Zone Reads: Top 15 2023s From The Lowcountry
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All in all, 21 different players from the Lowcountry made their way into Prep Red Zone South Carolina’s updated Class of 2023 rankings top 100. Yeah, there is clearly some talent from Charleston right on down to Hilton Head. Clusters…
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Continue ReadingAll in all, 21 different players from the Lowcountry made their way into Prep Red Zone South Carolina’s updated Class of 2023 rankings top 100.
Yeah, there is clearly some talent from Charleston right on down to Hilton Head.
Clusters of players at Oceanside Collegiate and Summerville didn’t hurt. Neither did a budding crop of defensive linemen who are all competing against each other on the camp and recruiting circuits – something that is clearly making them all better.
Here, we break down the top 15 overall players from the zone.
Steve Simpkins Steve Simpkins 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Summerville | 2023 State SC , LB, Summerville
Every year, some senior linebacker in South Carolina pulls a major offer toward the end of his senior season. Could Simpkins be that player for 2023? His skill set puts him in the running.
Jordan Turner Jordan Turner 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Goose Creek | 2023 State SC , DB, Goose Creek
The rangy Turner can play all four defensive back positions, as he’s an adept coverage corner, a big-hitting strong safety or a great center fielder in the free safety position. Makes him marketable as all get up.
De’Andre Jones De’Andre Jones 6'1" | 245 lbs | DL Fort Dorchester | 2023 State SC , DL, Summerville
If Jones was 6-foot-3, he’d have his pick of schools already at his fingertips. After all, this is a player who has averaged a sack a game the last 17 times he’s put on his uniform.
Drew Inabinet Drew Inabinet 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL Summerville | 2023 State SC , OL, Summerville
Inabinet is a rare crossover talent. He’s huge, measured official at 6-foot-4 and 346 pounds during the Palmetto Combine. But he’s also got a 79-inch wing span and ran a 5.38 40 at that combine.
Keith Elmore Keith Elmore 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Summerville | 2023 State SC , DB, Summerville
Elmore has been started at the Class 5A school for two years already and is primed for his best year yet. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry and tackles with ferociousness.
TJ Wilson TJ Wilson 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Ashley Ridge | 2023 State SC , LB, Ashley Ridge
The short-but-stalky Wilson is quicker than he initial appears. It’s why he’s creeping up on the 300 career tackle chart. He’ll likely hit that in the last non-region game or first region contest this season.
Daryl DePass, DB, Beaufort
DePass had just one interception a year ago. Why? Teams didn’t like testing the shutdown corner. Taking a huge chunk out of the field allows the rest of the Beaufort defense to lock in.
Drew Moore Drew Moore 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Goose Creek | 2023 State SC , QB, Goose Creek
Two Lowcountry coaches recently told us that Moore is among the most difficult quarterbacks to game-plan for. We’re not surprised. The pro-style signal caller does just about everything well.
Tim Castain Tim Castain 6'1" | 240 lbs | DL Oceanside Collegiate | 2023 State SC , DL, Oceanside Collegiate
Castain’s star is rising quickly amid all the talent at Oceanside. He’s making himself into a quality recruit who can shift into different spots along the defensive line.
Chris Marable Chris Marable 6'4" | 280 lbs | DL Hilton Head | 2023 State SC , DL, Hilton Head
Among the biggest movers and shakers in this class is a defensive lineman who can both move offensive linemen out of his way or shake his way into the backfield to wreck plays.
Omari Jenkins Omari Jenkins 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Timberland | 2023 State SC , LB, Timberland
Georgia State fell in love with Jenkins early on, and his big-production quality is why. He once had 25 tackles in a game and has the size to play Division-I ball.
Vaughn Blue Vaughn Blue 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC , RB, Oceanside Collegiate
The No. 2 tailback in the class, Blue has come a long way in a short amount of time. He could put up some monster numbers in 2023, as everything continues to line up in his favor.
Eamon Smalls Eamon Smalls 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL Beaufort | 2023 TX , DL, Beaufort
Smalls recently shed a decent amount of weight – somewhere in the 40-50-pound range, and is a step faster than he was while playing at north of 340 pounds as he did for most of his junior year.
Monroe Freeling Monroe Freeling 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC , OL, Oceanside Collegiate
Freeling may end up being the most recruited player from this entire class even after he cut down his impressive list to a whole bunch college football blue bloods. His size can’t be taught.
Zolten Osborne Zolten Osborne 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Fort Dorchester | 2023 State SC , QB, Fort Dorchester
Had it not been for game cancellations, we may be talking about Osborne approaching the 10,000 career passing yards mark this year. Still, 8,500 or even 9,000 isn’t off the table if the season plays out in full.