2027 Rankings: Offensive 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.    Let's crank up this portion of our rankings cycle with a breakdown of why these offensive standouts made the climb.   ATHLETES   [player_tooltip player_id='1820699' first='Brayden' last='Price'] North Central - Up 23 spots   When we added Price to the rankings back in the spring, we knew of his prowess at quarterback in a dual-threat role. And we also had signs of how good he could be as a safety or corner, as he picked off four passes as a junior. Now, we know he's ready to do even more. He's crafted himself physically in a way that will make him even better as a senior.    [player_tooltip player_id='1820333' first='Jeremiah' last='Walters'] Hilton Head - Up 33 spots   Walters is the favorite target for the Seahawks' quarterback, and his 40 receptions from last fall might feel paltry by the time his senior year is done. Tack on his 44 tackles and four picks on the defensive side of the ball and even less pressure to carry the load and his overall numbers are primed to skyrocket.    [player_tooltip player_id='1811040' first='Leonard' last='Pressley'] American Leadership - Up 47 spots   Pressley is 6-foot-2. He's got an 80-inch wing span. When he's able to spread out his stride, he runs like a deer. Now, put all that together at this level and you've got a game changer capable of frustrating foes on the ALA schedule year long. He's going to have every team game-planning for him. But no one will have any idea what position he might be in next.    OFFENSIVE LINEMEN   [player_tooltip player_id='1811119' first='James' last='Ross'] Ridge View - Up 10 spots    Ross went from under-the-radar guy when he got to Ridge View last year to the type of offensive tackle who was worthy of some serious college looks. When he committed to South Carolina in June, it ended a hectic recruiting cycle that didn't always go as expected. However, his sheer strength and ability to stand up bigger edge rushers is a huge plus for the Blazers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1673215' first='Holden' last='Lane'] Wren - Up 18 spots    Lane and Charleston Southern appear to be a near-perfect fit. In Lane, the Bucs will be getting an offensive lineman who isn't huge but is tenacious as all get up. His feet are ultra-quick for his size, and it works extremely well in Wren's high-paced offense that will be doing everything in its power to get the ball into open space. You can do that with a lineman like Lane.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820603' first='Ty'Quavian' last='Jones'] Hampton County - Up 25 spots    The Hampton County tackle is a hair taller than Lane - his future Charleston Southern teammate - and he's also got an 80-inch wingspan that makes him a valuable edge protector. Getting that commitment out of the way also probably won't hurt his senior year for a Hampton County team that may not be as flashy as year's past but can still put up some points.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604450' first='Joshua' last='Norris'] South Pointe - Up 30 spots   While we don't get verified data on all 10,000 or so varsity players in the state each year, it stands to reason that Norris at least contends for the tallest one in South Carolina. He's 6-foot-7 (and a quarter) and 295.2 pounds. The fact that he plays for one of Class 4A's traditional powers means his star will rise as long as he puts those physical tools to good use.    [player_tooltip player_id='1809928' first='Nathan' last='Huff'] Greer - Up 34 spots   Huff is about as blue-collar as it gets. And he does it all while sporting a massive frame and some athleticism that should not be present for a human being who is 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds. He's also strong (22 bench reps during the spring Carolinas Coaches Combines) and hasn't stopped working on his skills since. Go ahead and pencil him in for an all-star spot.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819646' first='Jake' last='Olsen'] Bishop England - Up 40 spots    Bishop England is on the rise. We can say it's a bigger collection of talent in the skill spots driving the bus, but coach Logan Hall will be the first two tell you that only goes so far. Olsen's development at left tackle is an injection of potential in both the run and pass games the Bishops have often been left needing in the past. Those days are dwindling with Olsen.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664559' first='Niran' last='Ford'] Dutch Fork - Up 49 spots    Ford is a probably the biggest name at Dutch Fork who will be mentioned the least this fall. As outside media clamor around a long list of skill players and defensive stars that make this arguably the most star-studded roster in the state, Ford will be quietly holding off opposing defenders and making them look silly in the process. The East Tennessee State commit is that good.    [player_tooltip player_id='1820011' first='Josiah' last='Chambers'] Byrnes (pictured) - Up 53 spots   We polled folks around the Upstate about the importance of production on a scary looking Byrnes offense last month, and nearly every person we asked had Chambers listed as one of the team's three biggest pieces. We see why. The offensive lineman will be crucial in every facet of the team's ability to move the ball on the ground or through the air.    RECEIVERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1816745' first='Ty'Quarius' last='Shannon'] Fairfield Central - Up 10 spots   Shannon is coming off a 1,000-yard season that included 16 receiving touchdowns. What makes that figure so convincing is that he did it while the Griffins were splitting QB reps. Now, Fairfield Central will be moving forward with one primary quarterback, and that signal caller is going to be locked in on the shifty Shannon to get open and then use his speed.