2026 Rankings Update: Lowcountry Additions

In the months since our last rankings update, we've had even more time to evaluate players in the Class of 2026.   We've looked at their production value from the 2024 season, compared them to others we already knew about, attended offseason events and dug deeper on the little details that make a whole bunch of players exactly what they are.   It's led to 70 names joining our 2026 rankings this spring.    We're going to continue our introductions to all of them here with the biggest bulk of the bunch.   Those from the Lowcountry.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271486' first='Savon' last='Garrett'] LB, Fort Dorchester    While some of Garrett's statistical games came in Patriot losses, his 11 games of experience and 58 total tackles is another reason to keep an eye on Fort Dorchester this fall. Garrett and rest of the defensive returners have something cooking.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639884' first='Cordell' last='Mclain'] DL, Ridgeland    Mclain played a monster role in Ridgeland's return to the playoffs last fall. His occasional reception while playing tight end was a nice bonus. However, his 25 tackles for loss, four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries were the main event.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639877' first='Everett' last='Scandlen'] LB, Beaufort    Scandlen is either going to start at linebacker or defensive end for the Eagles this fall. And while some of that will depend on the positional battle in the middle, Beaufort already has enough evidence that Scandlen can do either after 36-tackle junior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1656653' first='Kenari' last='Koger'] RB, Colleton County    Koger is going to be a focal point for the Colleton County offense. For starters, his wheels can cure a lot of ills by moving the chains and putting up some points. Secondly, the Cougars will need other ways to keep some potent opposing offenses off the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='1656629' first='Tyler' last='Davis'] WR/DB, Hampton County (pictured)   Davis only caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown last year, and he was probably known better for his 30 tackles in eight games. But he's got next-level speed and there's a clear-cut opening for him to start getting loads of targets on top of his defensive duties.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639814' first='Jerrell' last='Sullivan'] DB, Woodland   The Wolverines' safety can play centerfield and pick off errant passes or take off toward the line to help against the run. He's got a big stride that allows him to cover a lot of ground for everything else in between. Sullivan's a budding name to remember.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'] LB, Cross    In the midst of leading Cross with 24 tackles for loss, Grant helped set the tone for the post-[player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] Trojans on that side of the ball. His 91 total tackles were also second-best on the squad, but his ability to blitz helped making Cross the Lower State champs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639818' first='Jordan' last='Wright'] DB, Fort Dorchester    After picking off two passes in the season opener against Beaufort, most teams stopped throwing in Wright's direction in any sort of a consistent basis. From there, he transformed into a corner who could put his tackling to to the Patriots' advantage.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639793' first='Jayquan' last='Shephard'] DL, Philip Simmons    The Iron Horses' 6-foot-3, 310-pound interior lineman took full advantage of increased playing time and a starting designation, putting up 46 tackles and five tackles for loss. His job in the months ahead will be the further clog up the middle.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639886' first='Banks' last='Wickersham'] QB, Fort Dorchester    Wickersham might be a baseball-first guy. But Fort D is hoping his performance against Stratford in the playoffs was indicative of future results on the gridiron. In that first-round game, he threw for 212 yards and ran for another 43.    [player_tooltip player_id='1550068' first='Cameron' last='McCoy'] LB, Cane Bay   After starting the 2024 season relatively slow, McCoy became a consistent and productive player the Cobras could count on to make stops in the second half of the season. During that stretch, he reached at least 10 tackles three times.    [player_tooltip player_id='1625091' first='Chamberlin' last='Thompson'] DB, Berkeley    In many programs, Thompson is starting at linebacker and racking up some insane numbers. As it stands, he's able to put his roaming and hitting ability to work from the backside of the Stags' defense and on the cusp of still putting up some pretty heady numbers.    [player_tooltip player_id='402505' first='Romaum' last='Parson'] LB, Fort Dorchester   While some of the Patriots' defensive plans for 2025 have already transferred out of the program, Parson is more than ready to pick up the slack. He was already going to be the team's top returning tackler after registering 60 stops last fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639684' first='Tyree' last='Patton'] LB, Summerville    Patton didn't put up 129 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and three sacks by pure luck. He's becoming a top-shelf linebacker that is going to see a lot of open ecruiting doors. For now, he's also got a chance to be among the most effective linebackers in 5A.   [player_tooltip player_id='1167204' first='William' last='Hollifield'] TE, Philip Simmons   While Hollifield can develop into a problem for opposing teams trying to cover him in the pass game, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound tight end is also a menace in multiple blocking formations, especially once he gets his feet moving. He springs a lot of nice runs from the edge.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett'] DL, Cross    Bennett found a way to play much bigger than his 6-foot-1 frame would initially suggest, and a large part of it has to do with his 83-inch wing span. It helped him produce 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639730' first='Chris' last='Doyle'] DL, Bluffton    The Appalachian State commitment shot out of a cannon last fall, going from a sophomore who played a single game to a junior who racked up 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, 26 quarterback hurries and 67 total tackles.     [player_tooltip player_id='1656624' first='Nick' last='Buggie'] TE, Lucy Beckham   Buggie's first time in our rankings includes a Top-200 placement, but he's got plenty of room to move up, too. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he's a match-up nightmare in waiting as the Bengals approach their 2025 season. He's a big part of the equation.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357963' first='Landon' last='Jackson'] DL, Berkeley    As we've stated previously, Jackson has mastered the art of making his low center of gravity work extremely well, even in Class 5A ball. He's adept at splitting linemen or getting beneath them to leverage his own chances of navigating the trenches.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639890' first='Josiah' last='King'] DL, Pinewood Prep   King will be entering his final year of high school ball with 95 career tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, four pass break-ups and a whole bunch of college interest. He's got unique size that allows him to stand out in practices, games and offseason events.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639678' first='Gehad' last='Sneed'] LB, Berkeley   Each of the Stags' top five defenders are back in uniform, and that bodes extremely well for Sneed. The powerful linebacker was second on the squad in tackles (76) last fall while occasionally getting into the backfield.

In the months since our last rankings update, we've had even more time to evaluate players in the Class of 2026.