fire for Goose Creek’s 2013 campaign. Quarterback Dantez Bennamon is back, while Caleb Kinlaw will assume the role of the team’s lead running back. Kalan Ritchie, a 6-foot-5 defensive end/tight end, will contribute on both sides of the ball. Daylin Julius, who posted a team-high nine sacks last year, returns at linebacker for a Goose Creek program that has clearly become one of the state’s best.

See last season's final South Carolina football rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

5. Greenwood
Head coach: Gene Cathcart
2012 finish: 15-0, Class 4A-I champion
Team preview

Greenwood has reached the state finals in three consecutive seasons and will be gunning for a fourth appearance in 2013. In the state final, its flex-bone offense overwhelmed Northwestern and its pass-happy attack. This fall, Octavius Morgan will likely see a majority of the carries. Six-foot-six defensive end Brandon Henderson returns up front, while junior Kaleb Chalmers is back in the secondary. The team’s linebackers will be inexperienced.

See the 2012 NFL players from South Carolina