2029 Rankings: Meet The Class Nos. 22-27

Potential might be off the charts.   The production value will increase.    And the needs of each team will get all of these players more and more involved.   But as we run through a proper introduction to each of the selections for the inaugural unveiling of the Prep RedZone Class of 2029 rankings, it's also important to highlight the present. That's exactly what we're doing.    Each of the 27 athletes named to the list have shown potential, sure, but also an ability to work their way onto the fields across the state now. Let's crank up the breakdowns with those holding down spot Nos. 22-27 in our initial 2029 rankings.    [player_tooltip player_id='865974' first='Jemo' last='Stinson'] RB, Mountain View Prep   There will be weeks where Stinson won't be in the lineup for MVP, and it's part of the design. After all, this was a squad that was thrown for a loop in the spring when the top overall player in the class elected to graduate early and is still figuring out the next steps on the fly. Still, when Stinson's on the field, he's going to have opportunities to run, catch and block without the pressure of the entire offense sitting on his shoulders. With that in mind, it's only a matter of time until he touches the ball 15 times in a game and we start to see what he can do with a healthy rhythm.   MVP coach Grey Ramsey: “Jemo exhibits every tool of an elite back as a freshman. His ability to finish through tackles at his age has allowed him to play meaningful snaps at the varsity level. As a freshman, he leads our backfield in size and power.  His pass catching ability out of the backfield allows his skills to be showcased by moving him in around in the offense. As he continues to mature as a player, his elusiveness and power will be his strengths. Jemo will be one of the best running backs in his class when he is a senior.”    [player_tooltip player_id='1724433' first='Kadyn' last='Stevenson'] WR, Hillcrest   Stevenson may ultimately not be the best player in this budding class for the Rams, but he's the one who forced himself onto the field first. In the season-opening win against Laurens, his two catches netted him 38 yards and a touchdown. Within the next two games, he had the ball in his hands in other ways, too. Stevenson isn't big at 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds (give or take), but his footwork off the line only adds to his burst and ability to get behind defenders. Add that to his ability to weave through traffic to get open and there's something brewing.    Hillcrest coach Bennett Swygert: “Kadyn is a rising star. He's elite academically and athletically. As he ages & his body catches up with his abilities, look out. His awareness and football 'spidey' sense are off the charts.”     [player_tooltip player_id='1824561' first='Sondrell' last='Worthy'] WR, Union County    Worthy was a plug-and-play choice for the Yellow Jackets' Z receiver spot, and he responded by hauling in at least three catches in each of his first three games. He “finally” reached the end zone for the first time in a win over Blacksburg on September 12. He also sees some spot duty on special teams as a kick and punt returner, and as his explosiveness grows, so, too, will those reps. Union County's commitment to the passing game behind quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1732648' first='Qa' last='Brannon'] means Worthy's catch tally is only going to continue throughout the season, as well.    Union County coach Quinnon Isom: “As a freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='1824561' first='Sondrell' last='Worthy'] is already showing star potential for Union County. At just 14, he works in the classroom, weight room and on the field like an upperclassman. If he keeps this up, he's going to be something special for us by his sophomore or junior year.”    [player_tooltip player_id='1816981' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] RB, Conway    The Tigers offense started off the year slow, but the development of Johnson (pictured) from the backfield is clearly part of Conway's long-term plans. He average 10.5 carries per game - significantly more than anyone else - through the first four weeks of the season. Seeing as the Tigers were comfortable doing that with three of those games coming by close margins was only further proof of how many touches we should expect Johnson to see as the game continues to slow down around him. The fact that he's already adept at catching the ball out of the backfield doesn't hurt his value, either.   Conway coach Josh Pierce: “[player_tooltip player_id='1816981' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] is a hard working athlete with maturity beyond his years. He shows up every day ready to give his best effort and is someone we can always rely on. His football IQ is impressive, especially for a freshman, and his understanding of the game sets him apart. If Jacob continues to approach the game with the same focus and determination he has shown so far, he has the potential to become one of the top players in the state by the time he is a senior.”    [player_tooltip player_id='1821932' first='Kaveon' last='Tyler'] LB, Hampton County   One of the first things we heard about Tyler was that he was dedicated to the weight room. The Hurricanes had an opening at the position thanks to a summertime transfer, and Tyler stepped into the role and produced almost immediately. In his second varsity game, he recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble in a lopsided win over Allendale-Fairfax. Over time, we'll probably start seeing him adding more and more tailback responsibilities. As it stands, he's already proved worthy of defensive snaps en masse.    Hampton County coach Rob Hanna: “Kaveon is a really good football player and even better person. He is years ahead when it comes to maturity, and he loves physicality. He does not shy away from contact. He is committed to the process and always looking to get better. He is going to be the next great linebacker at HCHS for years to come.”    [player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker'] QB, Lexington    Crocker wasn't supposed to be the Wildcats' starting quarterback this fall, but after subbing in midway through the team's first game of the year and producing three touchdowns in a season-opening victory, he put his stamp on the program right away. What was maybe most impressive about his Week 0 performance is that it came over two days, thanks to a weather delay. That type of mettle matters, and seeing it from someone that young was an early boost to his career.   Lexington coach Stewart Young: “Easton has been thrown into the fire so to speak as a freshman playing against really good competition. He has handled it exceptionally well. He is a coaches son and has that moxie. He is a student of the game and the sky is the limit for him.”

Potential might be off the charts.