2027 Rankings: New Additions Q2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offseason has been fruitful.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the combines to spring ball to 7-on-7s and now preseason camp, players have been putting in the work to develop their games and - in the case of the Class of 2027 - prepare for their final season of high school ball. We've noticed some huge changes, and we're seeing a ton of positives coming along for the ride.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As such, we've added 102 players to the 2027 rankings. These players may not all be household names. Nor are all of them in the same spot where we last saw them don pads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what they've all done is earn a number next to their name in our system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, we're going to introduce you to the next 26 players who have made the cut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822667' first='Nate' last='Gambrell'] </strong>OL, Dorman - The returning starter has an excellent frame and an even better offseason in his back pocket heading into his senior year</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823720' first='Jeremiah' last='Knightner']</strong> LB, CA Johnson - He'll again get plenty of offensive carries, but he hangs his hat on what he does to stop opposing tailbacks&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819769' first='Samuel' last='Gadson']</strong> LB, Woodland - The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker finished his junior season with 80 total tackles and is primed for much, much more</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604085' first='Mason' last='Gardner']</strong> OL, Riverside - Gardner is 6-foot-5 and has every opportunity come out of the shadows in a big way as one of the anchors of the line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2256143' first='King' last='Davis']</strong> WR, South Pointe - The receiver and returner should make an immediate impact after transferring in from Lincoln Charter (N.C.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822036' first='Christian' last='Cromedy']</strong> OL/DL, Philip Simmons - Will again start on offense for one of the team's top 2A programs while pitching in on defense from time to time</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1659005' first='Ziyon' last='Mason']</strong> LB, Hartsville - Finished third on the team in tackles in 2025 while recovering a pair of fumbles and picking off a pass</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819576' first='Eli' last='Herndon']</strong> DL, Chapman - Possesses the height and length to be an absolute terror for opposing tackles and the offensive weapons set up behind them</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2182512' first='Clinton' last='Gentry']</strong> DL, Chapin - Has had two pretty decent seasons in a row; now he's going to be expected to be even better to help turn things around</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819060' first='Cade' last='Rogers']</strong> DB, Wando - Freakishly strong safety is one of just four returners in the secondary for what is going to be an improved unit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1816997' first='Cleveland' last='Pinkney'] RB, Sumter - The 5-foot-9, 190 pounder will move into even more of an offense role after rushing for 885 yards and six touchdowns last fall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2256139' first='Antavion' last='Hawes']</strong> LB, Spartanburg - Hybrid defender can help crash the line, drop back into coverage and everything in between</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1719852' first='Kelyn' last='Durham']</strong> RB/DB, Eastside - If all goes to plan, Durham could rush for 900-plus yards and finish with north of 40 tackles this fall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821479' first='Johnathon' last='Jenkins']</strong> LB, CA Johnson - Spent his junior season piling up 82 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three forced fumbles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2256123' first='Ryan' last='Buck']</strong> OL/LS, Indian Land - All-region lineman doubles as one of the more polished long snappers in South Carolina for a team that is going to turn some heads</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816249' first='Yave' last='Castanedas'] </strong>DL/OL, Airport - Not the biggest two-way lineman in the state, but his strength and how it comes out in games is vital for Airport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822366' first='Jake' last='Henderson']</strong> OL, Boiling Springs (pictured) - Battled tested offensive lineman is set up nicely for a strong final campaign with the Bulldogs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649347' first='Collin' last='Geiger']</strong> DB, Ben Lippen - After a year away, he's back at Ben Lippen and already starting to turn some heads in the recruiting realm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820409' first='Crayton' last='McKnight']</strong> DL, Hartsville - Converted offensive lineman will be bringing a good bit of size to the interior of the Red Foxes' defensive line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821579' first='Travis' last='Vattelana']</strong> K/P, Atlantic Collegiate - Has used some momentum from the Carolinas Coaches Combine to start boosting his own personal stock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2250308' first='Demarcus' last='Vinson']</strong> OL, First Baptist - Commitment to The Citadel further illustrates how well he moves paired with being 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2113658' first='Jakai' last='Chapman']</strong> DL, Berkeley - Stags will rely on his length off the edge, especially against some of the gun slingers on the schedule&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820916' first='Wyatt' last='Mazza']</strong> ATH, Mid-Carolina - Soon-to-be four-year starter put up north of 70 tackles last year while appearing all over the field on offense</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1764257' first='Jeremiah' last='Good']</strong> OL, Seneca - Good has mostly floated under the radar, but the soon-to-be four-year starter has earned his keep for the Bobcats</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249201' first='Lovell' last='Stevenson']</strong> QB, Manning - Tall Monarchs' signal caller threw for more than 1,000 yards as a junior during the regular season&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824413' first='Malachi' last='Nelson']</strong> OL, Fort Dorchester - Uses footwork and hand aggression to navigate the tackle position; he's not exactly small, either</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->