2026 Rankings: The New Additions
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The next influx of talent in South Carolina is already here. These 27 new faces in the Class of 2026 rankings all took advantage of their game reps last fall, proving that they’re not just auditioning for the next time…
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Continue ReadingThe next influx of talent in South Carolina is already here.
These 27 new faces in the Class of 2026 rankings all took advantage of their game reps last fall, proving that they’re not just auditioning for the next time around. Even those who weren’t starting contributed in the here and now.
And while we’ve added some quarterbacks and receivers to the mix, don’t ignore what we saw in the trenches, linebacking corps or defensive backfields, either. These are some of the names we’re going to be talking about quite a bit next fall.
SPECIALIST
Curt Horton Curt Horton 5'11" | 150 lbs | K Andrew Jackson | 2026 State SC K, Andrew Jackson – 56-of-58 on PATs plus six-of-six on FGs equals Welcome To The Rankings
DEFENSE
Elisha Smalls Elisha Smalls 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Berkeley | 2026 State SC DB, Berkeley – Has quick adjustment skills with ability to blitz when asked.
Jaylen Singletary Jaylen Singletary 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Hampton County | 2026 State SC DB, Hampton County – Has sky-high potential at safety – and probably tailback, too.
Zamaurious Robertson Zamaurious Robertson 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Dillon | 2026 State SC ATH, Dillon – Put up four picks, forced a pair of fumbles and had five six total TDs.
Jordan Strong Jordan Strong 5'8" | 150 lbs | ATH Lewisville | 2026 State SC ATH, Lewisville – Defensive back put up 45 tackles, seven picks and four TFLs.
Drake Porter Drake Porter 6'0" | 175 lbs | LB Ben Lippen | 2026 State SC LB, Ben Lippen – Averaged better that 12 tackles per game as a sophomore.
Clayton Folse Clayton Folse 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB West Florence | 2026 State SC DB, West Florence – Productive safety might be making the jump to linebacker.
Kelvin Smalls Kelvin Smalls 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Baptist Hill | 2026 State SC LB, Baptist Hill – Will most likely reach 200 career tackles in his next game.
Gabe Hackett Gabe Hackett 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Ninety Six | 2026 State SC ATH, Ninety Six – Hackett’s role in the program is growing by the month.
Mac Burch Mac Burch 6'1" | 180 lbs | LB Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC LB, Trinity Collegiate – Small school, 6-foot-3, 220-pound talent.
Trent Garner Trent Garner 6'2" | 185 lbs | DL Pendleton | 2026 State SC DL, Pendleton – We still think 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in a season is good.
Darriyarn Baxley Darriyarn Baxley 5'10" | 165 lbs | LB Chester | 2026 State SC LB, Chester – Puts his explosiveness on display over and over again.
Jaxx Wilson Jaxx Wilson 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Westside | 2026 State SC LB, Westside – Hit his season peak at the exact right moment and earned a ring.
Tylin Drakeford Tylin Drakeford 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Camden | 2026 State SC DB, Camden – Put up 37 tackles during the Bulldogs’ playoff run alone.
Marcus Henderson Marcus Henderson 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC LB, Berkeley – You can’t hide 133 tackles and a ton of potential to increase that figure.
OFFENSE
Moon Gerald Moon Gerald 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Loris | 2026 State SC QB, Loris – Lions’ signal caller of the future got some quality reps during 2023.
Gavin Thoma Gavin Thoma 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Seneca | 2026 State SC QB, Seneca – This time next year, Thomas might have shot way up our board.
Jachin Davis Jachin Davis 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Stratford | 2026 State SC QB, Stratford – Put up 2,000 total yards of offense and 20 touchdowns.
Carnell Warren WR, Bluffton – Big-bodied receiver is a couple adjustments from hitting the big time.
Noah Thomas QB, Belton-Honea Path – There’s a pretty good QB in that backfield, too.
Tony O’Banner Tony O’Banner 6'0" | 205 lbs | ATH Thomas Heyward | 2026 State SC ATH, Thomas Heyward – Takes Wildcat to the extreme, like 2,300 rushing yards extreme.
RJ Brown RJ Brown 5'8" | 195 lbs | QB Lancaster | 2026 State SC QB, Lancaster – For three weeks in November, Brown was the state’s favorite quarterback
Zori Pierce Zori Pierce 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Lamar | 2026 State SC QB, Lamar – Young QBs who don’t making young QB mistakes tend to offer something special
Bryson Moore Bryson Moore 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Irmo | 2026 State SC OL, Irmo – Moore ready to rip that under-the-radar tag off his chest.
Julius Hippenstiel Julius Hippenstiel 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Hanahan | 2026 State SC QB, Hanahan – Possesses a strong arm and a quicker-than-normal release
Anthony Baxter Anthony Baxter 6'4" | 325 lbs | OL South Pointe | 2026 State SC OL, South Pointe – Only a matter of time until the recruiting parade begins.
Kendall Byrd Kendall Byrd 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2026 State SC WR, AC Flora – 1,000-yard receiver has potential to be so much more.