2024 Rankings Update: Stock Risers
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One of the most enjoyable parts of compiling each rankings updates is seeing the guys who impressed us during the first stages of the process and then decided not to rest on those early mentions. These five are all great…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most enjoyable parts of compiling each rankings updates is seeing the guys who impressed us during the first stages of the process and then decided not to rest on those early mentions.
These five are all great examples of exactly that.
While they weren’t the only players to improve their stock in this round – in fact, another seven jumped up the charts as well despite 31 players being added to the entirety of the class up and down the rankings – we have seen the type of movement in each of these players that tells us they may not be done yet.
After all, they’ve each got a season and a half of high school ball to go.
Ben Britton Ben Britton 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Oceanside Collegiate | 2024 State SC DL, Oceanside Collegiate (Up 6 spots)
Britton isn’t manhandled. Like, ever. Instead, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound tackle is often muscling up double teams on the interior or flipping to the outside of the line to maximize his hand and arm strength to seal the edge. It’s sort of hard to believe he’s got another year of high school football after this one to continue to learn the game.
Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC RB, Hartsville (Up 7 spots)
Week by week, McDaniel is showing why Power 5 schools are showing so much interest. He grew an inch in the offseason, and if he reaches that 5-foot-10 mark before the start of his senior season, that “knock” against him will be all but gone. McDaniel is a battle-tested tailback running in one of the most complicated schemes in all of Class 4A.
Devin Grainger Devin Grainger 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Conway | 2024 State SC QB, Conway (Up 8 spots)
The newly minted top quarterback in the Class of 2024, Grainger has developed into much more than just an athletic kid who has been playing varsity sports at Conway since his eighth grade year. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound lefty has increased his arm strength and accuracy, and he’s the face of the Tigers’ football program until he graduates.
Jordan Boyd Jordan Boyd 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC LB, Silver Bluff (Up 17 spots)
Boyd (pictured) has the instincts, size and ability to be a top-flight college edge rusher. And, yet, he has just enough quickness to back off the line when necessary and drop into coverage against tight ends. We’ve seen him have his way with opposing linemen who have significant weight advantages over him, and his strength and speed make him an elite talent in this state.
Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC QB, Lexington (Up 38 spots)
To make this type of jump when the class is still in its relative infancy means something. Mines is a winner, and while the 5-foot-11, 180-pound quarterback has plenty of help in the form of a talented tailback and a top-notch defense, Mines isn’t just going along for the ride. He’s making throws he struggled with last year, and he has the faith of his coaching staff.