2027 Rankings Update: GSPD Zone Read

The Grand Strand & Pee Dee is full of potential when it comes to the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings.   Yes, the vast majority of it is a year away from being fully realized. But the collection of talent is promising. Take the top four players from this zone, for instance.   Cheraw linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1172365' first='Crawford' last='Poole'] is leading a squad of classmates into a place where the Braves are among a limited number of contenders for the Class 2A state title.    Dillon linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1172360' first='Kelvion' last='Manning'] is the table setter for a defense he shares with some older standouts.   Kingstree's [player_tooltip player_id='1036769' first='Maleek' last='Dukes'] has playmaker written all over him after bursting onto the scene last fall.   And [player_tooltip player_id='905534' first='Jaden' last='Ashe'] at Marlboro County is attempting to make up for lost time from the 2024 season but still already has NCAA Division-I offers.    With the 2025 football season only two weeks old, the jury is still clearly out on what this class will be able to accomplish before the next cycle after the season. But this part is clear as day: The 35 players currently in the Class of 2027 rankings have plenty of room to grow, both on the field and in our charts.   Here, we're going to take a multi-faceted look at those 35. We've got some newcomers to the list to break down, a number of players we think are positioned to move up next time around and a linebacker corp that is leading the charge in this zone top to bottom.   This collection of talent is one to watch.    JOINING THE LIST   We want to start off this breakdown by highlighting some of the newcomers to the list.   Some of these six cut their teeth as sophomores, while others had stellar offseasons that put them on the map.    [player_tooltip player_id='1640595' first='Da'von' last='Bowman'] ATH, Wilson    As a sophomore at Sumter, Bowman was one of the most consistent presences on a defensive that led the Gamecocks to 13 wins and an appearance in the Class 5A Lower State finals. When Brian Wilson accepted the job at Wilson, Bowman made the jump, too, and he immediately added a big-time playmaker to the Tigers' defense in the secondary. He's also going to get offensive reps as a receiver and tailback.    [player_tooltip player_id='1811021' first='Dutch' last='Stafford'] ATH, Andrews   As a sophomore, Stafford's stat line was all over the map. He rushed for 515 yards and five touchdowns, good enough for the third-most points of any player on the roster. He picked off a pass and broke up five others. He made 17 tackles and added 2.5 tackles for loss. He returned three kickoffs. Stafford then kept momentum going in the Yellow Jackets' season opener last weekend.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821580' first='Jeffery' last='Williams'] OL, Atlantic Collegiate    At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Williams is the cornerstone of everything the Armada offense is trying to build. The unit as a whole isn't flashy, and most games are going to be a grind for the foreseeable future. But 300-pound linemen who can move defenders off their spots in a great place to start. Williams will play some occasional defensive snaps, as well, and by the end of the season he may very well start on both sides.   [player_tooltip player_id='1738331' first='Matt' last='Benjamin'] DB, West Florence    Benjamin has already started to factor into the Knights' offense, as he got a couple of early carries this fall. He's also a likely candidate to mix in on the return front, too. But where he can make the most impact is in the secondary. The safety and corner can float between the two as necessary and will at times over the course of this year. He won't have to be the guy amid some senior stars, but his role will only grow.    [player_tooltip player_id='1821843' first='Judah' last='Lee'] ATH, Green Sea Floyds   Lee is a small-class scat back whose coaches have big designs for his final two seasons of high school ball. Lee has already shown a keen connection with the rest of the offense so he can fill holes as necessary depending on the play call. He can run the ball, catch it out of the backfield and split into the slot. What shouldn't be ignored is the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder's ability to block at the line of scrimmage.    [player_tooltip player_id='1822553' first='Will' last='McNeely'] QB, North Myrtle Beach    Picture a former defensive end running the read option. Got it? Good, because that's exactly what McNeely is. After starting for the Chiefs on the other side of the ball as a sophomore - and registering 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks - McNeely was moved to quarterback and spent the summer taking the reins. In his first varsity start, McNeely ran for 233 yards and three touchdowns.     MOVING UP?   When we scan the players from this zone, six stood out as guys who are in positions where an upward move feels likely. By the time we reach our next cycle, the opportunity each of them is in is favorable to such a move.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664650' first='Jaiden' last='Green'] OL, Darlington   At 5-foot-11 and well north of 300 pounds, Green is the picture of low center of gravity. And the guard (and part-time tackle) is vital for a Falcons' offense that tries to get tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1821259' first='Deron' last='Ross'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1395094' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] downfield, often in tight quarters. Green was dinged up a bit this summer but if the Falcons have three or four wins under their belt heading into region play, there's a good chance Green had a big say in that.    [player_tooltip player_id='1578290' first='Rod' last='Cranford'] DB, Hartsville    The Red Foxes got dump-trucked by Carolina Forest last weekend, but Hartsville's defense is a work in progress with some nice pieces. Cranford is near the top of the list after taking over the primary safety spot previously held by a four-year starter. Cranford is going to made a ton of tackles from the secondary and the more he's able to help in run support, the more his individual stock will only continue to grow.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603757' first='Amare' last='Brown'] ATH, Myrtle Beach    Brown has taken a massive leap forward in the last several months. And all of a sudden he looks like the Seahawks' steadying force. Brown's ability to remain highly active downfield has been a boon for an offense playing with an undersized quarterback and still developing around him. Add that to how what we saw last year - when he occasionally slid into the back field as a change-of-pace option - and he's a glue guy who will help this offense all season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1623916' first='Brian' last='Wilson II'] DB, Wilson   Wilson followed his dad to their namesake school and became a Day 1 impact player. Wilson is asked to play corner against higher-rate passing teams and can slide into a safety spot against the run. He's has a hitter's mentality and helps form a secondary that can stand up against different looks. If the season plays out like we think it will for Wilson, he'll be considerably higher up the ranks the next time around.    [player_tooltip player_id='1422638' first='Cam' last='James'] RB, South Florence   If South Florence football the last three years has taught us anything, its that the Bruins are going to use multiple ball carriers, and that the top two or three players' numbers will look awfully similar until one starts to pull ahead. James is the front runner for that 2025 distinction, as he came into the season as the most experienced of the bunch and understands his role. He's getting a chance to show it during this murderer's row of a non-region slate.   [player_tooltip player_id='1321038' first='Justyn' last='Joint'] RB, Cheraw (pictured)   Joint needed all of one game this season to put himself on pace to smash all of his production from his sophomore season. And while he doesn't possess breakaway speed, he does have an ability to break tackles in congested spaces and earn extra yards. But here's the best part: Joint is in the midst of a four-game stretch against teams from bigger classes. By the time the Braves hit the region slate, the game is going to feel much easier for him. And that means he's positioned extremely nicely to rise.    LINEBACKER SPOTLIGHT    The depth at linebacker from this class and zone is going to grow.   But already, more than a ranked players from the GSPD's contingent in the 2027 rankings are playing some version of the linebacker position. These four in particular each bring something notable to the table and are influential in their respective teams' entire defensive formulas.    [player_tooltip player_id='1664618' first='Keontae' last='Scipio'] Darlington   If you're reading the tea leaves on Falcons' football, it shows a propensity for close games. In fact, nine of the 25 games in the Jamie Johnson era have been decided by single digits. That includes the first two games of 2025. That brings us to Scipio, and the microcosm that was his Week 1 game against North Myrtle Beach. His nine tackles, interception and forced fumble were all vital in a one-touchdown victory.    [player_tooltip player_id='1127312' first='Hayden' last='Schwab'] Florence Christian   Schwab lines up at middle linebacker and defensive end, outside backer and defensive tackle … pretty much whatever the situation calls for. The junior has already surpasses 100 career tackles and 10 tackles for loss, and he will reach double figures in sacks sometime in the coming weeks. Add all that to his sure-fire tackling and Schwab is looking more and more like a future college edge  by the month.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604041' first='Nathan' last='Peracki'] Mullins   While there were a lot of moving pieces, we feel confident that Mullins doesn't win seven games in 2024 without Peracki roaming the middle of the defense. And now, 18 games into his varsity career, he's averaging north of eight tackles per game and only getting stronger. As the continuity of his game progresses, his impact numbers - tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles - will also increase right along with it.   [player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green'] Lamar   Green is a multi-use athlete who has already caught a couple passes (one for a touchdown) and will likely factor into the run game at some point for the Silver Foxes this fall. Where he having him on the field pays off most is at linebacker. His ability to make stops was already established last year, when he made 113 of them en route to the third round of the state playoffs. Plays like this one, though, are icing on the cake.

The Grand Strand & Pee Dee is full of potential when it comes to the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings.