2027 Rankings Update: Lowcountry Zone Read

The Lowcounty has long since put its stamp all over the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings.    Summerville's [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] is holding onto the top overall spot for another cycle. Teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] isn't far behind at No. 5 overall while keeping his spot as the top tailback. Oceanside Collegiate quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] is top five, too, with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] (Berkeley), offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1036776' first='Israel' last='Harris'] (James Island) and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] (Hilton Head) also firmly inside the overall top 25.   Indeed, from Charleston down throughout Beaufort County, the Lowcountry is chock full of stars with upwards of two years of eligibility remaining to continue to show just how dominant they can be for their respective programs.    What this zone also has is a large number of players capable of rising up the ranks, further illustrating how dangerous they can be during the 2025 football season. We've added 11 more players from this zone this time around, and four previously ranked players made major strides in their individual rankings from the last cycle.   Wrap it all tougher, and the Lowcountry has continued to strengthen its overall positioning in the state's list of top players.    JOINING THE LIST   We want to start by breaking down some of the additions to the Class of 2027 here in the Lowcountry.    These six have varying degrees of experience and impact for their respective teams. But they all have the goods to produce.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811126' first='Cole' last='Ivey'] ATH, Academic Magnet   Ivey is one of those players we've been anticipating watching this fall for months. For starters, he was robbed of much of his sophomore season to an injury. However, he came back strong in the spring, performed well at the Carolina Coaches Combine and gave us every indication he'd be back all over the field for the Raptors. Ivey's role should only continue to increase as the year progresses.    [player_tooltip player_id='1549022' first='Grant' last='Castellow'] OL, Oceanside   There aren't many Class 3A teams that have a more brutal non-region training ground than Oceanside. Amid games against Irmo and Calvary Day and Dutch Fork, players on this team are getting battle-tested earlier in the season, and that goes for Castellow. The guard got some playing time as a freshman before becoming a starter last fall. And there's almost no scenario he can't handle.    [player_tooltip player_id='1766224' first='John' last='Cleveland'] WR, Berkeley    Yes, we ranked Cleveland before he'd played a varsity game. Or, really, any football game for that matter. The 6-foot, 175-pound basketball standout was recruited by the football staff to come try his hand on the gridiron. All he did was start to pad the blow left at the position via graduations from the spring. Yes, he's still a bit of a project, but he's going to get a lot of targets.   [player_tooltip player_id='1675500' first='Roman' last='Hood'] DL, Philip Simmons   The Iron Horses defense was dealt a significant transfer blow over the summer, but Hood is one of the primary pieces who will make sure Philip Simmons doesn't stay on the mat. He had 40 tackles and eight tackles for loss as a sophomore and the tandem of he and [player_tooltip player_id='1271262' first='Alex' last='Tchoryk'] bookending the defensive line is going to spell trouble for opponents, especially after this unit gets some rhythm.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821199' first='Aiden' last='Thorn'] K, Cane Bay   Thorn is one of the kickers in this class who should take a significant step forward as a junior. And it's not as if his starting spot is below the bar. In 2024, Thorn hit 21 PATs and a pair of field goals, including a 37-yarder. He also helped out with punting from time to time and handled as the Cobras' kickoff duties. His power will only improve after a solid offseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='1640695' first='Dakarai' last='President'] OL, Cross   If you like big interior linemen, you're gonna love President. He's 6-foot-4 and north of 300 pounds and is an absolute menace to opposing programs trying to slow down the Cross rushing attack. After missing some time as a sophomore, he started at right guard for the Trojans last week. He's often going to be lost in the Cross shuffle, but this team's offense feels much more complete with him.    MOVING UP?   In our next rankings cycle, don't be surprised to see any of these players climb the charts.    Their individual situations, couple with that of their programs, gives us reason to believe they'll exceed anything we've seen to date.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow'] DL, and [player_tooltip player_id='1640504' first='Luke' last='Russell'] LB, Bishop England    The Bishops' defense may ultimately become one of the best in all of Class 4A with all the pieces they have. And that goes for Ponkow. The defensive end will get plenty of help, thus making it even more difficult for offenses to successfully scheme against all of it. He may not hit 98 tackles like he did a year ago, but he almost might top his 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles, which is sort of insane to even consider. It also goes for Russell. The outside linebacker will serve as a floater for the Bishops, going from the middle to the line on a possession-based need. There will be times where the duo will be stacked next to each other, and that's going to be a difficult one-two package that most teams will struggle to contain.