Community Film Room, Episode 30

Our January rankings update pinpointed 508 worthy players across four classes. For a variety of evidence, our team decided that each of those 500-plus were worthy of a coveted spot in our rankings.   But we'd be naive to think we've evaluated everyone or didn't miss a few along the way.    PRZ South Carolina is constantly looking at as many of the 10,000 prep football players in the SCHSL and SCISA ranks as possible. Now, a little over a year from its inception, the Community Film Room is back.   Each week, we'll break down five currently unranked players from across the state to let you see what we're seeing. The series will lead right into the next rankings update in May and beyond.   In Episode 30, we'll take one more crack at five currently unranked players trying to make their move before our next rankings update. We've got a linebacker with a ring, a tailback about to get a bunch more carries and three receivers you'll be hearing all about come fall.   Christian Zachary WR, Calhoun County   Zachary had one hell of three-week span in March and early April, picking up offers from Charlotte, Virginia, Appalachian State and Bryant. We see why. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver and defensive back has some serious length and the speed to make him an elite playmaker on either side of the ball. While he pitches in on defense, too, he's a dual-threat receiver capable of catching the ball in space or burning right on by the defender. Don't sleep on this kid over the next eight months.      Quion Rivers LB, Beaufort   A true middle linebacker by size (he's 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds), Rivers is athletic enough where the staff shifted him around quite a bit, especially on third-and-longs. That's because Rivers is also quick enough to get off the edge and into the backfield. It's how's he ended the season second on the Eagles' roster with 67 total tackles. He tacked on eight tackles for loss, a pick and a forced fumble. Rivers will have to pick up some of the slack created by graduations, and that means his numbers might jump significantly in 2023.    [player_tooltip player_id='753896' first='Jayden' last='Nichols'] WR, Northwestern   Nichols forced himself into the varsity lineup for a team that ended up playing for the Class 4A state championship after starting the season on the junior varsity. He even caught a few passes during the blowout portion of three playoff games, giving himself a taste of the postseason. While Nichols' film is somewhat deceiving (most of it came on the JV level), the 5-foot-9, 150-pound speedster backed it up with some impressive numbers and the top individual award at the Palmetto Combine Series North earlier this month.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone'] RB, Clover   You better believe that Stone is going to have every opportunity to improve upon his 331-yard, three-touchdown 2022 season. With first-year coach Perry Woolbright - a guy known for taking advantage of ball control - taking over, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound tailback is going to get his carries, even with a one-two tandem at quarterback and receiver coming back. Stone (pictured) doesn't have elite speed, necessarily, but his cutting ability is on display time and again during his highlights and his showed out during the combine, making us think he's only scratched the surface.    Jamel Howse WR, Newberry   OK, here's the obvious part. Howse is 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. He's got three years of high school eligibility remaining and already has offers from Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech. Even as a 14-year old, he was strong enough to break through corners who were covering him a little too tight and make quick work of linebackers trying to tackle him on end arounds. And with his height, he's the pure definition of a guy who can high-point any defender. Tack on his 81-inch wing span, and we see why the colleges are about to start doing their due diligence.

Our January rankings update pinpointed 508 worthy players across four classes. For a variety of evidence, our team decided that each of those 500-plus were worthy of a coveted spot in our rankings.