2027 Rankings Update: Upstate Loaded In Offensive Backfield

There's a definite trend in the Upstate in the 2027 rankings. While there's a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, the offensive backfield is crowded across the board. Thirteen players in the zone are ranked at either QB or RB, bringing explosiveness and game-changing ability to the table. Here's a look at the guys in the class who are set up to be their respective teams' offensive features.   [player_tooltip player_id='309825' first='Grayson' last='Clary'] QB, Daniel   All Clary did last year was to take control of one of the state's most high-octane offenses, and enable the Lions not to miss a step. He threw for nearly 2,900 yards and 41 touchdowns, leading the Lions on another deep playoff run. Clary has a strong arm, a quick release, and the ability to make any throw. He's poised to show the state even more as a junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] QB, Fountain Inn   Every milestone Holliday accomplishes is a program-defining mark for the young Fury. He's started since he was a freshman, and it seems like he's improved week over week. He's a true dual-threat guy, and he led Fountain Inn in both passing and rushing, with more than 2,500 combined offensive yards and 25 total touchdowns.    [player_tooltip player_id='463113' first='Gideon' last='Merhib'] QB, Riverside   Merhib (pictured) burst onto the Upstate scene as a sophomore, leading the Warriors to a blazing start and a playoff win. He threw for almost 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, and led the Warriors in rushing as well. Merhib has a wealth of talent back around him on offense, and could be poised for a true breakout year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603963' first='Mason' last='Evans'] QB, Crescent   Evans is good in the pocket, good on the run, and most importantly for an underclassman, he just doesn't do things to put the Tigers in a bad position very often. Among the many things Evans does well, he throws a beautiful deep ball, capable of taking the top off a defense. He's already steady and makes good decisions, and a year of growth will help immensely.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604046' first='Jackson' last='Free'] QB, Hillcrest   Free was in an interesting situation last year, splitting some time with a senior. What got him on the field was his athleticism and grasp of the offense, and what kept him there was his ability. Free threw for more than 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. With the job now in his grasp, look for his accuracy to improve and his passing yardage to skyrocket.   [player_tooltip player_id='1199124' first='Judd' last='Windham'] QB, Christ Church   Windham has bided his time as a backup for the Cavaliers, and has a chance to be special as the starter. He's got five key receivers coming back, and the Cavaliers' leading rusher is a rising sophomore. With a ton of talent and all the tools, Windham has a chance to be the next standout QB for Christ Church.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036753' first='Aiden' last='Gibson'] RB, Woodruff   Don't let Gibson's build fool you. He's massive for a RB, and he runs with the kind of power you'd expect for his size. But he's also got incredible speed, which makes him a gigantic problem when the Wolverines throw to him out of the backfield. Gibson's a game-changer at RB.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'] RB, Byrnes   Segarra was sidelined for most of the season with an injury, but returned late for the Rebels. There's no denying that Byrnes is a different team with him on the field. Segarra brings a balance of speed and power that's just tough to defend, and his receiving ability puts him on a different level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] RB, Spartanburg   Lynch is one of four Spartanburg County RBs ranked in this class, and he has a chance to be the most high-profile. His two years of varsity action have seen him quietly become the centerpiece of the Vikings' offense. For his career, Lynch has already racked up more than 2,200 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's tough as nails and blazing fast, and he's already a huge difference-maker for Spartanburg.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603772' first='Rhett' last='Gilliam'] RB, Clinton   If you can't stop dive, it's awfully tough to stop Clinton's offense. And in last year's playoffs, opponents couldn't stop Gilliam on the dive. A tough, hard-nosed, straight ahead runner with plenty of speed, Gilliam was the workhorse during the Devils' 2A title run, with 414 yards and five touchdowns in Clinton's five playoff games alone.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603971' first='Bojack' last='Johnson'] RB, Fountain Inn   Johnson provided Fountain Inn with a much-needed backfield complement to Holliday last season. He rushed for nearly 800 yards and scored 10 times, averaging more than five yards a carry. But it's the WAY he plays that makes a difference for the Fury. He brings a linebacker's mentality to the RB position, fighting through contact and flying to his assignment to take on defenders even when he doesn't have the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604058' first='Kareem' last='Shaw'] RB, Gaffney   Shaw is a transfer in from Daniel, where he was second on the team in rushing as a sophomore. Gaffney has a guy in [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] who's fast, versatile, and explosive. They've added another. If the Indians elect to use the speedy and powerful Shaw and McDowell on the field at the same time, it'll be a matchup nightmare.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604062' first='Jacobie' last='Fuller'] RB, Byrnes   With Segarra missing most of the year due to injury, RB at Byrnes was very much by-committee last season. Still, Fuller managed to carve out his spot at RB, leading the team in rushing yards, rushing attempts, and touchdowns. He played 11 games on defense as well, and Segarra's return will give the Rebels both a talented pair of backs and an additional high-level defender as Fuller will be fresher and able to do whatever the Rebels ask of him.

There's a definite trend in the Upstate in the 2027 rankings. While there's a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, the offensive backfield is crowded across the board. Thirteen players in the zone are ranked at either QB or RB, bringing explosiveness and game-changing ability to the table. Here's a look at the guys in the class who are set up to be their respective teams' offensive features.