2025 Rankings: Tight Ends/H-Backs Bolstering Offenses

The tights ends in the Class of 2025 comprise our largest crop of tight ends in four-plus years of Prep RedZone South Carolina's existence.    Sure, some of that is due to increased player identification, a larger staff seeing more athletes and more exposure across the board due to the bounce-back from the heaviest eras of the pandemic.   But we can also credit an increase in talent and diverse skill sets at the position, too.   These nine players each bring something different to the table. There are excellent pass catchers and punishing blockers. We have others who move around, including all the way to the outside receiver spot, while others find ways to look more like fullbacks.     That's all of them by the numbers. But it doesn't get into each of their stories. All nine have a special part of his game that makes them well worthy of a ranking in our system.   [player_tooltip player_id='1254112' first='Joe' last='Ober'] Carolina Forest    We hear about tailbacks who are able to hide behind large offensive linemen all the time. Ober is a rare example of when opposing defenders don't see the lead blocker. The 5-foot-8, 210-pounder gets set all around the line, including behind it, and is chock full of highlights of pummeling much larger linebackers who don't give him credit. Those three receptions for 33 yards were inconsequential; his business is to hit people and open up holes. And business is good.    [player_tooltip player_id='1254046' first='Boone' last='Miller'] Dutch Fork   Miller had one huge game in 2023, against River Bluff on October 20. He caught five passes for 165 yards that night, showing glimpses of what could be. And while he never reached that top end again, he stayed consistent throughout the season, finishing with 20 catches for 349 yards and two scores. He's got an excellent release off the initial block and moves across the field into his routes in order to get himself open.     [player_tooltip player_id='1157957' first='Brown' last='Reaves'] North Myrtle Beach   There aren't a lot of players in Grand Strand & Pee Dee who look like Reaves while also being able to do some of the things he does. He's an excellent combo tight end who has traditionalist in his blood and the coaching staff leading him. Last fall, in addition to pummeling some opposing linebackers, he also caught 25 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He's got the build (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) and rollout ability to give the Chiefs another much-needed weapon.    [player_tooltip player_id='1249788' first='Connor' last='Gooding'] Gilbert    Gooding has hit another level over the course of the last year. He put up just shy of 400 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a junior, increased his weight up to 215 pounds and then performed pretty well at both the Joanne Langfitt Showcase and the Carolinas Coaches Combines. If you were to stop after his first two highlights, you'd think we put him in the wrong category. But trust us, keep watching. It's all part of the shell game disguising his skill set to opponents.    [player_tooltip player_id='1249768' first='Keshon' last='Washington'] Summerville   At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, Washington is built like a tailback. But he's also been clocked at north of 22.5 miles per hour, a figure most high school receivers would be proud to reach. He's got excellent hands (scroll to the :30 mark) and finished the year with 31 receptions for 384 yards and five touchdowns. On top of all that, he's the most consistent outside weapon coming back for a Summerville offense graduating most of its other pass catchers.    [player_tooltip player_id='1255330' first='Noah' last='Lucas'] Lower Richland   We've got Lucas listed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. The truth of the matter is that he's actually slightly north of both of those listings (verified). However, our system is only so specific. The measurement that has some folks really wondering what he could be those is 86. As in, that's his wingspan. That's 7 feet, 4 inches. Or nearly a full foot above his height. Lucas is a fast riser and jumped directly into our top 100 because we think his ceiling is super high, both as a senior and beyond.    [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] Catawba Ridge   The Copperheads struggled a bit after losing a big Class of 2023, and as such, Ambrose (pictured) was targeted more. He also missed three games with an injury. Still, he led Catawba Ridge in receptions (18) and yards (273) and he's almost certainly going to finish his varsity career north of 1,000 receiving yards. Ambrose is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds; more importantly, he's one of the more established tights ends in this class and has a mean streak in the trenches.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012586' first='Jahiem' last='Jones'] Crestwood   A new-age tight end, Jones is more likely to split off tackle than he is to line up beside him. Some of that was scheme-based last season, as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] was spreading the ball around a ton. Jones' piece of the pie was 12 receptions for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Jones never had huge games throughout his junior season, but he was a consistent presence on an offense that had multiple.    [player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler'] Hammond   The frontrunner in this class is Hammond, at least for now, as he's proved his size, blocking acumen and catch ability both short and deep form the best combination for the position. Last fall, Hammond put up 543 yards and seven touchdowns on 33 catches. Across the middle, he can break tackles from linebackers; when he extends downfield, he uses his body to box out defenders. Hammond is going to have his pick from a large list of offers.

The tights ends in the Class of 2025 comprise our largest crop of tight ends in four-plus years of Prep RedZone South Carolina's existence.