2025 Rankings: Midlands Zone Read Featuring The Trenches

Skill position players might get a lot of the headlines – who are we kidding, they get almost all of them – but rest assured that football is still a game won in the trenches. It's not glorious work but South Carolina has produced several high-profile offensive and defensive linemen in recent years.   Here is a look at several in the Midlands that we need to keep our eyes on for the 2025 Class.   [player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison'] DL, Sumter – Addison has turned heads with his play and the intangibles he brings at the defensive end spot. He's a tad bit undersized at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds but he more than makes up for that with his quickness and pursuit in the open field. He has a high motor and plays mainly with his hand in the dirt but should be able to move to a stand-up position in college.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] DL, Dutch Fork – Smith is another prospect that might be undersized at defensive end, but his speed and playmaking ability stands out. He finished with over 60 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. He gets to the quarterback quickly and uses his strength to his advantage.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders'] DL, Blythewood – Sanders is one of three Blythewood defensive linemen on this list. Sanders plays on the inside with his 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and is a haul to stay in front of. He was the defensive lineman MVP of the High School Blitz Junior All-Star game earlier this month. Sanders is getting Power 5 interest, and a solid offseason could see the offers pour in this summer.      [player_tooltip player_id='346188' first='Dekontee' last='Mack'] DL, Westwood – Mack is a two-way player at defensive end and tight end. He's 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and sheds blocks easily. He should be able to add weight and muscle to his frame and not lose any of his quickness or pass rushing ability. He is likely more suited for the defensive side of the ball in college.    [player_tooltip player_id='1157753' first='Kemuel' last='Little'] DL, Blythewood – The Bengals use Little in a number of different ways. But wherever he lines up, he's a menace to opposing offensive. He's 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and can play standing up at defensive end, linebacker or with his hand in the dirt. He had 43 tackles and 11 tackles for last as a junior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1157756' first='Zarion' last='Williams'] DL, Blythewood – How is this for some numbers – 27 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and four forced fumbles. That's what the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Williams did from his defensive end spot last season. His first move is quick and he sometimes past the offensive lineman before they get out of their stance.    [player_tooltip player_id='1157942' first='Cleve' last='Tellery'] DL, Ridge View – Want to clog up the middle? Plug the 6-foot, 295 pounds Tellery in the middle. He's difficult to move. He has 33 solo tackles with 17 tackles for loss, six sacks and one forced fumble last season. He can use a solid bull rush at times but has amazing quickness for someone his size.    [player_tooltip player_id='851128' first='Nathan' last='Gilley'] OL, Chapin – Gilley isn't the largest offensive lineman in the area at 6-foot-1, 250 pounds but he more than holds his own, even against larger defensive players. He uses great leverage and has solid footwork, two things that goes unnoticed a lot of times.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012842' first='Josh' last='Benson'] OL, Dutch Fork 6-foot-7, 300 – Benson is the largest offensive lineman listed in the Class of 2025 right now – 6-foot-7, 300 pounds. He's a mountain of a man and shoes great agility as well as power in his game. He might just be scratching the surface in how good he can end up being. His best football is definitely ahead of him.    [player_tooltip player_id='1157979' first='Ryan' last='Love'] OL, Irmo 6-foot-2, 275 – Remember us talking about that high-powered Irmo offense this season. The one that went for over 6,000 yards and averaged nearly 50 points a game. That doesn't happen without solid play upfront. Love played center and controlled things upfront. He is physical but also shows some quickness when getting downfield.

Skill position players might get a lot of the headlines – who are we kidding, they get almost all of them – but rest assured that football is still a game won in the trenches. It's not glorious work but South Carolina has produced several high-profile offensive and defensive linemen in recent years.