2027 Rankings: The Stockrisers

As we sprint head first into the 2025 football season, we're extending our 40% off offer. This is your opportunity to get into the game and stay updated on all things high school football season here in the Palmetto State. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">Simply visit the subscription page</a> and use the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout to save off any annual or two-year subscription model we offer.   One of the biggest trends every rankings cycle is how previously ranked players move up or down during the evaluation windows.   For the Class of 2027, it starts with 12 players who jumped at least 25 spots since our spring rankings cycle. Each of these players now find themselves significantly higher than they were only a few short months ago.   It isn't by luck.   Here, we're going to tell you why all of them climbed, and what that might mean for their 2025 seasons and beyond.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172365' first='Crawford' last='Poole'] LB, Cheraw (Up 27 spots, pictured)   Poole has become even more explosive than he was during a highly productive sophomore season. What's more, he's starting to be even more of a defensive catalyst for a program that looks like it can contend for a state championship. He's one-part standup edge rusher, one part traditional linebacker capable to blowing up opposing offenses.    [player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed'] WR, Hammond (Up 27 spots)   We held off on some of Reed's advancement during the spring when he was a player without a definitive home between his announcement he was leaving Blythewood and enrolling at Hammond. Those few months without clarity have evolved in a hurry. He now looks like he's going to help the Skyhawks go after yet another title and can dominate as much as he's allowed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271262' first='Alex' last='Tchoryk'] DL, Philip Simmons (Up 27 spots)    Tchoryk lost some of his defensive help mid-summer, but it's not as if the Iron Horses' cupboard is bare. If nothing else, he's got the reach and get-off-the-snap quickness that will produce a boatload of results. It might not always look pretty during the adjustment period, but Tchoryk is a ready-made leader capable of pulling some younger guys along for one heck of a ride.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604046' first='Jackson' last='Free'] QB, Hillcrest (Up 27 spots)   While rankings decisions were made well in advance of last weeks' season openers, Free backed up what we saw from him since the end of last season when he completed 64 percent of his passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 0 win over Laurens. He doesn't need 30 throws to get to those types of figures; his quick-strike ability is the name of the game here.   [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] DL, North Augusta (Up 28 spots)   The sophomore version of Jones was effective: He had 28 tackles and eight tackles for loss during the regular season alone. And he was basically still just a raw interior lineman trying to take up space. He's not those things anymore. Jones is a run-stuffing, chaos-inducing junior capable of challenging for all-state honors this fall. If he comes close to his potential, go ahead and write that last part down in pencil.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664624' first='Ja'Mere' last='Ross'] RB, Johnsonville (Up 41 spots)   We added Ross to the rankings in the spring after the put up a blazing 22.56 miles per hour at the Carolinas Coaches Combines. We weren't exactly sure how that would play out until we got into the summer and recognized that getting Ross in space with the ball in his hands was a top priority for this squad, even with two other tailbacks deserving carries. Ross will stay fresh, which allows him to stay fresh.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] LB/RB, Hilton Head (Up 44 spots)   As the “second” tailback behind Troy Timko last fall, Czarnecki ran for 794 yards and 10 touchdowns while also finishing second on the team with 86 tackles. Why does that matter? Because Czarnecki's spot in the pecking order for the Seahawks' offense and defense is now up a couple rungs. He's a likely two-way production monster that will help define the 2025 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='644030' first='Xavier' last='Geter'] QB, Midland Valley (Up 69 spots)   Did you miss Geter's performance from over the weekend? Yeah, it was pretty good. But it was also exactly what this team has been building for. After the Mustangs went run-heavy the last two years, the offense - one bolstered by non-seniors, by the way - was starting to go more spread behind Geter and a slew of receivers. The Week 0 performance was big, but it didn't come out of nowhere.   [player_tooltip player_id='1651108' first='Ben' last='Buffum'] OL, Wando (Up 92 spots)   Buffum is one of the more polished offensive lineman in the Charleston area. He can protect the quarterback on one play and drive downfield for a run on the next. He already moves better than a 6-foot-3, 290-pounder should, and a modicum of improvement over the coming months will pay off in terms of recruiting. Eventually, he'll be able to take over on a much more consistent basis.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664545' first='JJ' last='Brown'] WR, Myrtle Beach (Up 92 spots)    We used a big chunk of the offseason seeing how Brown would progress after his first real year of varsity ball lost some of its edge due to an ankle injury. We already knew he was an athlete, and what he's done since getting back to 100 percent is prove why he's going to be Myrtle Beach's top target. When Brown plants his foot, his acceleration and stride can leave most defenders in the dust.   [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] DL, Dutch Fork (Up 101 spots)   Wuerth was an automatic add to our rankings last cycle after he moved to the area from Georgia. But a lot of players transfer to Dutch Fork and hardly blip again. Wuerth won't be one of those guys. He is a top-25 player in the state (for now) and there's no reason he won't be able to flirt with a top-10 ranking the next time we update the Class of 2027 rankings after the 2025 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1476906' first='Kadin' last='Vassel'] ATH, South Pointe (Up 130 spots)   Vassel's number is going to get called a lot this year. As in, 50-60 receptions isn't out of the question. And after a brutal slate of games to open the season, South Pointe's offense - and Vassel's own rhythm - both feel like a given. Opponents won't be able to cover everyone, and Vassel will sneak up and bite some folks along the way amid a steady diet of targets for this high-quality receiving corps.   OTHERS WITH SIGNIFICANT UPWARD MOVEMENT   [player_tooltip player_id='1036757' first='Peyton' last='Grant'] DL, Crestwood (Up 10 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1603697' first='Zymier' last='Gordon-Miles'] RB, Northwestern (Up 11 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='905534' first='Jaden' last='Ashe'] DL, Marlboro County (Up 11 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1422557' first='Henry' last='Phillips'] K, Mountain View Prep (Up 11 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] LB, Hammond (Up 11 spots)    [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] QB, Fountain Inn (Up 19 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1153356' first='Ashton' last='Thompson'] OL, AC Flora (Up 20 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios'] RB, Westwood (Up 22 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] LB, Hilton Head (Up 23 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1604061' first='Nigel' last='Rock'] DL, Southside Christian (Up 23 spots)   [player_tooltip player_id='1604062' first='Jacobi' last='Fuller'] ATH, Byrnes (Up 24 spots)

As we sprint head first into the 2025 football season, we're extending our 40% off offer. This is your opportunity to get into the game and stay updated on all things high school football season here in the Palmetto State. Simply visit the subscription page and use the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout to save off any annual or two-year subscription model we offer.