2026 Rankings Update: The Stockrisers

There's no better way to kick off coverage of this rankings cycle than to look at the players who have more than kept pace this offseason.   Rising up the charts some five or six months remove from games is no easy ask.   There are few opportunities to shine, fewer chances to stand out from your positional peers and, well, plenty of non-football activities to take advantage of a kid's time. In some of these cases, we've seen what they've done in other sports. In others, we've simply put a little more evaluation into what they did last fall. In still others, situations improved around them.   When that wasn't enough, the recruiting market was another factor.   Wrap it all together, and you have this spring's Stockrisers.    [player_tooltip player_id='402516' first='Zyon' last='Guiles'] OL, Carvers Bay (Up four spots)   While it's not like Guiles has ever been far off, he's back into the top 10 overall rankings. What's changed? Well, his commitment to South Carolina now takes a massive weight off his shoulders and allows him to further extend his dominance at the tackle position next fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267211' first='Gray' last='Patterson'] LB, Fort Mill (Up 13 spots)   Patterson was one of a handful of players to move into our top-50 overall. He has his performance in the Carolinas Coaches Combines to thank for the last few spots on that short journey. His production at York was P4 worthy in nearly every metric.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth'] WR, Mountain View Prep (Up 15 spots)   Moving Hainsworth into the top 50 overall was a natural jump for the guy who's biggest job is to make sure everyone remembers the Stars have two touchdown threats on every offensive snap. Hainsworth is highlight reel after highlight reels, and we've enjoyed watching them again.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] QB, Lamar (Up 22 spots)   Pierce has come a long way from an ACL tear that left him playing with a brace (and shattering it at one point) last season. He was already a top-100 player. But when he popped 22.12 miles per hour in a Catapult Vest this spring, it gave us plenty of indication what's coming next is big.    [player_tooltip player_id='367827' first='Bristol' last='Biegenzahn'] DL, West Ashley (Up 22 spots)   While a coach change led to some expected early roster turnover, Biegenzahn is being rewarded in real time for staying the course via some college offers and interest. He's a key piece of the new staff's defensive plans, and his star is definitely rising.   [player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy'] QB, Bluffton (Up 24 spots)   McCarthy showed up to Woodland for the Carolinas Coaches Combines at an impressive-looking 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. And his arm is getting even more livelier. The quarterback class here is all over the map, and McCarthy is turning into one of the leaders in the clubhouse.   [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] DB, Dorman (Up 28 spots)   Similar to Guiles, Anderson's offseason has been a parade of college programs doing their best to sway him. The high-profile safety has his pick for when he decides the time is right. In the meantime, he's the defensive key to a Dorman squad looking to improve upon its six-win 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins'] DB, Christ Church (Up 28 spots)    Atkins continued his climb up our charts to No. 51 overall. He's one of the best cover corners in the state, and he's simultaneously showing more and more of his athleticism in everything he does from the football field to the basketball court and back.    [player_tooltip player_id='816752' first='Will' last='Love'] K, Spartanburg (Up 36 spots)   That state's top kicker doesn't take many days off. Since soaring past 100 career points scored in the fall, he's continued to work on a leg strength that already had his common range reaching 50-plus yards. Expect an all-star nod or two before he's done.   [player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson'] QB, Irmo (Up 49 spots)   We gave Dopson plenty of leniency in the rankings while he dealt with a health issue that left him well under 100 percent for most of the last year. Believe us, then, when we tell you that between his physical rise and his transfer to Irmo, his time is coming very soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] DB, Ridge view (Up 104 spots)    By January, we'd seen the writing on the wall: Best was a about to blow up in the recruiting realm. Now, after 15 or so more offers (and counting), we aren't arguing with any of them. He's got speed you can't teach and ball skills north of his experience level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395080' first='Amiri' last='Acker'] WR, Crescent (Up 126 spots)    Acker is a speed demon who could flirt with 23 miles per hour here in a couple weeks at his Combine appearance. What he also has is an excellent connection with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1603963' first='Mason' last='Evans'] that should make the Tigers' offense a fun one to watch over the next few months.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395078' first='Kam' last='Taylor'] TE, Woodruff (Up 149 spots)   We're starting to see more tight ends pop up in this class as size starts to mimic offensive schemes. But Taylor is the front runner of the group and now has a number that better reflects that. His potential in Woodruff's offense is sky high.    [player_tooltip player_id='1594865' first='Brysen' last='Ginn'] LB, South Pointe (Up 153 spots)    Ginn and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg'] are starting to look like they're going to be in the conversation for the best linebacker duo in the class and state. Individually, there's no denying what Ginn brings to that pairing. He's big and fast and ferocious and entering the 2025 season with a head of steam.   [player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'] RB, Clinton (Up 171 spots)   Were we extremely cautious of Cook because of his size? Yes. Did we slow-roll his entry into the rankings last time around to give him more looks? Absolutely. Have we put any of those concerns to rest the last few months? You better believe it.

There's no better way to kick off coverage of this rankings cycle than to look at the players who have more than kept pace this offseason.