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603911' first='Isaiah' last='Small'] Ridge View - Up 19 spots    Small has a really, really good junior year at Richland Northeast, where he put up just shy of 1,800 all-purpose yards. What was lost in the shuffle is that many of those were after Richland Northeast was getting blown out and only pride was on the line. What happens now that he's a strong team with maybe the flashiest receiving corps in the state? We see only good things.    [player_tooltip player_id='1718680' first='Payton' last='Vining'] Northwestern - Up 116 spots   Vining partially showed everyone who he was last year when he was essentially the team's third receiver in a pass-heavy offense that few could stop. Flash forward to this fall, and Vining has spent the entire offseason training as the Trojans' new WR1. He may or may not ultimately hold that status, but his 33 catches from last fall will feel like a blip soon enough.   RUNNING BACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White'] Gaffney - Up 12 spots    White departed Irmo in the offseason. Since leaving, he's put on at least 10 pounds and showed he's the same blazer with the ball in his hands that he was at the lighter weight. His competition level is going to be stout, and he might have to share some goal-line carries, but his home run capability is even more present.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603999' first='Caleb' last='Feaster'] Chester - Up 13 spots   Feaster is already well-versed in being the Cyclones' workhorse. On top of his 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns last year on the ground, he also put up 34 defensive stops. Now a senior, Feaster measured in at a full two inches taller and 11 pounds heavier than he was before. That growth spurt and what it can do for him (and Chester) can't be ignored.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823085' first='Noah' last='Singletary'] Dillon - Up 42 spots   Singletary's rise is about reps. In this case, he's taking over the starting tailback duties full time after giving way to a senior from last year's team. He still put up 418 yards and seven touchdowns. Where we're seeing him hit pay dirt is that he averaged 8.7 yards per carry. Dillons moves down a class at the same time that Singletary gets to be the guy.   [player_tooltip player_id='1647568' first='Boston' last='Halpin'] Catawba Ridge - Up 70 spots   Halpin was expected to be more of an H-Back, even after the 2025 season commenced and he was forced into the backfield as a tailback. He did enough of a number on the Copperheads' staff that he earned the starting nod at running back for this year. Catawba Ridge has proved its grit in its short history, and Halpin fits right into the M.O.    [player_tooltip player_id='1772596' first='Chris' last='Dean'] Emerald Up 74 spots    Everything at Emerald is screaming the same thing. A returning quarterback and an incoming transfer at receiver who can take the pressure off the rushing attack are both huge signs for Dean. Did we mention he already rushed for 1,418 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior? Yeah, Dean is going to get his carries, and chances are he'll be getting the ball with fewer eyes on him.   QUARTERBACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson'] Sumter - Up 11 spots   Richardson has been good. But what he hasn't had during the last two season at Sumter when he was flipping back and forth between quarterback with a big arm and quarterback built like a freight train was a lot of fluidity. As odd as it sounds, a new coaching staff won't hurt in that regard. Plus, he's a year older and even more experienced in taking on more weight on his shoulders.   [player_tooltip player_id='2045815' first='Silas' last='Brawner'] Pinewood Prep - Up 24 spots    This will be the second consecutive cycle Brawner has made some significant upward movement, and while this jump isn't as big as his last one, the reason for both is similar. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Brawner has a size advantage, sure. But what he also has is a keen football IQ that should start to show on a more regular basis. That's scary when you look at what he already did last fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827399' first='Avery' last='Durham'] Andrews - Up 25 spots   Durham is about to go from serviceable quarterback to a guy the team is going to need to stretch the field. Are we going to see an all-our Air Raid? No way. But Durham is likely going to see a significant spike in his attempts. After all, he knows what he's doing, and now he's got the targets to play more of the type of game every quarterback wants.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819537' first='Collin' last='Tillman'] North Augusta - Up 29 spots    Opportunity has to factor in, and Tillman going from split-role quarterback to every-down starter matters a ton (we'll get more into that in a moment). This is a player who already had the trust of the returning Yellow Jackets on the roster and has the type of efficiency to keep everything on the tracks just as intended.    [player_tooltip player_id='1823525' first='De'Eric' last='Davis'] South Florence - Up 36 spots    Folks who don't know Davis' face are about to. And, chances, are, it'll happen after he gets of the bus and opposing teams start asking about the defensive tackle walking toward them. Davis is a verified 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. He's been waiting his turn for two years, and his time is now. These combinations of physical and mental tools don't come around every day.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary'] Strom Thurmond - Up 40 spots    Tillman's increased snaps came about when Hillary transferred to the school his family has been associated with for decades. As such, he's going to increase his workload, all while joining the defending Class 2A state champs. He's going to have weapons all around him and should have his rhythm full intact by the time the season starts. From there, the sky's the limit.

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