2026 Rankings Update: Midlands, CSRA Additions

Ian Guerin April 16, 2025 @ 02:00 PM

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 kick off our introductions to all of them by pulling out the new additions from the Midlands and the CSRA.    CSRA   [player_tooltip player_id='1578317' first='Nehemiah' last='Brown'] RB, Barnwell    Hidden behind some of the magnificence of star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin'] was Brown, who who topped 1,000 yards of total offense and reached the end zone 10 times on the ground en route to the War Horses' Class 2A title game appearance.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639816' first='Rayvon' last='Chandler'] ATH, Wagener-Salley    Chandler has to be proficient several ways as the quarterback version of him was the key to an offense that was trying to find its way. The defensive version of him countered with 58 total tackles and a pair of interceptions.    [player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw'] LB/RB, Bamberg-Ehrhardt   Speaking of two-way weapons, McGraw did just that for the Red Raiders last fall. He averaged just shy of 10 yards per carry in a back-up tailback role and put up 24 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in addition to his 87 total tackles.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639651' first='Bryston' last='Newton'] LB, Midland Valley    Newton was often charged with getting after the quarterback, not to mention putting up loads of tackles. And while he only recorded one sack, he was constantly putting pressure on opposing backfields and could see that number jump considerably.    [player_tooltip player_id='1214944' first='Davion' last='McKinnis'] DL, North Augusta   McKinnis doesn't get a ton of glory, but he's a clear table setter for the Yellow Jackets' defense. His 66 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks last fall are only part of the story, as he's frequently forcing two players to try to block him.   MIDLANDS    [player_tooltip player_id='1656666' first='Lathon' last='Smalls'] WR, River Bluff    As a secondary receiving option behind a pair of dynamic seniors last season, Smalls was able to do some damage without much of a spotlight. Those players are gone, and he's not got a pass-first head coach. We think it all equates to a massive production boost.   [player_tooltip player_id='1656657' first='Joseph' last='Braveboy'] OL, Ridge View (pictured)   On paper, everything says the Blazers' offense should be among the very best in the state next year. The fluidity of what [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] and the rest of that side of the ball, however, will fall largely on Braveboy's skillset at the center position.    [player_tooltip player_id='1656667' first='Landon' last='Hudgins'] OL, River Bluff   Hudgins and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1592647' first='Alex' last='Kirylo'] are now the two leaders on a Gators' offensive line that has already been pretty stout the last few years. We don't expect Hudgins and the rest of the crew to do anything but continue to improve moving forward.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639661' first='Fernando' last='Simuel'] LB, Lugoff-Elgin   We're high on the Demons' linebacker after he finished last fall with 99 total tackles in just seven varsity games. We're not sure exactly what his ceiling for stops could be, but it's up there as he approaches his senior season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1535039' first='Tilden' last='Riley'] WR/TE, Orangeburg Prep   The 6-foot-4 hybrid has shown he can be a matchup nightmare at his level, and he's already got some colleges believing he can on theirs, too. His frame is solid and has every opportunity to absolutely erupt over the course of the next 6-10 months.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639708' first='Brett' last='Epps'] OL, AC Flora   Much like Braveboy at Ridge View, Epps holds a lot of the cards to a Falcons' offense that is very much looking like it could put up monster points in 2025. He's got a unique combination of size and mobility that allows AC Flora to push tempo.    [player_tooltip player_id='1580947' first='Jayden' last='Boyd'] WR, Fairfield Central   If Boyd wasn't already considered one of the top 10 fastest players in the state, he was after the last few months. The receiver is putting up blustering track times and then backed it up by nearly hitting 23 miles per hour in the Carolinas Coaches Combines.

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