2026 Rankings: Early Defensive Standouts
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Six of the players unveiled in Tuesday’s Class of 2026 rankings are getting or about to get some serious varsity playing time. They’ve exhibited an early ability to get on the field and then stay there by doing what is…
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Continue ReadingSix of the players unveiled in Tuesday’s Class of 2026 rankings are getting or about to get some serious varsity playing time.
They’ve exhibited an early ability to get on the field and then stay there by doing what is asked of them. And for these six, it often means lining up against much older guys from established programs.
They haven’t shied from the competition. On the contrary, they’re already excelling in it.
Michael Garnett Michael Garnett 5'11" | 270 lbs | DL Philip Simmons | 2026 State SC DL, Philip Simmons
Look at the games Garnett has already appeared in as a freshman and you’ll see he’s not just taking up a roster spot. The 5-foot-10, 280-pound lineman has played against Andrews, Aynor and Beaufort, three teams that are currently or have spent time in their respective class top-10 rankings. His numbers aren’t fantastic, but we expect them to grow not only during the rest of this season, but in the years to come.
Caden Ramsey Caden Ramsey 6'5" | 195 lbs | DB Cross | 2026 State SC DB, Cross
Without playing offense, it took Ramsey all of three games to score his first varsity touchdown. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound safety returned a fumble in that game against Scott’s Branch, a sign of the high-impact plays he’s made so far in 2022. Ramsey has also broken up six passes and recovered a second fumble, on top of 11 solo tackles (and three assists). With a big game on the horizon, the youngster might snag some headlines very soon.
Landon Conner Landon Conner 5'11" | 220 lbs | DL Loris | 2026 State SC DL/LB, Loris
Lions coach Greg Mance has a defense full of playmakers. But what he’s seen out of Conner already this fall has the staff thinking ahead. That’s because after just seven games, the 5-foot-11, 235 pounder had put up 26 solo tackles, another 18 assisted stops, 11 tackles for loss (including four in the big win over Class 5A Conway), a sack and a forced fumble. During first team vs. first team reps in recent weeks, no one can block Conner, according to Mance.
Tyleek Dukes Tyleek Dukes 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Kingstree | 2026 State SC DB/WR Kingstree
At 6-foot and 170 pounds, Dukes has the athleticism to do what Kingstree needs him to do – which is basically to never come off the field. Midway through the year, Dukes had caught passes, returned kicks, made more than 30 total tackles, blocked multiple punts, knocked down passes and recovered a couple fumbles. Dukes is showing all the signs of getting better week by week as he gets more experience at the varsity level.
Michael Boulware Michael Boulware 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC LB, Spring Valley
Boulware, the son of the former Florida State and NFL linebacker and safety by the same name, is impressing his coaches with a strong work ethic. So much so that the freshman was bumped up to JV after only a couple weeks, then bumped to the varsity after a couple more weeks. Boulware (pictured) is reminding the staff of Spring Valley, University of Georgia and current Miami Dolphin Channing Tindall. Those are some hefty comparisons.
Jeremiah Favorite Jeremiah Favorite 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Boiling Springs | 2026 State SC DB, Myrtle Beach
The trust in Favorite is evident. The lone freshman on the Seahawks varsity is often out on the cornerback island by his lonesome against some of the better receivers this team faces. He’s still got some tests to go this year, but for the most part Favorites is passing them. He’s also recorded 12.5 tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass. As more teams learn of his abilities, his numbers may not increase much, but his effectiveness will.