Community Film Room, Episode 44
In this article:
Our Winter rankings update pinpointed even more players from the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes who have stood out in their respective positions. For a variety of reasons, our team decided that each of those new additions were worthy of…
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Continue ReadingOur Winter rankings update pinpointed even more players from the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes who have stood out in their respective positions. For a variety of reasons, our team decided that each of those new additions 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-plus prep football players in the SCHSL and SCISA ranks as possible.
Now, the Community Film Room is back.
In each edition, we’ll break down five unranked players from across the state to let you see what we’re seeing. The series will lead right into the the start of the spring rankings cycle, the ever-growing importance of the summer schedule and then the 2024 season.
This time up, we’re highlighting a trio of players who stood out at linebacker but have the skills and opportunity to expand their roles, a tailback who topped 1,000 yards and a quarterback who matched that rushing total.
Wren’s backfield has another pretty potent weapon in addition to
Colten Bagwell
Colten
Bagwell
5’8″ | 170 lbs | QB
Wren | 2025
State
SC
at quarterback. And Price and the Hurricane’s signal caller tend to build off each other quite well. In Price, Wren has a tailback that went for 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns while also catching 19 passes. A big part of his total rushing total was based on a large number of carries.
But as the 2023 season progressed, we saw him improve his yards-per-touch average considerably. Clearly, the offensive line in front of him made some strides that allowed him to get into the second level. Simultaneously, he also started breaking more tackles.
Price has quick-pivot capabilities that make another 1,000-yard season seem inevitable.
Fletcher Ethington-Carl Fletcher Ethington-Carl 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Bishop England | 2025 State SC
Fletcher Ethington-Carl Fletcher Ethington-Carl 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Bishop England | 2025 State SC
When you watch Ethington-Carl’s film, the first think you’re going to notice is his ability to move laterally. The Bishop’s defensive scheme is still TBD for next season after a coaching change, but no matter the route this team takes, it knows it has a do-it-all inside-out linebacker who can roam the middle or float to the edges with ease.
While Bishop England was allowing an average of 30 points per game last season, Ethington-Carl’s abilities kept him in consideration for a bunch of honors throughout. He only finished one game with fewer than 10 total tackles (and he still had three TFL in that game) and ended the 2023 season with 126 total stops.
If you’re looking for an Air Raid QB, we’re just going to tell you to look elsewhere. But if you want a young man who stepped in to the position for a run-first, run-second offense and understood the assignment, Dounian has something to show you.
While attempting only 97 passes all season, he threw for 770 yards and seven scores. Oh, and no picks.
More importantly, Dounian used a cool maneuverability to rush for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in four of the team’s final seven games of the season. He’s got college DB written all over him. But he’s gonna help West Ashley win some more games before that happens.
Payne is one of those names you better get used to hearing about for the next couple years because Ninety Six isn’t going to limit him to one side of the ball. He might end up being a pretty good receiver, H-back or running back – a few positions he’s already played – and he’s already got great instincts at linebacker.
While putting up 34 tackles last season, Payne showed a knack for tackling in space. He doesn’t get juked, and his vision in the space makes up for any lack of speed that might present itself.
Payne can fight off the opposition no matter what position he’s playing, which only makes him that much more valuable.
Although Smith will enter his senior season with 165 career tackles, 17 tackles for loss and a number of other key plays, 2023 was by no doubt his breakout year. His 109 total tackles and 14 stops behind the line last fall were also undoubtedly a product of some lopsided losses in which he was able to tune in on the run.
That doesn’t erase the fact that he put up big numbers throughout the regular season.
He’s a violent tackler who splits his time between hands on the knees lined up as a middle linebacker while on the next play putting his hand on the turf looking more like a traditional defensive end. He’s got the size to do both, and the need from his team to reciprocate.