2025 Rankings: New Additions, Defense and Special Teams Part 2

<!-- 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 second 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 second half of new additions who primarily play defense or special teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254044' first='Kolten' last='Kellerman'] DB, Philip Simmons - Goes from on-field understudy who put up 48 tackles to one of the Iron Horses' leaders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254042' first='Tyquawn' last='Murphy'] DB, Lugoff-Elgin - Corner/safety finished 2023 with 22 pass break-ups and three picks. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith'] DB, Dutch Fork - One faction of the embarrassment of riches in the Dutch Fork secondary.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254005' first='Treyshawn' last='James'] DL, Darlington - Undersized lineman has high-octane motor that makes him valuable to the upstart Falcons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253999' first='Shamon' last='Black'] DB, Chapman - One of the fastest players in the state will pitch in on special teams and receiver, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253992' first='Rhyan' last='White'] DB, Summerville (pictured) - Experienced corner will put his facemask into the belly of an opposing ball carrier without thinking twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon'] ATH, Belton-Honea Path - Standout defensive player also got more than 100 carries on offense last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253970' first='John' last='Henderson'] LB, Pendleton - More than doubled his defensive production from his sophomore year to his junior one.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253952' first='Eli' last='Smith'] DL, Blue Ridge - Transitions smoothly between edge and middle linebacker and has the numbers to back it all up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253936' first='Rafael' last='Little'] ATH, Seneca - From returning kicks to running the wildcat to playing in the defensive backfield, Little is a weapon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253928' first='Torrance' last='Wilson'] LB, Lake City - Spark plug of a linebacker moves well sideline-to-sideline and should prosper in full-loaded Panthers' defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253927' first='Jacob' last='Adams'] K, West Ashley - On the cusp of moving up a whole bunch of small-college recruiting boards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253925' first='Jack' last='Merriman'] LB, Riverside - With the look of a coach on the field, Merriman had 89 tackles and 18 tackles for loss last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253913' first='Titus' last='Bowman'] DL, Keenan - Bowman blends great game strength and the ability to shed blockers to get to his desired location.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253903' first='Fletcher' last='Ethington-Carl'] LB, Bishop England - On just about every defensive snap, Ethington-Carl is in the vicinity of the play, if not getting the tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249849' first='Noah' last='Perrin'] K, Greenwood - Perrin has made himself indispensable to the Greenwood offense, defense and special teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor'] DL, West Ashley - His 19 tackles for loss, 10 QB hurries and six sacks were big for an already tough defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones'] LB, Spartanburg - Part of a dynamic linebacker tandem that makes the Vikings such a strong defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249802' first='Damarcus' last='Leach'] DB, Abbeville - College recruiters are all over Leach and his 6-foot-2 frame.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='986041' first='Tremaine' last='Davis'] DB, Daniel - Cover corner showed out during the state championship victory with a pair of picks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249786' first='Artem' last='Kalinken'] DL, Lexington - Doesn't shy away from any of the big dogs and their huge offensive linemen on the schedule.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249778' first='Jordan' last='Joe'] DB, North Central - Joe can abuse opponents on offense, too, thanks to his 6-foot-4, 180-pound build.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249777' first='Omarion' last='Davis'] ATH, Indian Land - Big-hitting safety seamlessly floats over to tailback, where he is nearly as dangerous.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249760' first='Tye' last='Kelly'] LB, Belton-Honea Path - Kelly's 76 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries pushed him way up our board.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249754' first='Josh' last='Merriweather'] DL, Strom Thurmond - A beastly edge rusher, Merriweather should be in contention for plenty of post-season hardware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249747' first='Zach' last='Rogers'] DB, Lewisville - Rogers has an it quality that he brings to the safety position and opposing teams are earmarking him constantly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249737' first='Wyatt' last='Ward'] LB, JL Mann - Ward is asked to make a lot of stops. He followed directions and made 155 of them as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249733' first='Onis' last='Konanbanny'] DB, Heathwood Hall - One of the state's hottest prospects is making the most of his short time in South Carolina. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->