Top Freshmen In the Upstate And Catawba River Region

From the northwest corner of the state all the way past Football City, USA, the 2028 Class in the Upstate and Catawba River zones is making its mark on the Prep Redzone rankings. These guys are already really, really good, despite their young age.   There are QBs who aren't just the future for their programs, they're already the face of their teams. There are rugged RBs, big-hitting LBs and safeties, and lockdown defensive backs on the list, as well as talented DL and do-everything athletes.   Here's a look at the players in those two zones who are already making their mark on the 2028 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1094520' first='Jace' last='Grass'] QB Pendleton   Grass is the real deal, already and obviously. He was too good to keep out of the starting lineup as a freshman, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 TDs in his first varsity action. Grass has a huge arm, great touch, and consistently put the Bulldogs in a good position. And he's just getting started.   [player_tooltip player_id='873100' first='Zion' last='Dawkins'] DB, Gaffney   Dawkins (pictured) turned into one of Gaffney's best defenders in the backfield last season. He notched 17 tackles and two interceptions, knocked down three passes, and recovered two fumbles for the Indians. He's a guy who's capable of taking away a major offensive weapon from the opposition, he's great in coverage, and he'll step up and deliver a hit.    [player_tooltip player_id='1467822' first='Josh' last='Evans'] DL, Mauldin   Evans put up 37 tackles for the Mavericks as a freshman, and was third on the team in tackles for loss with seven and tied for third in sacks with two. He's a physical player with a quick burst off the edge, and he's capable of creating havoc in the opposing backfield. He's got good size, and as he continues to grow, he'll continue to improve.   [player_tooltip player_id='293593' first='Michael' last='Martin'] RB, Christ Church   All Martin did as a freshman was to carry 180 times, leading the Cavaliers in rushing yards with 676 and touchdowns with eight. He's very much an every-down back, and he contributed 96 yards and another touchdown out of the backfield. Martin certainly looks like the future at RB for Christ Church, and he's a durable, reliable guy with a ton of talent and an even bigger upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467820' first='Noah' last='Tucker'] DB, Union County   How good was Tucker as a freshman? Well, he was fourth on the team in tackles with 74. He picked off one pass and knocked down five more. He's a hard-hitting safety who also played RB and wildcat QB, but his future seems to be on the defensive side for the Yellow Jackets, where he's got great instincts in coverage and against the run.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467841' first='Trey' last='Wimbley'] ATH, Daniel   It's one thing to make an impact as a freshman. It's a completely separate matter to do it at a place like Daniel, a true football blue-blood loaded with talent. Wimbley proved his ability early and often, accounting for more than 650 all-purpose yards and eight TDs. He turned into a big-play guy too, averaging more than 20 yards per catch. With some weapons gone to graduation, he'll take on an even bigger role for the Lions.    [player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter'] WR, Seneca   If you're counting. on a breakout season from Hunter, you're late. He's been a monster from day one. He led Seneca in catches by more than double, in receiving yards by more than double, and scored seven TDs as a freshman. He and QB [player_tooltip player_id='1165153' first='Gavin' last='Thoma'] will only deepen their relationship as Hunter gets more and more reps, and his speed and ability puts his upside off the charts.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615038' first='Emerson' last='James'] DB, Byrnes   James cracked a very good defensive lineup as a freshman, and made an immediate impact. He had 38 total tackles for the Rebels, picked off two passes, knocked down two more, and blocked a punt. He's got great instincts, plays the ball well in the air, and is quick to step up and stop the run.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467816' first='Kingston' last='Green'] LB, Whitmire   Like most guys at the 1A level, Green does a ton of different things for the Wolverines. He does them well, too. As a freshman, he rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and caught six balls with a receiving TD. Where he makes the biggest difference, though, is on defense. He had 72 tackles, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Green's a standout LB already, and he'll get even better as his career progresses.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615123' first='King' last='Henderson'] DB/WR, Union County   The second in a talented group of freshmen for the Yellow Jackets, Henderson notched 53 tackles and picked off a pass for the Union County. Graduation will free up some touches on the offensive side of the ball, while Henderson already has a spot nailed down on defense. He's one of the biggest hitters in the class. Henderson flies to the ball, and he's angry when he gets there.    [player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] QB, Indian Land   Kucia had a great start to his career, throwing for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman. He's got the benefit of a talented backfield behind him, as the Warriors ran the ball about two-thirds of the time for nearly seven yards a carry, giving Kucia the chance to take care of the ball, grow, and learn. He's got the talent to flip those numbers, and looks like he'll be a constant presence for Indian Land into the future.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615047' first='Kyle' last='Jackson'] LB, Hillcrest   Jackson plays a lot older than his years, and he notched 45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two hurries, and a forced fumble as a freshman. He's strong enough to take on (and shed) blockers, and he's a violent tackler, but Jackson's biggest attribute might be his mobility. Like a prototype MLB, he gets sideline-to-sideline in a hurry, and is able to contain plays effectively.   [player_tooltip player_id='1467847' first='Beau' last='Hite'] QB, Emerald   Hite's another QB who had a solid start, getting his feet wet in an offense predicated on the run. He still managed 1,000 passing yards and eight TDs, while giving a glimpse of what the future might look like for the Vikings. Hite is a guy who manages the game, doesn't make many mistakes, and is capable of taking on an even bigger offensive role for Emerald.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051192' first='Nydarrian' last='Allen'] RB, Hillcrest   Allen found room for some carries in a crowded backfield last season, and with the graduation of two of the top rushers ahead of him, he'll have even more opportunities this season. Allen is a hold-your-breath guy, with the speed to go to the house on any carry, and he's got enough of a nasty streak to finish off runs by taking on defenders downfield. He'll provide a great change of pace to a pair of junior backs ahead of him, and his athleticism will be a huge advantage in a bunch of ways.    [player_tooltip player_id='1615101' first='Jensen' last='Granger'] DL, St. Joseph's   Granger looks like he's got everything it takes to anchor the DL for the Knights for years to come. He's already got 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks to his credit in his first varsity season, and he's the kind of player that can explode for St. Joseph's. He showed that down the stretch last season, as it looked like the light came on for him about halfway through, and his improvement was exponential. Guess what? Now he's got a full offseason of work.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp'] DL, Lewisville   Culp looked unblockable for a lot of the year, especially down the stretch. He's a different kind of DL, athletic in space and too fast for most OL. He gets to the ball and finishes when he gets there, and he makes a ton of plays in the backfield. He's also more than capable of chasing down plays from behind.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615119' first='Teagan' last='Cantrell'] ATH, Chapman   Cantrell's a big hitter from his OLB position, and contributed for the Panthers in the backfield as well. With some personnel losses, Cantrell could potentially fill a bunch of roles for Chapman, from LB to safety to RB to receiver. His versatility is something that will only help him as his career progresses.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615120' first='Keyshawn' last='Kershaw'] DB/WR, Union County   The Yellow Jackets' third player on this list, he's another two-way guy who has played in the defensive backfield primarily. He'll be in line for more offensive touches, but he's already got the defensive side down. Kershaw made 38 tackles last season with two TFLs, knocked down six passes and picked off another. He's already shown the ability to make a huge difference on both sides of the ball.

From the northwest corner of the state all the way past Football City, USA, the 2028 Class in the Upstate and Catawba River zones is making its mark on the Prep Redzone rankings. These guys are already really, really good, despite their young age.