Breaking Down PRZ Preseason All-State Team, Part 1: Defense

Want to know a little more about our preseason All-State team? Here's a look at the guys on the defensive side of the ball, along with punters and kickers.   PUNTERS   [player_tooltip player_id='340392' first='Sam' last='Crocker'] Philip Simmons - Crocker has a big leg, can punt for placement, and great hang time. He can kick as well, and he's highly regarded as a specialist who's going to help his team.   [player_tooltip player_id='91354' first='Coleman' last='Franzone'] James Island - Franzone was an All-State player a year ago, booming 33 punts for a 44.5-yard average and killing 37 percent of his kicks inside the opponent's 20.   KICKERS   [player_tooltip player_id='340391' first='Cavan' last='Craig'] Bishop England - Craig is one of just a handful of returners for the Bishops, and he handles both punting and kicking duties. He's the highest-ranked specialist in the 2024 class, and already has a 59-yard field goal to his credit.   [player_tooltip player_id='605521' first='Gray' last='Dangerfield'] James Island - Dangerfield was a weapon for the Trojans, scoring 77 points last year. He was 9-of-11 on field goals, including 5-of-5 in the playoffs, with a 48-yard personal best and a last-second kick for a walk-off win.   DEFENSIVE LINEMEN   [player_tooltip player_id='139299' first='Jordan' last='Boyd'] Silver Bluff: The Georgia Tech commit is a nightmare. He recorded 92 tackles last year, with 25 for loss and 10 sacks while forcing three fumbles and recovering one. Boyd always looks like a factor, and sometimes looks unblockable.   [player_tooltip player_id='139300' first='Ben' last='Britton'] Oceanside Collegiate: Britton plays both ways, but never seems to stop on the defensive side. He had 77 tackles and 17 tackles for loss last season, and his speed and strength off the edge were a huge part of the Landsharks' run to the Class 2A Lower State title.   [player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Chris' last='Dixon'] South Pointe - Dixon eats up blockers, stops the run, and is a great pass-rusher. He had 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks last season, and will look to take on an even bigger role this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson'] James Island - A transfer from Indian Land, Jefferson piled up 110 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles a year ago. He's active with a high motor, and he'll be all over the field for the Trojans.   [player_tooltip player_id='996857' first='Travis' last='Wilson'] Johnsonville - Wilson is a standout up front for the Flashes, and one of the team's most versatile and athletic players? How versatile? Well, this year he's expecting to play some snaps in the backfield - and some at wide receiver.   [player_tooltip player_id='267453' first='Andre' last='McFadden-Pressley'] Lake City - McFadden-Pressley is huge at 6-foot-2, 295 pounds. More than that, though, he's as athletic a guy as you'll find for his size - a fact backed up by his position as an All-American wrestler.   [player_tooltip player_id='771091' first='Edward' last='Robinson'] Blythewood - Robinson's junior year was astounding: 115 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, 29 pressures, and nine forced fumbles. He'll be a huge part of the Bengals' success this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='209617' first='Jayden' last='Wilson-Abrams'] Greenville - Wilson-Abrams is an absolute monster, and when paired with teammate Bryce Knauber and a ton of returners in the secondary, he'll be tough to handle for opposing offenses.   [player_tooltip player_id='448980' first='Shaikh' last='Thompson'] Hilton Head - Thompson had 45 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks a year ago. He'll look to build on that this season as the Seahawks look to build the defense around him.   LINEBACKERS   [player_tooltip player_id='208337' first='Jeremiah' last='Curry'] Bluffton - A hybrid LB/S, Curry was a tackle machine for the Bobcats last season. He had 104 total stops, including one for a loss. He added an interception, and knocked down nine passes in the secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='1142485' first='Jamie' last='Downing'] Bamberg-Ehrhardt - Downing's one of those guys who plays at about a thousand miles an hour. He's a run-stuffer first and foremost, he has great closing speed to get where he needs to be in a hurry, and he's physical when he gets there.   [player_tooltip player_id='340387' first='Camden' last='Durant'] McCormick - What's Durant got that you're looking for in a linebacker? Well...everything. He's big (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), fast, strong, and physical.   [player_tooltip player_id='443495' first='Franklin' last='Emerson'] West Florence - Emerson's a speedy linebacker who's a big hitter, and boasts a stat that's among the most fun in the state. His blazing 40 time (4.5) is eclipsed by his GPA (5.2)   [player_tooltip player_id='91351' first='Jayden' last='Fuller'] Silver Bluff - A transfer from Aiken, Fuller made the Bulldogs better when he walked on campus. He can play DT, Edge, and any LB position. Last year, he had 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and 12 hurries. How athletic is Fuller? He's got 19 offers, and in his spare time, he was a third-place 4A wrestler at 220 pounds in 2022, a state qualifier in the shot put and discus, and runs the 100 meters and 200 meters.   [player_tooltip player_id='208366' first='Terry' last='Grant'] West Ashley - At 6-feet, 200 pounds, Grant brings a hard-nosed, physical style to the LB position. He's also quick enough to be one of the Wildcats leading rushers a year ago.   [player_tooltip player_id='771063' first='Timir' last='Hickman-Collins'] Indian Land - Hickman-Collins is a Florida State commit, and the Seminoles are getting a standout. Last year, he had 147 tackles, four sacks, and six interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs.   [player_tooltip player_id='208334' first='Kelvin' last='Hunter'] West Florence - Hunter's a statistician's dream. The converted DB, a South Carolina commit, racked up 87.5 tackles, had 19 tackles for loss, broke up six passes, and forced four fumbles last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='448977' first='Seneca' last='Moore'] Crestwood - Moore had 76 tackles and six sacks a year ago, adding 190 rushing yards and 102 receiving as a TE. He's a big, physical gap-filler, and excels in stopping the run.   [player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith'] Spartanburg - Smith exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, with 125 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He'll be a leader for the Vikings' defense this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='589012' first='Jamaris' last='Stevens'] Strom Thurmond - Stevens (pictured) is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and can move. He's quick enough to play in coverage, physical enough to cause havoc behind the line of scrimmage, and athletic enough to contribute at TE.   [player_tooltip player_id='771217' first='Terrance' last='Wells'] Dutch Fork - Wells had 32 tackles and four tackles for loss last season, adding a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. With huge graduation losses at LB for the Silver Foxes, Wells can step in and help immediately.   DEFENSIVE BACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='390438' first='Ramani' last='Bruton'] Greenville- Bruton nabbed six interceptions as a sophomore, and with four starters back beside him in the Red Raiders' secondary, he'll continue to be a lock-down presence.   [player_tooltip player_id='996905' first='Keith' last='Chisholm'] Whale Branch - Chisholm is a ball-hawk. He picked off four passes last season, and broke up 14 more. He had 27 total tackles, contributed at WR, and was a standout on special teams for the Warriors.   [player_tooltip player_id='771040' first='Jamauri' last='Davis'] Carolina Forest - Davis is a tall corner at 6-foot-3, and his size and vision help him stand out. He's got great hands, and is able to high point the ball and finish plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman'] South Florence - Goodman is a dynamic hybrid player who's capable of stuffing the stat sheet. He can make a bunch of tackles, but he can also pick off passes and force turnovers with his physical play.   [player_tooltip player_id='771037' first='Zay' last='Johnson'] Clinton – Johnson was one of the top guys in a fantastic Red Devils' secondary a year ago. He's long, physical, and fantastic in coverage.   [player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] Dutch Fork - Jones had 44 solo tackles and 32 assists last year, picking off a pass and knocking down six more. He'll be counted on to lead the Silver Foxes' secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes'] South Florence - Rhodes will be a steady, experienced leader on the back end for the Bruins. He gets a lethally quick jump off the snap, he anticipates plays well, and he flies to the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='589016' first='Zantwan' last='Nelson'] South Pointe- Nelson has a knack for finding the ball - and for taking it away. He had six interceptions last year, backed it up with 55 tackles, and adds a little bit of menace to South Pointe's defensive backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='340394' first='Troy' last='Stevenson'] Philip Simmons - Stevenson plays both ways for the Iron Horses, and his defensive stats might look a little pedestrian - 16 solo tackles, 22 total, and two interceptions. They look that way because opponents' game plans include studiously doing everything they can to stay away from Stevenson. His 28 offers say that's the smart thing to do.   [player_tooltip player_id='267457' first='Michael' last='Woodfield'] Summerville - Woodfield spent the summer proving that you're not going to out-work him, and the Green Wave will hope to see the benefits this fall. He's got plenty of size at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, and has the closing speed to help him in coverage.

Want to know a little more about our preseason All-State team? Here's a look at the guys on the defensive side of the ball, along with punters and kickers.