Community Film Room, Episode 51
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.
In Episode 51, we’re taking a good look at a two-way lineman, a Class 2A linebacker who got a boost from realignment, a defensive back making recruiting waves, a tailback who quietly went for 1,200 yards and a quarterback lining up for a back-to-back state qualifier.
At St. James, the shoe might not always fit. Case in point, Cochrane has stated a desire to play linebacker. But at a verified 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds (Joanne Langfitt Challenge), Cochrane has shown himself valuable to the undersized Sharks in other ways before he even reached upperclassman status.
Last fall at defense end, he put up 21 total tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble – in addition to his workload at center and long snapper.
The latter is where he likely sees the biggest impact for the time being, and everything else is gravy. He can use his quick burst to get the ball off and/or get downfield to either contain or make a play. Keep in mind, the next Sharks QB is already dialed up, and he’ll need to be protected to keep the program’s momentum moving forward.
Highlights
Messiah Brayboy-Singletary Messiah Brayboy-Singletary 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Lake City | 2025 State SC
Messiah Brayboy-Singletary Messiah Brayboy-Singletary 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Lake City | 2025 State SC
Opposing coaches have told us that Brayboy-Singletary’s motor was his best asset, and all it takes is a few spots of his reel to see it. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound middle linebacker has excellent range sideline to sideline and he finds a way to get to the ball carrier.
He put up some decent numbers, forcing three fumbles to go along with 80 tackles – one of the reasons Lake City found itself in more than a few low-scoring slugfests. The Panthers are dropping down to Class 2A and will be much more competitive in their new region. Brayboy-Singletary will have even more chances to shine.
Demarcus Leach
Demarcus Leach
The offers are starting to roll in for Abbeville’s all-state safety, from Georgia Tech to Louisville and many points in between. It’s all because of his playmaking ability all over the defense for Abbeville.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound safety has long arms and excellent tackling capabilities. He’s also adept at breaking up passes and picking off others. When those interceptions come, he’s a threat to take them all the way back the other way because of a great top-end speed generated by a powerful stride.
Abbeville takes advantage of that by throwing him into some wildcat sets on offense. But his long-term viability in this game is on defense, and he’s going to make some waves there.
Nacyus Morrison Nacyus Morrison 5'7" | 200 lbs | RB JL Mann | 2025 State SC
Nacyus Morrison Nacyus Morrison 5'7" | 200 lbs | RB JL Mann | 2025 State SC
As JL Mann was making a run that left it two points shy of playing for a Class 5A state championship, the Patriots were quietly seeing the potential come out of one of it’s potential future stars. That’s because amid a pass-oriented offense that threw for more than 3,000 yards, Morrison was going on a tear of his own.
As a junior, Morrison rushed for a team-high 1,200 yards and 24 touchdowns. Seventeen of those scores came in his final eight games, four of which were in the playoffs.
He’s uses a low center of gravity and excellent cutting ability to take advantage of tight spots, and he’s powerful enough to break tackles and extend plays. Mann isn’t about to forgo it’s offense with the departures of its quarterback and top receiver, but Morrison is in line to get even more than 158 carries he saw last season.
Jackson is very much a wild card for a South Florence squad that will be trying to make its third straight state championship game. We’re leaving him listed as a quarterback for now – as he’ll enter spring ball competition for the top job there. Jackson threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns while running for another 94 more yards and another three touchdowns last fall in essentially what was a reserve role while the Bruins transitioned to a run-heavy scheme.
And while he’s got a good arm that is getting better this offseason (he’s working with one of the state’s best trainers), and he’s put on 15 pounds since the end of the 2023 season, he’s going to play ball, one way or the other.
South is going to utilize his athleticism. How much so? Coach Drew Marlowe said outside linebacker isn’t out of the equation if quarterback doesn’t work out in Jackson’s favor. We don’t doubt that he’ll succeed, no matter what happens.