2016 South Carolina Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders - No. 17 Northwestern


1. Northwestern (Rock Hill)
Head coach: David Pierce
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview

Pierce, an assistant for the last 28 years, takes over for Kyle Richardson, who took a college job after going 58-13 over five seasons, including a Division AAAA-II state title last year.

The Trojans, No. 17 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, shouldn't miss a beat with the return of lefty quarterback Gage Moloney (4,477 total yards, 63 touchdowns), four-star defensive end Logan Rudolph (14.5 sacks) and the receiving duo of Jamario Holley (70 catches, 946 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Jordan Starkes (75-1,088-11).

If Moloney doesn't want to chuck it around, he can hand it to Jerry Howard (1,570 yards, 25 touchdowns).

"I don't think I was hired to change a bunch of things," Pierce said.

See last season's South Carolina computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Fort Dorchester (North Charleston)
Head coach: Steve Laprad
2015 record: 15-0
Team preview

The Patriots outscored foes 658-286 last season, including beating Dorman 59-31 in the state AAAA-I title game behind 303 yards passing and three touchdowns from sophomore quarterback Dakereon Joyner. It was the program's first state crown at any level.

With Joyner back for his junior season and Raquan Simmons as his top receiving threat, Fort Dorchester shouldn't miss a beat in 2016. The Patriots return 32 of 46 players, including 15 from a very talented Class of 2018.

See the MaxPreps national football videos page

3. South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Head coach: Strait Herron
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview

The Stallions will find out just where they stand, opening their season at crosstown rival and top-ranked Northwestern. Last year, Northwestern handed them their only defeat (35-34 in overtime) before South Pointe went on to win a state AAA title with a 35-0 win over Midland Valley.

South Pointe returns leading rusher Voshon St. Hill and leading tackler, 5-foot-11, 207-pound middle linebacker Bryson Cooper. Junior quarterback Derion "DK" Kendrick (6-1, 175) and defensive end Elijah Adams (6-0, 220) should be other key players. The Stallions return eight starters overall, four on each side of the ball, and their JV team went 8-1 last year. Herron thinks being around a team that won back-to-back state titles should help them.

See the MaxPreps South Carolina football photos page

4. Byrnes (Duncan)
Head coach: Brian Lane
2015 record: 12-2
Team preview The perennial state and national power lost in the state AAAA-1 semifinals to Dorman after beating the same crosstown rival 31-7 the same season. A pair of juniors, quarterback James Bernard and running back Quez Mayes, should lead the offense, which scored 507 points last season.

See the MaxPreps South Carolina high school football playoff brackets

5. Sumter
Head coach: Mark Barnes
2015 record: 10-3
Team preview

The Fighting Gamecocks were seeded fourth in last year's AAAA-I playoffs and won a 41-10 game over White Knoll before being eliminated by Byrnes. They return quarterbacks Malik Nelson and running back Rodney Pitts to lead the offense, though the defense should carry the load. Linebackers Kenjae Rose (112 tackles) and John Butler (6-0, 190) should do the brunt of the tackling but defensive end Raymond Johnson (6-4, 235) is the big-play defender. He had 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2015.