2024 Rankings Update: Putting the CSRA On The Map

Ian Guerin January 17, 2022 @ 10:00 AM

The No. 2 player in the PRZ South Carolina Class of 2024 rankings is from the CSRA. So is the No. 6. And the No. 12. And the No. 23. And the No. 32. And the No. 35. That’s roughly one-sixth of the top 35, and we split the state into six zones. So, what’s the big deal? This is why it’s important: Of the six zones (which also includes the Lowcountry, the Pee Dee/Grand Strand, the Midlands, the CLT ‘burbs and the Upstate), the CSRA is clearly the smallest of the bunch and by far has the fewest big-class schools. This collection of talent is coming in a pocket of the state that frequently gets ignored by recruiters and awards panels. We think the following players in this class will help alter that trend. It will also bring some great on-field match-ups between some schools in the coming years. RIDGE SPRING-MONETTA (2) The Players: [player_tooltip player_id="208348" first="Tykeem" last="Martin"], WR - No. 52 overall; No. 6 WR [player_tooltip player_id="91353" first="Jamarious" last="Lockett"], ATH - No. 12 overall; No. 2 ATH About This Crew: Lockett is whatever coach Brian Smith needs him to be in a specific game. He had 31.5 tackles, three picks and two sacks from his spot in the secondary. He also led the team with 575 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Martin was far behind, snagging 25 passes for 473 yards and five scores. AIKEN (2) The Players: [player_tooltip player_id="208338" first="Braylon" last="Staley"], WR, Aiken - No. 32 overall; No. 4 WR [player_tooltip player_id="91351" first="Jayden" last="Fuller"], LB, Aiken - No. 6 overall; No. 1 LB About This Crew: Staley is an imposing and accomplished receiver, and his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame has already allowed him to stand out early in his career. Fuller, meanwhile, has quickly developed into a potent edge-rushing linebacker who can shake up an opposing offense in a hurry. MIDLAND VALLEY (3) The Players: [player_tooltip player_id="267472" first="Antrone" last="Butler"], ATH - No. 75 overall; No. 5 ATH [player_tooltip player_id="231445" first="Joenathan" last="Peeples"], RB - No. 63 overall; No. 12 RB [player_tooltip player_id="267450" first="Bradyn" last="Kesselring"], OL - No. 35 overall; No. 5 OL About This Crew: Midland Valley was 1-10 last year as the Mustangs got their feet wet. That won’t happen again in 2022. Kesselring plays even bigger than his 6-foot-3, 260 pounds. Peeples is a dump-truck collision waiting to happen and Butler is proving himself to be a valuable gadget player who can run or catch the ball on offense or knock it down from his spot in the secondary. SILVER BLUFF (3) The Players: [player_tooltip player_id="139306" first="Christian" last="Echols"], OL - No. 41 overall; No. 7 OL [player_tooltip player_id="139299" first="Jordan" last="Boyd"], LB - No. 23 overall; No. 3 LB [player_tooltip player_id="91348" first="Traevon" last="Dunbar"], RB - No. 2 overall; No. 1 RB About This Crew: Everyone knows about Dunbar by now after his near-2,000-yard season. Echols’ experience (he’s been starting for two years) is a clutch component to this offense as a whole. Then there’s Boyd (pictured). In 2021, he had 41 solo tackles, another 29 assisted stops, four sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He’s a player to watch for a big rise in the rankings in 2022.