Unranked 2027s Primed for a Big October

Five games can make all the difference.   For players around the state trying to carve out their own niches, it can be downright huge, not only for their teams, but their individual stakes to the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings, as well.   As it stands, we've already pinpointed a large number of unranked players who have already come on strong in 2025 and are poised to continue that trend in October. Beginning this Friday, these players have five weeks to help elevate their respective teams before the end of the regular season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823169' first='Derrick' last='Austin'] DB, West Florence    In a very short amount of time, Austin has not only learned the defensive back position, but how to play it well. was still playing receiver as recently as spring ball before transition to corner. And since there, he's made an instant impact. He had a interception and three tackles in the Week 0 loss to South Florence, had four tackles while blanketing Myrtle Beach's top receiver the next week and added his second pick of the season in the Sept. 12 loss to Wilson.    [player_tooltip player_id='1816473' first='Evan' last='Simmons'] LB, Brookland-Cayce    Simmons spent his sophomore year at nearby Columbia, and now at Brookland-Cayce, he's proving to be the cornerstone of a defense trying to make a quick jump back into the mix during the Bearcats' final five region contests. He'll do just fine if he maintains his tenacity in that span. During the first four games of 2025, he averaged north of 15 tackles per game. Even removing the insane 24 stop he put up against May River from the equation, and his overall numbers from the middle linebacker spot are among the best in the state.    [player_tooltip player_id='1819842' first='Tyvion' last='Hall'] DB, Boiling Springs    It turns out that the Bulldogs' basketball starting point guard and the football program's starting safety is also a darn fine center fielder, as well. After getting into the mix some as a sophomore, Hall (pictured) didn't need long to secure future game reps when he picked off four passes in Boiling Springs' first three games. He's also already reached his tackles numbers from last year and is finding ways to get in the vicinity of opposing plays in run support and pass coverage alike. Hall also recovered a fumble and broke up a couple other throws early.    Lemonte Brown DL, Cheraw   When Cheraw comes out onto the field, even as a Class 2A program, the Braves take up some serious real estate. The most impressive looking of the bunch is Brown, a two-way lineman who has already has a big impact on Cheraw's defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder will start playing a lot more on offense when the weather becomes more amicable for a player of his size, but there's already no doubt that come October, Brown will be able to solidify the Braves' already stout defense against teams with similar enrollment figures.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823657' first='Connor' last='Davis'] QB, Woodruff   There is so much to love with Woodruff's season so far. Tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1036753' first='Aiden' last='Gibson'] is on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard campaign and [player_tooltip player_id='1395078' first='Kam' last='Taylor'] is looking like the future DI tight end he is. In Davis, the Wolverines have a low-risk replacement for TJ Morris who like Morris doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Davis threw for a little more than 200 yards per game over his first five contests of this year and had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12-to-3 while simultaneously  rushing for another four scores.     [player_tooltip player_id='1823372' first='Mack' last='Rambo'] RB/LB, St. Joseph's    Rambo has been a beast for a Knights' program that started the season 3-2 while playing a pretty competitive schedule. He's been the leader for a St. Joe's ground game by rushing for 786 yards and 13 touchdowns - proving he's by far the team's biggest offensive weapon to date - while chipping in 11 tackles and a sack in spot duty at linebacker. When Rambo is feeling it (256 yards and four TDs against Chapman and 175 yards and four TDs against Pickens) the Knights are a dangerous team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1821469' first='Owen' last='George'] QB, Academic Magnet    George isn't your pass-first type of quarterback, and that's been just fine for a Raptors' squad simply trying to gets its legs under it for some time. He attempted all of 31 passes through Academic Magnet's first five games, and he only aired it out more than six times one - a 33-21 loss to Class 5A Stall. Instead, his legs have been a game changer. His worst outing carrying the football was a 127-yard, two-touchdown effort against St. John's in which he only ran it seven times. He's averaging 10.4 yards per carry and has shown a penchant for homerun plays; he had at least one carry of 40-plus yards in four of his first five games.     [player_tooltip player_id='1763355' first='Elias' last='McGee'] WR, Seneca    As Bobcat opponents are trying to figure out how to slow down [player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1763456' first='Jack' last='Webb'] at receiver, McGee is giving those opponents fits of his own. The former corner has made the switch to offense and had at least 60 yards, three receptions and a touchdown in three of his first four games on offense. He's got more than enough ability to get behind single-man coverage while the other two start on the other side of the ball, and it's creating a situation where preventing Seneca from stretching the field feels like no easy task.

Five games can make all the difference.