2025 Rankings: Continued Senior Leadership Matters
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Exposure equates to identification. 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…
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Continue ReadingExposure equates to identification.
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.
So, too, have postseason runs.
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.
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.
DUTCH FORK SILVER FOXES (9)
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.
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.
It all begins with Josh Smith Josh Smith 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (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.
Three defensive backs behind him are also doing their thing. Elgin Sessions Elgin Sessions 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (39 tackles, four tackles for loss, two picks, nine pass breakups) and Derek Smith Derek Smith 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (47 tackles, eight pass breakups, forced fumble) were recently joined by Irmo transfer Malichi Smith Malichi Smith 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC – who had 46 stops last year before moving a couple miles down the road.
On the other side of the ball are two bigger bodies in the trenches. In a short period of time, 6-foot-7 tackle Josh Benson Josh Benson 6'7" | 300 lbs | OL Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC has gone from project to sure-fire college prospect. Meanwhile, it’s easy to see how Boone Miller Boone Miller 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) caught 20 passes for 349 yards and two scores last fall.
They’re joined by tailback Maurice Anderson Maurice Anderson 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (669 yards, 15 touchdowns) and KJ Smith KJ Smith 5'7" | 170 lbs | ATH Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC (271 yards, two touchdowns in 11 games).
And kicker Justin Welch Justin Welch 6'1" | 155 lbs | K Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC is no stranger to our site. In fact, he was named to our Fab 50 team in December as the state’s top kicker. He had a pretty big kick toward the end of the year.
WESTSIDE RAMS (6)
Next up is another defending state champion who had two of the biggest transfer pickups in the state the last few months.
Incoming Byrnes standouts Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC and Chamarryus Bomar Chamarryus Bomar 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC will each factor to become huge targets for our top-ranked quarterback, Cutter Woods Cutter Woods 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Westside | 2025 State SC (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.
Joining him in the backfield for another season will be Sharode Richardson Sharode Richardson 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Westside | 2025 State SC 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.
Defensively, it’s impossible to look past 6-foot-3 safety Zeke Marshall Zeke Marshall 6'3" | 175 lbs | DB Westside | 2025 State SC 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.
Lastly, we love everything Jameson Wilson Jameson Wilson 5'11" | 185 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC 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.
THE BEST OF THE REST
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.
And that means each of these four will have a jump start on playoff experience.
Hillcrest Rams
Bryce Rainwater Bryce Rainwater 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC OL (6-foot-3, 275 pounds)
Douglas Hill Douglas Hill 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC OL (6-foot-3, 295 pounds)
Kalab Sutton Kalab Sutton 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2025 State SC QB (6-foot-3, 175 pounds)
Donavan Briggs Donavan Briggs 5'10" | 225 lbs | DL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC DL (5-foot-10, 225 pounds)
DJ Henderson DJ Henderson 5'10" | 205 lbs | DL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC DL (5-foot-10, 205 pounds)
Greenville Red Raiders
Ramani Bruton Ramani Bruton 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC DB (6-foot, 170 pounds)
Christian Henderson Christian Henderson 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC DB (5-foot-8, 155 pounds)
Jair Simmons Jair Simmons 6'1" | 300 lbs | DL Greenville | 2025 State SC DL (6-foot-1, 290 pounds)
Bryson Drummond Bryson Drummond 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain View Prep | 2025 State SC QB (5-foot-11, 185 pounds)
Kylar Zimmerman Kylar Zimmerman 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Greenville | 2025 State SC RB (5-foot-9, 190 pounds)
James Island Trojans
Malachi Jefferson Malachi Jefferson 5'10" | 250 lbs | DL James Island | 2025 State SC DL (5-foot-11, 235 pounds)
Gray Dangerfield Gray Dangerfield 6'1" | 205 lbs | K James Island | 2025 State SC K (6-foot-1, 205 pounds)
Dalton Woodall Dalton Woodall 6'4" | 295 lbs | DL James Island | 2025 State SC DL (6-foot-4, 275 pounds)
Amor Scott Amor Scott 5'8" | 220 lbs | RB James Island | 2025 State SC RB (5-foot-10, 190 pounds)
Hendrix Beran Hendrix Beran 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL James Island | 2025 State SC DL (6-foot-3, 245 pounds)
South Florence Bruins
Amare Adams Amare Adams 6'4" | 305 lbs | DL South Florence | 2025 State SC DL (6-foot-4, 305 pounds)
Jayden Sellers Jayden Sellers 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR South Florence | 2025 State SC WR (5-foot-11, 160 pounds)
Zion Gilbert Zion Gilbert 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB South Florence | 2025 State SC RB (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)
Jayden Granger Jayden Granger 6'6" | 280 lbs | OL South Florence | 2025 State SC OL (6-foot-6, 275 pounds)
Cameron Coe Cameron Coe 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB South Florence | 2025 State SC LB (6-foot, 185 pounds)
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.
Rock Hill Bearcats
Malik Clark Malik Clark 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Rock Hill | 2025 State SC WR (6-foot-2, 170 pounds)
Ian Grissom Ian Grissom 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC QB (6-foot-1, 170 pounds)
Justice Foster Justice Foster 6'2" | 285 lbs | DL Rock Hill | 2025 State SC DL (6-foot-1, 305 pounds)
Zy’on King Zy’on King 5'10" | 175 lbs | LB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC LB (5-foot-10, 175 pounds)
Rakwon Stradford Rakwon Stradford 5'10" | 210 lbs | DB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC DB (5-foot-10, 210 pounds)
South Pointe Stallions
Fred Reese Fred Reese 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB South Pointe | 2025 State SC DB (5-foot-11, 160 pounds)
Jordan Collins Jordan Collins 6'2" | 215 lbs | WR South Pointe | 2025 State SC WR (6-foot-2, 215 pounds)
Mason Picket-Hicks Mason Picket-Hicks 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB South Pointe | 2025 State SC RB (5-foot-8, 175 pounds)
Aakil Brown Aakil Brown 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB South Pointe | 2025 State SC LB (5-foot-10, 200 pounds)
Victor Goree Victor Goree 6'2" | 265 lbs | OL South Pointe | 2025 State SC OL (6-foot-1, 255 pounds)
Berkeley Stags
Kevin Boone Kevin Boone 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC WR (6-foot, 160 pounds)
Kayden Bash Kayden Bash 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC WR (5-foot-11, 140 pounds)
J’Vaariez Sumpter J’Vaariez Sumpter 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC WR (5-foot-11, 170 pounds)
Johoava Williams DB (5-foot-11, 200 pounds)
Preston Short Preston Short 5'9" | 150 lbs | K Berkeley | 2025 State SC K (5-foot-9, 150 pounds)