2026 Rankings: New Additions (Offense)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the coach to the Georgia line, the Prep RedZone staff scoured all portions of this state looking for the next crop of players who deserved to be ranked.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We found 50 sure-fire additions to our list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of those 50, 24 fall on the offensive side of the ball. There are new dynamic linemen, quarterbacks with big arms and even better minds, electric receivers and tailbacks who can take over.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crazy part is that each of these offensive weapons have two years of high school ball remaining. We believe they'll only continue to impress for the foreseeable future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's introduce you to each of the 24.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267354' first='Austin' last='Wertz'] OL, Ninety Six - Undersized lineman brings some serious grit to the interior and has no issue blocking in space or tight quarters.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267352' first='Thomas' last='Hutchinson'] WR, Rock Hill - Small receiver will get plenty of looks in new-look Bearcats' offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] QB, St. James - After two years of waiting his turn, the offense now rolls through the rising junior and his right arm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267345' first='Brandon' last='Nance'] ATH, Dixie - One part shifty running back, one part corner, Nance more than makes up for his lack of height.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'] WR, Northwestern - Might just double up on his 26 receptions and 357 receiving yards from a season ago this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267330' first='Jacorreun' last='Howze'] WR, Lewisville - Has the ability to stretch the field in a hurry; proved it by averaging better than 21 yards per reception as a sophomore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267320' first='Jon' last='Kelly'] WR, Myrtle Beach - Seahawks' receiver adds dynamic size to an already strong receiving corps.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267313' first='Vernen' last='Hairens'] OL, Irmo - Has a mean streak to him, especially while he's pulling out of his spot at guard; opposing players don't see what hit them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] WR, Indian Land - Hauled in 61 receptions for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore; he's expected to do much, much more as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] QB, Dutch Fork (pictured) - Threw for 1,300, ran for 400 and combined for 12 touchdowns during the Silver Foxes' championship run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267289' first='Jameson' last='Pelham'] OL, Stratford - Quickly blossoming into a lineman who can drive the bus in a lot of ways for the Stratford offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden'] RB, Batesburg-Leesville - From carries to receptions to kickoff returns, the Panthers wisely find ways to get the ball in his hands.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1145762' first='Hayes' last='Cochrane'] OL, St. James - Sharks' center and defensive lineman is also going to play some linebacker this fall, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger'] WR, Hammond - Has the makings of one of the Midlands' top receivers before his high school career is over.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq'] WR, Lugoff-Elgin - Saadiq has excellent size and now finds himself in a much more pass-centric offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell'] RB, Swansea - Caldwell has some wheels, and he's likely a primary focal point for a new coaching staff looking for some early success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267234' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell'] ATH, Newberry - Bulldogs already have a reliable receiver and tailback; now they have a quarterback, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267226' first='Devaughn' last='Locust'] OL, Lamar - Short and stocky, Locust has the ability to take over against the top defensive players on the Silver Foxes' schedule.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267223' first='Carver' last='Davis'] ATH, Ninety Six - There's no telling where Davis will end up playing from week to week, but he's found ways to fill some significant voids in the process.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt'] OL, Berkeley - One of a handful of really special football players in Berkeley's rising junior class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212409' first='Scottland' last='Dover'] OL, Gaffney - We don't want to surprise you, but the Indians have another huge player coming through in the trenches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1110005' first='Cody' last='Peterson'] OL, Ashley Ridge - On a line full of massive human beings, Peterson might ultimately be the best of the bunch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1251916' first='Malcolm' last='Gaston'] OL, North Augusta - At 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, Gaston has the size that is going to attract a ton of college attention during his next two years with the Yellow Jackets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1165753' first='Tre' last='Aiken'] OL, Clinton - Aiken is stout at 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, and his wing span is just shy seven full feet; it's why he's becoming a dominant force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->