Class of 2023 Rankings: Stock Risers

Fort Dorchester’s Zolten Osborne is the top QB in Charleston

Ian Guerin September 22, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

We’re all about the movers and shakers when it comes to updated player rankings. And between new additions to the Class of 2023 and some players who earned jumps up the rankings, we’ve got you covered on the biggest changes. Consider this the one-stop shop for stock risers. [player_tooltip player_id="89345" first="Zolten" last="Osborne"], QB, Fort Dorchester (↑ 11 spots) We knew coming into the season that Osborne was among the best quarterbacks in the state of South Carolina. And in three games, he’s proved he belongs near the top of the list, regardless of position. In the Patriots’ first three games this season, Osborne has either thrown for more than 300+ yards (twice) or four touchdowns. He’s completing roughly two-thirds of his passes, and he’s showing incredible arm strength and a freelance style when necessary. [player_tooltip player_id="146356" first="LaNorris" last="Sellers"], QB, South Florence (↑ 28 spots) We’re big buyers on Sellers, who has made one of the most impressive leaps in abilities we’ve seen between his sophomore and junior seasons. Through four games this fall, the big quarterback has thrown for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns (versus just one interception), has completed 61 percent of his passes and has also run for 243 yards and six scores. He’s verbally committed to Virginia, but other potential suitors are likely to try to change his mind. [player_tooltip player_id="91356" first="Daryl" last="DePass"], DB, Beaufort (↑ 20 spots) The 6-footer is a defensive coordinator’s dream. He is frequently matched up against an opponent’s best receiver, and even when he’s giving up an inch or two, DePass is a lock-down cornerback who can handle just about anyone in one-on-one coverages. What boosted him over the top, though, was a concentration on improving his tackling. The Eagles’ junior isn’t afraid to stick his helmet into a tight end coming across the middle or a running back who broke free. [player_tooltip player_id="124455" first="Clay" last="Pender"], WR, Barnwell (↑ 16 spots) The only thing preventing Pender from being a bigger college recruit is that he’s maybe not playing for one of the huge Class 5A or 4A recruiting factories. But believe us, Pender has all the tools. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Pender frequently lines up on the outside and can burn defenders. Meanwhile, he has no issues accepting slip screens and making them count or out-leaping a corner and safety.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <strong>UNRANKED NO MORE</strong> Obviously, by expanding our rankings and adding 45 more juniors, there are a whole bunch of new faces we’ve come to know very well. Each of them have taken the strides to jump into the list. Three, in particular, moved directly into our top 50. A.C. Flora offensive standouts - receiver [player_tooltip player_id="202725" first="Chris" last="Lofton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="202726" first="Markel" last="Townsend"] - and River Bluff receiver [player_tooltip player_id="202727" first="Apollos" last="Cook"] have had great starts to their junior years after impressive offseasons in which they continued to develop. In the case of Lofton and Townsend, they have proven they were much more than just cogs in the Falcons’ Class 4A championship run fro a year ago. And, with Cook, his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame is getting the attention of college recruiters. A few of other players who jumped into the rankings who have made big impressions: [player_tooltip player_id="202728" first="Kendarius" last="Kinard"], OL, A.C. Flora [player_tooltip player_id="202729" first="Kameron" last="Durant"], OL, Cane Bay [player_tooltip player_id="202730" first="Cameron" last="Faircloth"], LB, Loris [player_tooltip player_id="202732" first="Rob" last="Sanders"], QB, Riverside [player_tooltip player_id="202758" first="Qua" last="Howard"], RB, Northwestern [player_tooltip player_id="204866" first="Jaylen" last="Brown-Wallace"], WR, Daniel [player_tooltip player_id="202746" first="Jace" last="Kraftchick"], WR, Oceanside Collegiate They were joined by plenty of others we’ll continue to evaluate throughout the 2021 season prior to our next rankings update in January.