Palmetto State’s Top Available 2026s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The names are expectedly flying off the board.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in February, we highlighted the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/2026s-biggest-offensive-recruiting-targets/">offensive</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/2026s-biggest-defensive-recruiting-targets/">defensive</a> standouts around the state who we foresaw hitting another level with their recruiting. Then, a few months later, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/2026s-who-have-earned-a-recruiting-bump/">we spoke to guys who had put in the type of offseason work</a> to move their individual needles, and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/more-2026s-ready-for-a-recruiting-bump/">followed it up with a few more</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A whole bunch of those players are now committed to their school of choice after a whirlwind two-month span.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the biggest movers and shakers: Clinton offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165753' first='Tre' last='Aiken']</strong> and Ridge View defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best']</strong> are heading to North Carolina State. Timberland offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473011' first='Desmond' last='Green']</strong> committed to Florida. Boiling Spring defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473009' first='Jeremiah' last='Favorite']</strong> is off to Michigan State. Crescent receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395080' first='Amiri' last='Acker']</strong> joined Liberty's haul earlier this week. Northwestern's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267200' first='Tamarion' last='Watkins']</strong> plans to sign with Texas A&amp;M, while Dorman's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson']</strong> fulfilled a childhood dream of playing at Clemson and Riverside's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402507' first='Somad' last='Eaddy']</strong> committed to Wake Forest. Bluffton's [player_tooltip player_id='402486' first='Carnell' last='Warren'] and Dillon's <strong>Zaumaurious Robertson</strong> are both heading to North Carolina. And South Carolina landed another commitment from Greenwood quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639712' first='Triston' last='Lewis']</strong> (he'll move to defensive back in college) to join some of the earlier pledges to the Gameocks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the quantity of top-end available talent is still everywhere. Let's jump into some of the biggest names left up for grabs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>EDITOR'S NOTE: </em></strong><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/south-carolina/rankings/2026-rankings/">The 2026 rankings page</a> now reflects every player in our system who has publicly verbally committed with the college's logo in player's row. By clicking on that logo, you will see every logged commitment to that school nationwide.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REMAINING TOP 10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although six of the players in our current overall Top 10 have already announced their intentions, four real big fish are still on the table.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That includes defensive back/receiver/defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey']</strong> from Cross, ultra-talented linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware']</strong> from Gray Collegiate, South Pointe quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon']</strong> and high-end defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1662325' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson']</strong> from Camden.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ramsey's most recent offer came from South Carolina (June 27), and it was his first SEC bid. He previously had others from Georgia Tech, South Florida, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, to name a few.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boulware and Wilson each have programs sniffing around, although no one has pulled the trigger yet. McMillon added West Georgia to his list earlier this week after another one from Johnson C Smith in June and an early one from Marshall from 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POSITION BY POSITION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we've stated before, our rankings are influenced more by high school production than most national recruiting sites. We want to highlight the here and now as much as the what could be. That strategy gives our charts a little different look, but it also means some quirks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just the same, going off that prerogative, we've got some big names at this level still up for grabs. Let's address the top available player by position (with the exception of positions we've already named).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athlete</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1592182' first='Terence' last='Johnson'] Oceanside Collegiate&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: After initially being though of as a receiver, Johnson's biggest impact last fall was at receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Back</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston'] Hammond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Boston is a big defensive back whose height makes him an attractive recruit at corner or safety</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Air Force, Wofford, Gardner-Webb and four more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] South Florence&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Gordon has had a big role in two of the Bruins' last three state championship appearances</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Newberry, Anderson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Line</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] Chester</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Radford is a small-school defensive lineman with a huge motor that boosts his productivity beyond size</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Anderson, Concord</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1251916' first='Malcolm' last='Gaston'] North Augusta&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Gaston is a massive lineman who has shifted to center after playing mostly tackle and some guard prior</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: North Carolina, Georgia Southern, East Carolina and five more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterback</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] AC Flora (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Wentzky has turned some heads even in the short time since the end of baseball season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: North Greenville, East Tennessee State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running Back</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan'] Goose Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: McGowan is gaining steam again after a shoulder injury sidelined him for much of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Norfolk State, Catawba, Wofford and five more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tight End</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1395078' first='Kam' last='Taylor'] Woodruff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Taylor has already set an August 1 commitment date where he'll announce between his 13 offers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Bryant, Southern Miss, Marshall and eight more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Receiver</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] AC Flora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About: Byrd hauled in 1,100 yards worth of passes and 10 touchdowns in the Falcons' pass-first offense last fall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: East Tennessee State, Liberty, UNC-Pembroke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford']</strong> ATH, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Alabama A&amp;M, Troy, Jacksonville State and eight more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes']</strong> ATH, Kingstree</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617718' first='Kenshon' last='Speaks']</strong> OL, Beaufort&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins']</strong> DB, Strom Thurmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Princeton, Yale, Charleston Southern and seven more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669645' first='Jamie' last='Williamson']</strong> DL, West Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Newberry, Charleston Southern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> LB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Brevard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz']</strong> QB, Ashley Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] </strong>QB, Lamar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell']</strong> RB, Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Wofford, Mercer, Gardner-Webb and eight more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox']</strong> RB, Carolina Forest&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656624' first='Nick' last='Buggie']</strong> TE, Lucy Beckham&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: West Virginia State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt']</strong> WR, Gray Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offers: Brevard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->