2027 Rankings: Upstate Loaded At Athlete, Linebacker

Every time a new rankings class is unveiled, we look for patterns. In the 2027 class in the Upstate, something kind of jumps out above the rest.   The region is incredibly deep at a lot of positions, and no more so than at Athlete and Linebacker.   The guys in both groups have a lot in common, most notably that they're already piling up a ton of production through their junior seasons. They're also in great situations to have even better senior years.   Here's a look at some of the guys who pack the rankings at both positions.   [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] ATH, Westside   Watson-Martin, who transferred to Westside this week, did a ton for the two-time defending Upper State champions during his time at Belton-Honea Path. His biggest role as a junior was at WR, where he led the team with more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's also a lockdown defender who notched four interceptions in 2025, and an electric punt and kick returner.    [player_tooltip player_id='1149055' first='Nasir' last='Waldrop'] ATH, Powdersville   Waldrop's an absolute burner, and uses his speed to his advantage all over the field. He's dangerous with the ball in his hands, and he's a great receiver out of the backfield.    [player_tooltip player_id='1708840' first='David' last='Bolden'] ATH, Pickens   Bolden's a "hold-your-breath" guy. Any time he's got the ball, he's a heartbeat away from breaking it. He played some at QB for the Blue Flame, he rushed for nearly 500 yards, and he's electric in space.    [player_tooltip player_id='1467841' first='Trey' last='Wimbley'] ATH and [player_tooltip player_id='1172351' first='PJ' last='Chancellor'] ATH, Daniel   Wimbley's a weapon for the Lions, and they use him in a bunch of ways. That's mainly at wide receiver where he had more than 1,000 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He added nearly 300 yards in the return game for the Lions, and is one of the keys that makes the offense go.    Chancellor is a dual-threat guy. He had 195 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns, with one of those coming on the defensive side. He knocked down six passes, picked one off, and had 30 total tackles on the year.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603990' first='Angelo' last='Cromer'] ATH, Clinton   Cromer was one of the Red Devils' most dynamic players in 2025. He was the team's third-leading rusher with nearly 700 yards, and added 33 tackles on the defensive side of the ball, where he lines up at edge. Cromer's ideally suited to what Clinton wants to do offensively, and looks to increase both his workload and his production in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604062' first='Jacobi' last='Fuller'] ATH, Byrnes   Fuller's main job for the Rebels is serving as a change-of-pace back to [player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'], and he's exceptional. He rushed for 550 yards and six TDs while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He also contributed 200 kick return yards, a kick return TD, and a receiving TD. Fuller's a great complementary guy, mostly because he's capable of being the main weapon.    [player_tooltip player_id='1665369' first='Djay' last='Leak'] ATH/WR, Boiling Springs   Leak (pictured) did a little of everything for the Bulldogs. He lined up at receiver, in the backfield, and on defense, and made an impact wherever he went. He returned kicks and punts, and has tremendous upside thanks to his speed and versatility.    [player_tooltip player_id='1664575' first='Malachi' last='Peterson'] LB, Westside   Peterson quickly became one of the best players on a very good Rams defense. He notched 56 tackles as a junior and continued to improve. He's got a nose for the ball, and he's a leader on the field.    [player_tooltip player_id='1809888' first='Charlie' last='Galbreath'] LB, Walhalla   Galbreath might be a linebacker in name only. He does stand up some, but a lot of the time he plays with a hand on the ground. Whatever he does, it's full-tilt. Galbreath gets up the field, fights off blocks, and just makes plays - he had 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks as a junior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1822144' first='Richie' last='Maxwell'] LB, Southside Christian   Maxwell doesn't do a whole lot of flashy things for the Sabres. But he does almost everything solidly. As their man in the middle, he holds his ground, diagnoses the play, and attacks the ball, all in a big hurry. He had 78 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, a dozen hurries, and nine pass deflections as a junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271256' first='Major' last='Workman'] LB and [player_tooltip player_id='1809307' first='Shaun' last='Carvalho'] LB, J.L. Mann   There might not be a duo more poised to make a huge in the Upstate than Mann's linebackers. They'll be in their second year under Bryce Smiley, and LB play is key to the system. They made great strides in year one, as Carvalho led the team with 93 tackles, and Workman was one of the leaders in tackles for loss. They're both smart players who make decisions quickly and pursue well.     [player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey'] LB, Gaffney   Bailey has been playing well beyond his years for the Indians, and that will almost certainly continue. He's a ball hawk, a big hitter, and capable of making big plays all over the field. If there's a prototype Gaffney LB, Bailey's it.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818140' first='Antwone' last='Tarrence'] LB, Dorman   Tarrence's efforts kind of went unnoticed by casual observers as he played between Shrine Bowlers and North All-Stars at two levels of the Dorman defense. They shouldn't have. He was second on the team in tackles, led in tackles for loss and tied for the lead in sacks, added two hurries, and generally made life miserable for Dorman's opponents. He'll return to lead a good group, and will continue to make a huge difference.

Every time a new rankings class is unveiled, we look for patterns. In the 2027 class in the Upstate, something kind of jumps out above the rest.