2025 Rankings: Continued Senior Leadership Matters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Exposure equates to identification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After all, if we don't see a player, we can't properly evaluate him. For as much as we strive to see as many as humanly possible, the fact remains that success is going to then lead to more exposure. It's another reason the Carolinas Coaches Combines circuit has been so critical to players in South Carolina.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, too, have postseason runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most of the schools who have the largest representation in the Prep RedZone South Carolina Class of 2025 rankings had that playoff success in 2023. We've now had ample time to break down those teams on a player-by-player basis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's led to a hefty continued haul for many of the state's best programs. And it's why we expect to see many of them back at it again in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DUTCH FORK SILVER FOXES (9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tom Knotts' team seemingly always has an embarrassment of riches, as if the school winning its eighth state championship in an 11-year span last fall didn't already tell us that.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But with nine ranked players in the Class of 2025, the Silver Foxes are also head and shoulders about the next best team in the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It all begins with [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] (pictured) at defensive end. The recent Coastal Carolina commitment has thrived both on the field (15 tackles for loss, 63 total stops last fall) and during the combine circuit since helping Dutch Fork earn another ring in early December.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three defensive backs behind him are also doing their thing. [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions'] (39 tackles, four tackles for loss, two picks, nine pass breakups) and [player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith'] (47 tackles, eight pass breakups, forced fumble) were recently joined by Irmo transfer [player_tooltip player_id='426647' first='Malichi' last='Smith'] - who had 46 stops last year before moving a couple miles down the road.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side of the ball are two bigger bodies in the trenches. In a short period of time, 6-foot-7 tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1012842' first='Josh' last='Benson'] has gone from project to sure-fire college prospect. Meanwhile, it's easy to see how [player_tooltip player_id='1254046' first='Boone' last='Miller'] (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) caught 20 passes for 349 yards and two scores last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're joined by tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson'] (669 yards, 15 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith'] (271 yards, two touchdowns in 11 games).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And kicker [player_tooltip player_id='464892' first='Justin' last='Welch'] is no stranger to our site. In fact, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/12/2023-fab-50-running-it-back-next-fall/">he was named to our Fab 50 team in December</a> as the state's top kicker. He had a pretty big kick toward the end of the year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16921667/6563bc084797c708ac95f831' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6632998fe7424"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WESTSIDE RAMS (6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up is another defending state champion who had two of the biggest transfer pickups in the state the last few months.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Incoming Byrnes standouts [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272708' first='Chamarryus' last='Bomar'] will each factor to become huge targets for our top-ranked quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] (Wake Forest commitment). Woods led the state in passing yards last fall by throwing for 3,915 yards to go along with 42 touchdowns passes while completing 69.4 percent of his passes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joining him in the backfield for another season will be [player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson'] at tailback. Last season, Richardson ran for 1,139 yards and 16 scores while catching another 12 passes for 221 yards and three more scores.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, it's impossible to look past 6-foot-3 safety [player_tooltip player_id='346193' first='Zeke' last='Marshall'] and his nine interceptions from the championship season. Marshall, also a standout basketball player, has the range to eliminate deep threats, especially when he's able to drop back knowing opposing teams are trying to chew into deficits.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, we love everything [player_tooltip player_id='346197' first='Jameson' last='Wilson'] does for this team. While he's primarily a safety/linebacker hybrid (111 total tackles last year), he also pitches in on special teams in the punt return game and plays the occasional snap at receiver, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16075327/6570d6a0f561030434cfee05' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6632998fe745d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BEST OF THE REST</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven teams in total have five players each ranked among the 2025 class. Four of those teams made at least the third round of their respective state playoffs last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And that means each of these four will have a jump start on playoff experience.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hillcrest Rams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346198' first='Bryce' last='Rainwater'] OL (6-foot-3, 275 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1013075' first='Douglas' last='Hill'] OL (6-foot-3, 295 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809746' first='Kalab' last='Sutton'] QB (6-foot-3, 175 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254104' first='Donavan' last='Briggs'] DL (5-foot-10, 225 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254134' first='DJ' last='Henderson'] DL (5-foot-10, 205 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greenville Red Raiders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='390438' first='Ramani' last='Bruton'] DB (6-foot, 170 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='276660' first='Christian' last='Henderson'] DB (5-foot-8, 155 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809748' first='Jair' last='Simmons'] DL (6-foot-1, 290 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond'] QB (5-foot-11, 185 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254140' first='Kylar' last='Zimmerman'] RB (5-foot-9, 190 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Island Trojans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson'] DL (5-foot-11, 235 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='605521' first='Gray' last='Dangerfield'] K (6-foot-1, 205 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='486418' first='Dalton' last='Woodall'] DL (6-foot-4, 275 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='605524' first='Amor' last='Scott'] RB (5-foot-10, 190 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran'] DL (6-foot-3, 245 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Florence Bruins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] DL (6-foot-4, 305 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='464881' first='Jayden' last='Sellers'] WR (5-foot-11, 160 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] RB (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157891' first='Jayden' last='Granger'] OL (6-foot-6, 275 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe'] LB (6-foot, 185 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are also three more teams who didn't quite have last fall's playoff success but are positioned to keep momentum going in the right direction.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rock Hill Bearcats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark'] WR (6-foot-2, 170 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809751' first='Ian' last='Grissom'] QB (6-foot-1, 170 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='649189' first='Justice' last='Foster'] DL (6-foot-1, 305 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254139' first='Zy'on' last='King'] LB (5-foot-10, 175 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254166' first='Rakwon' last='Stradford'] DB (5-foot-10, 210 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Pointe Stallions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1012611' first='Fred' last='Reese'] DB (5-foot-11, 160 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1249764' first='Jordan' last='Collins'] WR (6-foot-2, 215 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157761' first='Mason' last='Picket-Hicks'] RB (5-foot-8, 175 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] LB (5-foot-10, 200 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1054250' first='Victor' last='Goree'] OL (6-foot-1, 255 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Berkeley Stags</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone'] WR (6-foot, 160 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash'] WR (5-foot-11, 140 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254100' first='J'Vaariez' last='Sumpter'] WR (5-foot-11, 170 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johoava Williams</strong> DB (5-foot-11, 200 pounds)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254117' first='Preston' last='Short'] K (5-foot-9, 150 pounds)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->