Upstate Legacies Turn In Lasting Memories In 2026 Rankings

Part of what I love about writing for PRZ is getting to see a bunch of guys from all over the Upstate. You'll see me at some games you expect me to cover, but you'll also likely find me in places you least expect to see me, just to get eyes on even more athletes.   I've seen a bunch of guys in the past two years, and even more at all-star games, and a lot of them have left me with lasting memories.   Here's a look at a few of them.   [player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] WR, Christ Church   Here's a look at a commitment to doing the little things. At Shrine Bowl practice, Hall would sprint to his position out wide, look at the sideline at reporters or coaches or whoever was standing there (or nobody at all) and say "off" or "on", checking in with the referee, just like an in-game situation. That dedication to the craft is one of the things that sets him apart. And that's before you even focus on his hands, his ball skills, his size, and his speed. He's one to watch at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth'] WR, Mountain View Prep   Hainsworth made a mark for himself as a sophomore by catching six touchdowns of 50 yards or more, most of that on the strength of his legs. As a junior, he transferred to Mountain View Prep and turned in a big season, featuring a touchdown catch to beat Woodruff that anyone who saw it will talk about for ages. This year, he was an explosive player capable of taking over games, and he often did. Blazing speed an an unreal ability to adjust to the ball in the air are just a couple of reasons Hainsworth will be remembered.   [player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'] RB, Clinton   Cook is just one of those guys who's ideally suited to the offense he plays in, and it's a lot of fun to watch. He looks like he was born to play wingback, and he compounds his natural talent with a commitment to detail, carrying out the fakes necessary to make Clinton's misdirection offense work to perfection. And defenses were praying for those fakes, because when Cook was the feature guy, it was typically lights-out. When you set rushing records at a place that has run the ball heavily for a century of football, you've had a pretty fair career. Cook had a great one.   [player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyon' last='Ratchford'] LB, Gaffney   Close your eyes and picture a prototype Gaffney linebacker. That's [player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyon' last='Ratchford']. If you walked into The Reservation without a roster or a clue, but somebody told you about this Ratchford kid who was a standout LB for the Indians, it would take you 10 seconds, maximum, to pick him out. He flies to the ball, he's a physical tackler, and he seemed to always find a way to be around the play, whether it was making a big stop or forcing a play back to somebody else who would. And he was the Indians' defensive heartbeat. Two Gaffney players had 50-plus tackles, and two more had 60-plus. Ratchford had 105.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639739' first='Christian' last='Waring'] DL, Dorman   The 2025 class will be remembered as the group that led Dorman back into the discussion of the 5A elite. They did it on the back of a rugged rushing attack and a stingy defense. That started up front, and it started with Waring. With good speed and unreal agility for his size, Waring continually turned in plays that a defensive lineman shouldn't be able to make. He brought a ton of pressure for the Cavaliers, and he and his teammates on the defensive line made the Cavaliers back-end look even better.   [player_tooltip player_id='1667450' first='Amari' last='Verner'] RB, Seneca   Verner's never going to be a guy you look at and figure he'll run over you. He CAN do that, despite his size, but he doesn't have to, because you usually won't get a hand on him. Playing alongside a good QB in an effective offense, Verner broke out in his junior year and really began to shine in his senior season, when he gained more than 2,000 yards and earned a spot in the Shrine Bowl. He's lightning-quick, but he runs with balance and power and gets the most out of every play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1732638' first='Khamari' last='Turner'] DL, Chapman   Turner might be the ultimate team guy. He's been a leader on defense for the Panthers from a young age, but he continued to do more and more on both sides of the ball. He's a terror lined up on the edge, and continually harassed quarterbacks throughout his career. He also turned into an excellent run stopper, and in his senior season was excited to take on an increased role at H-back and TE to give the Panthers a big, physical weapon when they sorely needed one. He capped his career as a North all-star.   [player_tooltip player_id='797155' first='Justice' last='Hopkins'] DL, Byrnes   Byrnes' success this season was predicated on defense, and the fact that Hopkins would lead that unit was apparent from the very beginning. In Week Zero, T.L. Hanna brought its vaunted wing-based attack to Nixon Field, and Hopkins and the defense made their lives miserable. Hopkins had a tackle for loss on the first play from scrimmage, a fumble recovery on the second, and helped limit the Yellow Jackets to 44 yards in the first half on the way to a win. He continued to shine throughout the season. How good was Hopkins? When an opposing coach was asked what he knew about Byrnes' defense, he had a simple answer. "I know 8 is a nightmare." He surely was.   [player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson'] LB, Belton-Honea Path   Anderson was an unsung hero of the Bears' defense in their run to the 2024 3A title game. In 2025, he was no secret. And he still got it done. An active, physical LB who moved around and did a ton of different things for the Bears, at the heart of things he was the steady force that BHP absolutely had to have. Perhaps the Bears' finest defensive effort was a third-round playoff win over Woodruff, in which Anderson personally made life miserable for the Wolverines, including a fumble return for a touchdown to cement the victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639783' first='Altavis' last='Evans'] RB, Ware Shoals   Evans has plenty of speed, and shows it off when he needs to. But he seems to be a back who actually craves contact instead of avoiding it. If the choice is two easy extra yards to the sideline or the possibility of more if it's through a couple of guys, then it's really no choice to Evans at all. His yards-after-contact were off the charts, and he was one of the most difficult guys to tackle in the state. Evans and this year's senior class helped put the Hornets back on the map, and he did it one tough yard at a time.

Part of what I love about writing for PRZ is getting to see a bunch of guys from all over the Upstate. You'll see me at some games you expect me to cover, but you'll also likely find me in places you least expect to see me, just to get eyes on even more athletes.