2026 Rankings Update: Upstate 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 by pulling out the 14 new additions who call the Upstate home.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639783' first='Altavis' last='Evans'] ATH, Ware Shoals    Evans certainly didn't look like a first-year football player last fall, when he put up 46 tackles, two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery and 971 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns rushing and another 12 receptions for 101 yards.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639803' first='Tre' last='Suber'] WR, Broome    Suber is part of a strong returning contingent of skill players for the Centurions. His role in all that last fall included 46 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. He further increased his own stock by returning 10 kicks and pitching in 24 tackles on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639784' first='Trent' last='Dyal'] LB, Ware Shoals   The high-GPA linebacker packages what he's got physically with a strong football IQ. It led him to 108 total tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles over the course of last fall. He's going to have every opportunity to increase all of those figures as a senior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639788' first='Jaydon' last='Glenn'] LB, Clinton   Glenn saved some of his best football for the postseason, when he had five of his 10 total tackles for loss, 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks and 14 of his 52 stops. He also recovered three fumbles and recovered one during his junior year.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639798' first='MJ' last='Earl'] RB, Belton-Honea Path   In 2024, Earl finished second on the team to only [player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson'] in carries (85), yards (561) and touchdowns (eight). He's going to likely still be part of a rotation of backs, but he's going to get first crack at the position for the Bears over the next few months.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639742' first='Ahmad' last='Scott'] DL, Greenwood    Scott's junior season resulted in 39 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up. The defensive end gets off the snap quickly and can use it to put added pressure on tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639726' first='Lamont' last='Brewton'] OL, Spartanburg   Even as a sophomore, Spartanburg had plans of getting Brewton into position with some long-term goals. Those are starting to come to fruition, as the big interior lineman can occasionally flex out to tackle if necessary. Either way, he's a weapon for the Vikings.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639782' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] QB, Ware Shoals   Johnson put his name all alone in Ware Shoals history last fall by becoming the first quarterback in school history to throw for at least 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. He's also rushed for just shy of 1,500 yards in that same timeframe.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639739' first='Christian' last='Waring'] DL, Dorman    Waring has made some serious headway over the last six month, firmly grasping the attention of college programs from around the Southeast and beyond. He's got the measurables those programs are looking for and the capabilities of making it count.    [player_tooltip player_id='1623192' first='Nathan' last='McCary'] DL, Ninety Six   McCary will play a big hand in whether or not the Wildcats can post a third winning record in the last decade this fall. And we like his chances. The high-motor hybrid defensive lineman can start in any spot pre-snap and then uses his skill set to further confound opposing blockers.   [player_tooltip player_id='797155' first='Justice' last='Hopkins'] DL, Byrnes (pictured)   Hopkins is a bit of a cheat code, as he mostly plays in the middle of the line but possesses a defensive end's tenacity for getting into the backfield and then finishing plays. He had 44 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks during his junior season.    [player_tooltip player_id='402504' first='Parker' last='McMillen'] OL, Dorman    The inside of the Cavaliers' line is in good hands with this guard firmly in place for the 2025 season. The 6-foot, 275-pounder should have every chance to improve his own name recognition at the Carolinas Coaches Combines later this month.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639706' first='Christian' last='Davis'] DB, Spartanburg   Davis went from reserve to starter in the blink of an eye, and he's now got every intention of staying on the island for the foreseeable future for the Vikings. He's physical enough to cover bigger receivers despite not being overly big himself.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639712' first='Triston' last='Lewis'] QB, Greenwood   Lewis jumped directly into our Top 100 overall after putting up 2,200 yards passing/rushing combined and having a hand in 22 touchdowns total. He's got college size for the position and is among the front runners for all-state nods.

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