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] ATH, Hilton Head   Much like Patterson, Risher hit the road after his sophomore season, departing Hampton County for Hilton Head. And while his individual numbers probably dip some while going from Class 2A to Class 4A, he was an immediate contributor during the summer and Week 0 for the Seahawks. Packaged at tailback and linebacker with Hilton Head's top two stars should give him even more time to get his feet under him and then take off to new heights.    [player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers'] LB, James Island (pictured)   Bowers had some pretty good games last year while playing for West Ashley, when he finished with 52 total stops. None of those game was bigger than his 16-tackle performance against Cane Bay early in the year. Bowers made the jump over the James Island, and in his first game last week, he had six tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. He also got behind the line a couple more times to pressure the quarterback.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604043' first='Sullivan' last='Damron'] DB, Lucy Beckham   Damron is the lone returning Bengal who had more than 43 tackles last year. In fact, the safety/linebacker hybrid had 78 stops to go along with nine tackles for loss, five pass break-ups and a pick. Everything this fall for Beckham will be about running the clock and reducing possessions. That means every play Damron makes as a junior will be magnified in a way that benefits his team. Either way, you'll hear his name frequently.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036774' first='Amare' last='Patterson'] WR, Bluffton    Patterson was part of our original rankings crop for the Class of 2027 way back on October 11, 2023. He stormed out of the gate as a freshman, averaging 22 yards per catch during his first varsity games. But missing most of his sophomore season at Beaufort cost him some placement for production reasons. With his health back and after his transfer to Bluffton, Patterson is starting to look like he could bolt right back up the rankings.     QUARTERBACK SPOTLIGHT    The signal caller position isn't the most populated of all of the ranked guys in the Lowcountry. Still, we're tracking our quarterbacks closely and seeing some serious potential.    From pocket passers to dual-threat players, here are a few you should be watching closely this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] Berkeley    Rivers is a gamer. The lights come on and we see the potential coming across and making all of his athletic ability shine. From one game to the next this fall, we could see him throw for 250 or run for 75. Sometimes, both might happen in the same game. For as much as some of the targets are different or the ball carriers will swap out, Rivers will be the guy for this offense each and every week. And that's going to me a ton of yards.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603798' first='Jervaze' last='Salley'] Woodland   Salley really started to come on last year. And while much of that had to do with throwing the ball to his big brother, the confidence boost should play forward in 2025. Salley can make a lot of throws many quarterbacks can't, and he does so in a wide open offense that is meant to overwhelm opponents early. You won't have to wait long in any game this fall to see Salley start airing it out. It should produce a number of 200-yard games.    [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] Hilton Head   There might not be a quarterback in the Lowcountry with as much realistic possibility of moving up over the next two years than Raniszewski. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was coming off a sophomore season in which he threw for 1,355 yards and 13 touchdowns and immediately put himself ahead of schedule with a 216-yard, three touchdown performance against Stall. He also ran for a score in that win.    [player_tooltip player_id='1819661' first='Tyler' last='Harris'] Cross   The Week 0 win over Calhoun County was a pretty good indication of what we can expect to see from Harry this fall. He completed 16-of-24 passes for 138 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown, but he also wasn't picked off. Harris is most often than not going to be able to pick his spots and then try to make them count while the Trojans focus on the run; four different players had rushing touchdowns last weekend. Not having to be flashy works here.   [player_tooltip player_id='640683' first='Kevin' last='Johnson'] Northwood Academy    It didn't take many snaps of Northwood's season-opening victory against Strong Rock for Johnson to show that he was a former Class 5A starting quarterback. After transferring from Fort Dorchester in the offseason, Johnson immediately stayed in character for Northwood. He threw deep balls and sharp passes to the flat. He stood in the pocket and took contact while still putting throws where they needed to be. This fall should shape up quite nicely for the junior.

The Lowcounty has long since put its stamp all over the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings.