2027 Rankings: Defensive Stockrisers

The Class of 2027 is a little more than one week away from the start of its final season on the field.    It just so happens that we've had another significant shakeup in the rankings for many of those seniors. Since last season ended with the state championship games in Orangeburg, we've seen South Carolina's football realm change. Transfers. Realignment. Coaching changes. All of it often coinciding.   But what takes center stage for the next 115 days is how the athletes themselves adapted to those changes and continued to improve themselves along the way.    From the combines to spring ball to 7-on-7 and recruiting opportunities galore, we boosted players up and down the rankings to reflect a more accurate depiction of their worth - not only to their individual programs, but to the Palmetto State market as a whole.    After looking at the offensive movers and shakers earlier today, let's highlight the ones who did the same on defense.   DEFENSIVE LINEMEN    [player_tooltip player_id='1422589' first='Peyton' last='Bishop'] Dutch Fork - Up 19 spots   Bishop was one of the more notable transfers this offseason when he bolted AC Flora. He's going to be lined up opposite another defensive end who is already committed to Clemson and getting all sorts of attention. We've seen this play out at Dutch Fork before - last year, in fact - and that means Bishop's stock has moved him up the charts.   [player_tooltip player_id='2045817' first='Lemonte' last='Brown'] Cheraw - Up 21 spots   Brown is in many ways similar to an offensive lineman in that few are going to notice he's there. But trust us when we tell you everyone would notice if he wasn't. The huge defensive tackle is the reason opposing teams keep feeding their offenses to the edges, where the Braves have two of the most experienced edge guys around. They clean it up, but Brown sets the table.   [player_tooltip player_id='1675500' first='Roman' last='Hood'] Philip Simmons - Up 24 spots    Philip Simmons would have loved a fully healthy Hood in 2025, when the Iron Horses were making a deep playoff push. Now, Hood is back, and he makes a defensive full of playmakers that much more dangerous. He's a quick-fire defensive end who makes up for his lack of height with excellent footwork that leaves offensive tackles grasping for air.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603786' first='Trevon' last='Clark'] Blacksburg - Up 33 spots    Clark made a name for himself last fall when he took on tailback responsibilities and earned all-state honors with it. We partially bumped him up because of that offensive damage, but also because we see what the competition in a dual role did to him. Clark is going to be an even better defensive lineman - and his tailback touches aren't hurting him, either.   [player_tooltip player_id='1683177' first='Jaquan' last='Hannah'] Carvers Bay - Up 58 spots   Much like Hood, Hannah's junior season was short changed due to an injury. He showed what he was capable of when he came back and excelled in the playoffs. Then, he backed it up with an offseason that included significant weight room gains and an understanding that he needs to be able to take over. Hannah looks like a grown man, and he's about to play like one, too.   LINEBACKERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1422617' first='Jackson' last='Conner'] Indian Land - Up 12 spots   Conner was at times the tip of the spear for the Warriors in 2025, when he put up 150 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles. While graduation delivered a bit of a hit to the roster, some elevations and incoming transfers padded the blow. Regardless, Conner is back for his final run at this level and is every bit of what the staff needs him to be.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811107' first='Javon' last='Ryans'] North Augusta - Up 43 spots    It's no secret that the Yellow Jackets have a couple of monsters up front on this defense who can hold their own. Nor is it a big shock North Augusta has some serious length on the back end to handle opposing passing attacks. In the middle of it all is Ryans, the linebacker who now won't be expected to go sideline-to-sideline and can lock down his perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818140' first='Antwone' last='Tarrence'] Dorman - Up 55 spots    As our own Jed Blackwell said last month, Tarrence is next in a long line of standout Dorman linebackers. In reality, he already was. What Tarrence also had to deal with was a bunch of high-profile guys taking up much of the attention. Much of that is gone, replenished with new faces. But Tarrence coming back for the Cavaliers won't be missed this time around.   DEFENSIVE BACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1640595' first='Da'von' last='Bowman'] Wilson - Up 10 spots   Bowman is ready to bow on a fantastic career that already included him starting for two years at Sumter and then helping turn things around at Wilson last fall. All he's going to be asked to do is patrol the deep secondary and possibly serve as the team's No. 1 receiver, play some spot duty on special teams and even run the ball in some specific packages.    [player_tooltip player_id='1608770' first='Tyler' last='Robinson'] Catawba Ridge (pictured) - Up 102 spots   Opponents have two options when it comes to Robinson's spot at corner. They can either avoid him altogether and allow the rest of the Copperheads' defense to work on a short field from one side to the other. Or, they can risk going right at him. There's a reason most choose the former. Throwing in Robinson's direction isn't advised. He's a interception machine on every pass.

The Class of 2027 is a little more than one week away from the start of its final season on the field.