2025 Rankings Update: Defensive, Special Teams Additions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We scoured the state, poured over our notes from last season and then locked ourselves in the lab watching film. What it led to was 46 more players who earned a right to be ranked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, the process will continue for another 12 months, meaning we'll update this list again in May, then September and then once more before the conclusion of these players' high school careers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But with all that still in front of us, we already know they should be ranked.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the 22 new additions for defense and special teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158047' first='Elisha' last='Baker'] LB, Lewisville - Despite missing significant time, Baker put up 10 sacks and more than 40 total tackles. He's got another year to prove he can be even better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='867240' first='Silas' last='Parish'] LB, Walhalla - Parish is a monster who we like a little more every time we watch his film. His 112 total tackles, five forced fumbles and 12 tackles for loss were all further evidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158045' first='Jared' last='Acosta'] LB, Newberry - Acosta's 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles were a nice tack on to his team-high 63 total tackles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='995603' first='Brody' last='Rowan'] DL, Clover - If Rowan were two inches taller, he'd be on every recruiting board around. He's effective and put up really good defensive numbers against top competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry'] LB, Airport - Cherry might just flirt with the state lead in overall tackles next season. He roams the middle and had 107.5 total stops this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158026' first='Tripp' last='Bryant'] P, River Bluff - Handled punting, kicking and kickoff duties for River Bluff and is showing signs of significant prowess in all three phases.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158010' first='Zion' last='Job'] ATH, Gray Collegiate - Job went from lightly used reserve to a meaningful contributor on offense (38 receptions, 512 yards) and defense (two interceptions, 26.5 total tackles).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='898032' first='Will' last='Axon'] DL, Porter-Gaud - Slightly limited by injuries, the relative newcomer to the sport had another impactful season as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158009' first='Jonathan' last='Goswick'] DB, Socastee - Goswick already saw decent time on special teams and offense, too, and he might be one of the most versatile returning players in the region next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158006' first='Avery' last='Alexander'] ATH, Lancaster - Also a receiver, Alexander earned all-region honors for his role in the defensive backfield for the Bruins.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158005' first='Mycheal' last='Wallace'] DL, Kingstree - While he might ultimately turn into a college offensive lineman, we think his 11 tackles for loss as a junior were only the beginning.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] LB, South Pointe - It really doesn't matter where South Pointe puts Brown at the snap. He's got the ability to do some damage from just about anywhere.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157986' first='Javaris' last='Logan'] DL, Bamberg-Ehrhardt - Logan is bigger than we originally thought, and he used his 285 pounds to muster up 24 tackles for loss and seven sacks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157982' first='Montrelle' last='Keys'] LB, Airport - The Eagles' rover is part of an impressively rebuilt defense and gives Airport a chance to build upon its 2023 success.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1039208' first='Hank' last='Aeppli'] LB, Lucy Beckham - Aeppli is a defensive coordinator's dream. He's fast enough to blitz off the edge and spends his time in the backfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157945' first='Spencer' last='Conn'] LB, Daniel - Conn is always in the right place at the right time. He led Daniel in solo tackles, total tackles and tackles for loss during the team's 15-0 run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157942' first='Cleve' last='Tellery'] DL, Ridge View - Tellery is a menace, using his 295 (or so) pounds to clog up the middle of any trenches he sees. He had six sacks and 15 tackles for loss as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe'] LB, South Florence - Despite missing four games due to injury, he put up 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and had two defensive touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim'] DB, Camden - While he might also be a star receiving in the making, his 67.5 total tackles and four picks from his junior campaign tells us he's got stud college safety material.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='922400' first='Jackson' last='Chavis'] DL, Hartsville - Definition of a bulldog used his skills from the wrestling mat to make his 18 tackles for loss look almost effortless.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157756' first='Zarion' last='Williams'] DL, Blythewood - We're not done with Blythewood's defensive line, but either way, Williams' 20 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles are vital.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157753' first='Kemuel' last='Little'] DL, Blythewood - The 6-foot-2, 225-pound lineman helps form one of the state's best defensive lines and contributed 43 tackles and 11 tackles for loss last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->