2028 Rankings Update: Receivers Showing Out

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone</a>, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will run throughout the duration of the Winter Rankings Cycle.   After linebackers, there's no bigger crop of players who have made their mark on the Prep RedZone South Carolina 2028 rankings than the receivers.    The state's pass catchers not only earned their way onto their respective varsity football fields, they were often among the biggest impact players on their respective rosters. The players in this positional group were often electric and always worthy of defensive schemes.   To think they have two years of high school ball left tells us exactly how strong this group can be, continuing in 2026.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP 5   [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] Midland Valley   No. 1 on our list is Gleaton (pictured), who led the Mustangs in receptions (34), yards (540) and touchdowns (seven) despite playing through an ankle sprain midway through the year. Gleaton is a budding star on the recruiting trail, something we fully expect to happen for him as he approaches his sophomore season. How he produces with increased expectations is the crux of his story in the months and years ahead.   [player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis'] Summerville   Davis was already an intriguing player to watch the next two years, but the only receiver who bested his numbers for the Green Wave last season transferring out of the program means his value to Summerville immediately grew to another level. He averaged better than 22 yards per reception and has the type of frame that makes it difficult to stop him from making the catch and then even more difficult to bring him down after the fact.   [player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] James Island   No receiver in the state - regardless of class - had the type of blast off that Puiu did in 2025. After catching just eight varsity passes as a freshman, he exploded for 55 receptions for 1,409 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore. It led him to our esteemed Fab 50 squad and showed the Trojans weren't simply a grind-it-our running team that initially put them onto the statewide landscape the prior three seasons.    [player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter'] Seneca   There are a lot of reasons the Bobcats won 10 games and scored more than 500 points last season. And Hunter is right up there. The sophomore hauled in 70 passes for 985 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead a spirited air attack. Seneca will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and replacing a 2,000-yard rusher over the coming months. But what Hunter and his mates can do on the outside makes us think the Bobcats aren't done slinging it around any time soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] Hartsville    Hickmon's speed was clocked at just shy of 22 miles per hour last spring during the Carolinas Coaches Combines, and so we weren't surprised when the burner made a few teams really pay for now shadowing him over the top with a safety. Very few corners can keep up with him step for step, and the next evolution for Hickmon might be seeing how Hartsville works to simply get the ball in his hands versus simply throwing to him deep.    NOTABLE NEW ADDITIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='1824234' first='Tyler' last='Garner'] Oceanside Collegiate   Garner was rotating in as the Landsharks' No. 3 receiver, and that aforementioned Summerville transfer likely keeps him in that sort of spot for next fall. But what we've noticed from this programs is that quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] has a way to elevate his third and fourth receivers simply by overwhelming defenses. Garner's numbers were good; they'll be better next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825017' first='Trent' last='Singleton'] Georgetown   Even at 5-foot-9 and all of 150 pounds, Singleton was all over the field for the Bulldogs throughout the 2025 campaign, one in which Georgetown often went all-in on a talented senior tailback to propel the offense. Now, all that time in pads is about to take his next step as Singleton becomes less of a second option and more of a focal point to take advantage of his athleticism.   [player_tooltip player_id='1773739' first='Coleson' last='Marino'] Emerald   Marino was a bit of an enigma until he absolutely went off with a six-catch, 151-yard, two-touchdown game against Wren back on October 3. While his yardage wasn't as stout the rest of the way, he stated to catch more passes in the weeks after. In the five ensuing games, he had 19 receptions for 220 yards and added a couple more touchdowns.    [player_tooltip player_id='1818241' first='Marquiel' last='Troupe'] Blue Ridge    While Blue Ridge didn't throw a ton in 2025 - 214 times for 1,664 yards, to be exact - Troupe is a solid reason for that figure to increase next fall. He and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1819624' first='Braylon' last='Edwards'] give the Tigers two established weapons on the outside who can make plays and add even more consistency to the passing attack. Troupe gets bonus points for his work on special teams.    RECEIVERS PRIMED TO RISE   [player_tooltip player_id='1615112' first='Semaj' last='Parker'] South Florence   Parker got another season without the spotlight while a transfer came in and took over the WR1 role. But if we're looking at what the Bruins have coming back paired with Parker's 14 receptions in seven games and we're seeing him getting a lot of targets. Staying in the game will help, but attrition matters, too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610229' first='Keenen' last='Cunningham'] Lugoff-Elgin   The Demons frequently fed the senior and junior ahead of Cunningham, but it was never anyone's intention for his targets to dip so much. It's something the program will remedy sooner rather than later for a guy who plays much bigger than his measurables. Cunningham has an adept understanding of the task at hand, and, more importantly, the offensive scheme.   [player_tooltip player_id='1856558' first='Bralen' last='Coleman'] Blackville-Hilda   The biggest receiver in the class was part of a roster that was often just sort of waiting around for the dust to settle from an early season coaching change and the aftermath that followed. At 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds, though, Coleman is about to have an entire offseason to ensure his frame can go back to abusing opposing defensive backs.    [player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell'] Carolina Forest   If 2025 was the appetizer, McDowell's golden arcs are going to be shining bright the next two years. Like others on this list, he chased his eye-popping MPH figures from the spring combines by catching 27 passes for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. McDowell is a home run threat every single time he lines up on the outside.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will run throughout the duration of the Winter Rankings Cycle.