Room At The Top: Longtime Standouts Near Top Of Rankings Shine
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Headed into Spring practice, there’s no shortage of excitement in the Upstate. A lot of that is due to players who have been fixtures at the top of the Prep Redzone rankings, and who show no signs of slowing down.…
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Continue ReadingHeaded into Spring practice, there’s no shortage of excitement in the Upstate. A lot of that is due to players who have been fixtures at the top of the Prep Redzone rankings, and who show no signs of slowing down. High on the list are a pair of linebackers, a pair of gunslingers, and a pair of guys who dominate the line of scrimmage.
Powdersville’s Jalen Rambert Jalen Rambert 6'1" | 240 lbs | LB Powdersville | 2023 State SC is a monster, to put it plainly. He’s big, fast, and strong, and helped lead the Patriots to their best-ever season a year ago. Rambert can step in and stop the run, he pursues sideline-to-sideline, he can rush the passer, and he can cover. He’s got a quick first step and shows great ability to diagnose plays on the move. Rambert’s upside is huge.
At Greenville, if you find a pile, you’ll find LB Luke Schuller Luke Schuller 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Greenville | 2023 State SC close to it. When you record tackles in the triple-digits, people tend to take notice. Schuller is another mobile, quick-thinking LB, and is adept at everything you’d want in the position. He’s also a BIG hitter, notching a ton of highlight-worthy stops last season.
Spartanburg’s Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC is what makes the Vikings’ offense go. Without him during a brief injury last year, the Vikings were still a pretty good team. With him, they won the Region II-5A title with a huge comeback, and played for the 5A Upper State title. Jeter has a huge arm, is mobile enough to keep defenses honest, and has a knack for making the big play at the perfect time. The West Virginia commit will be a huge part of Spartanburg’s success this season.
Gaffney’s Grayson Loftis Grayson Loftis 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2023 State SC might be the most intriguing QB prospect in the class. The Duke commit checks all the boxes, can make every throw, and shows a ton of intangibles. But Loftis has rarely had to show his hand in games, as the Indians turned to a rugged ground game to bludgeon opponents on the way to the 5A title last year. Make no mistake, Loftis can beat you, he just hasn’t had to. With the top two RBs and nearly 3,000 yards of offense departing, Loftis’ 2022 season might not look much like 2021. And the Indians might be even better because of it.
How explosive is Dorman OL Markee Anderson Markee Anderson 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Dorman | 2023 State SC ? Well, he decided he’d learn shot put in time for the Cavaliers’ track season – and he won the Region II-5A title and qualified for Upper State. Anderson has a pocket full of D1 offers, and it’s easy to see why. He’s strong, shows great technique, and rarely gets beat in one-on-one situations. He does a good job of getting downfield and picking up blocks at the second level, and is equally adept at pass-blocking.
Put on Seneca’s offensive film. Look for a defensive lineman on the ground. You just found Cam Johnson Cam Johnson 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Seneca | 2023 State SC . The Bobcats’ OL just blows people off the ball. He eespecially excels when pulling or when blocking for screens downfield, where deceptively fast feet and a ton of leverage lead to a bad night for defenders.