2025 Rankings: New Additions, Defense and Special Teams Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The massive list of additions we now include in our Class of 2025 rankings featured 56 players on the defensive side of the ball or special teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first half of that group features dynamic safeties and corners, linebackers who put up ridiculous numbers and linemen who can wreak havoc on opposing backfields. But we don't want you to have to guess which players are appearing in our rankings for the first time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, you'll find the first 28 new additions who primarily play defense or special teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254211' first='Kai' last='Morrison'] DB, St. James - Speed demon has only played one season of football at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254204' first='Mehki' last='Hentz'] DB, Wade Hampton - One part corner, one part safety, one part linebacker; Hentz wears a lot of hats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254202' first='Carson' last='Gregory'] LB, Pendleton - Will enter his senior year with 185 career tackles and 17 career tackles for loss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254200' first='Freddie' last='Gillens'] DB, Cardinal Newman - We're looking forward to seeing Gillens live, and when we do, we anticipate him rising up the ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254198' first='Tristyn' last='Carrington'] DL, Daniel - Carrington had a strong junior season; thanks to some departures, his numbers will only continue to increase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254166' first='Rakwon' last='Stradford'] DB, Rock Hill - Bearcats' safety isn't simply trying to make a tackle; he's trying to force turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254251' first='Jaidyn' last='Ferguson'] DL, Byrnes - Edge rusher knows how to turn it on in big moments and shine under some pretty bright lights.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254142' first='Kyler' last='Turner'] LB, Easley - Linebacker about to step into some huge shoes following the graduations of the team's top defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254139' first='Zy'on' last='King'] LB, Rock Hill - His closing speed is very real, and we're liking him for a huge senior season under new leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254134' first='DJ' last='Henderson'] DL, Hillcrest - Henderson brings a middle linebacker quality to the edge and makes every bit of his strength and quick first step.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254133' first='Gabe' last='Roper'] DL, Northwood - Averaged 10 tackles and two tackles per loss over the course of the 2023 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254131' first='Messiah' last='Brayboy-Singletary'] LB, Lake City - Took on a larger-than-expected role at the last minute and finished the year with 78 total tackles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254123' first='Jake' last='Duncan'] DL, Crescent - Carried an all-region junior year right on into what has been a monster offseason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='345791' first='Royce' last='O'Tuel'] DL, St. James - Giving small colleges a lot of different looks, thanks to the Sharks' needs in the trenches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254117' first='Preston' last='Short'] K, Berkeley - Two missed extra points were the only thing preventing him from a perfect kicking season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='579278' first='Alonzo' last='Allen'] LB, Whale Branch (pictured) - High-energy hybrid has the type of impact numbers that can turn a game on its head.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254110' first='Donovan' last='Robinson'] DB, Thomas Heyward - Eight interceptions is eight interceptions, and his 91 total tackles weren't bad, either.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254107' first='Brody' last='Diggins'] LB, Greer - Brings a lot of different qualities to the middle linebacker position, showing off mobility galore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254104' first='Donavan' last='Briggs'] DL, Hillcrest - Many of the stat-stuffing defenders on the Hillcrest roster have Briggs' log-jam capabilities to thank.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254101' first='Will' last='Watts'] DL, Northwood - By our count, Watts played approximately a gazillion snaps on offense and defense as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='426647' first='Malichi' last='Smith'] DB, Dutch Fork - Irmo transfer will see plenty of field time for defending state champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254097' first='Deandre' last='Baskett'] DL, North Augusta - Baskett is asked to play against a multitude of schemes and handles all of them well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254096' first='Beau' last='Pinckney'] LB, Thomas Heyward - THA middle line backer will enter his final season with 220 career tackles and 21 tackles for loss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1149045' first='Charles' last='McCray'] DB, Carolina Forest - Panthers' top returning tackler will have every chance to shine in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254073' first='Malachi' last='Dickerson'] DB, Cane Bay - His 50 tackles and three picks from last season proved pivotal in a bunch of close games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas'] LB, Barnwell - Thomas is one of the reasons Barnwell has such high hopes for 2024.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254063' first='Brody' last='Runion'] LB, Greer - Outside linebacker finished with 91 total stops in addition to earning some all-region nods for his punting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254058' first='Jordan' last='Conner'] LB, Ben Lippen - Six single-digit games led Conner to 120 tackles as a junior in 11 games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->