2027 Rankings Update: Upstate Additions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 64 players added to the Prep RedZone Class of 2027 rankings all earned their spots in a variety of methods.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PRZ staff took the first half of the offseason to further evaluate those players' impacts from the 2024 season, but also what they've done since. What we found was a large wave of players ready to make their mark on the state's football landscape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's keep the introductions to all of them going with the 12 additions from the Upstate.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='410912' first='Preston' last='Bivens']</strong> ATH, Daniel&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions have a ton of offensive production to replace, but Bivens' role as someone who can both catch and run the ball will give quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094520' first='Jace' last='Grass'] another focal point as he returns to Central. Bivens is averaged better than 17 yards per reception last fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664587' first='Kamari' last='Williams']</strong> DL, Gaffney&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot and 230 pounds, Williams adds another playmaker to a Gaffney defense already full of them. Last fall at JL Mann, the defensive end was a constant presence in the backfield, finishing the season with seven sacks and eight tackles for loss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664582' first='Elijah' last='Grimes']</strong> RB, TL Hanna&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimes won't be the only Yellow Jacket charged with replacing all of the production <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157743' first='KD' last='Patterson']</strong> will leave behind. But the 5-foot-9, 205-pounder will get more than his share of carries. He'll be the between-the-tackles guy, at least to start.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664575' first='Malachi' last='Peterson']</strong> LB, Westside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peterson finished the 2024 season fourth in tackles for Westside with 67. Two of the players ahead of him are out of eligibility, somethign that is going to only highlight he and fellow linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165096' first='Jaxx' last='Wilson']</strong> even more.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664506' first='Jayden' last='Coney']</strong> RB, Travelers Rest&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether its on the track or the gridiron, Coney's game is his speed. He recently hit 22.89 miles per hours at the Carolinas Coaches Combines and while he chimed in at 5-foot-7.25 and 148 pounds, he's going to likely going to be a two-way starter this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664489' first='Ayden' last='Montgomery']</strong> WR, Gaffney&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In an effort to get him on the field as much as possible prior to his transfer, Daniel had Montgomery play defense, where he accumulated 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also caught eight passes for 112 yards. Now, he joins a loaded Class 5A squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664486' first='Jaylon' last='Watson']</strong> DB, TL Hanna&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even when Watson wasn't being credited with one of his 48 total tackles or his four tackles for loss, he was making an impact for the Yellow Jackets' defense. He bats down passes and covers a ton of ground in run support. Being able to return punts doesn't hurt, either.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664480' first='JaQwon' last='Haygood']</strong> WR, Wade Hampton&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a team that needs offense, Haygood is a good place to start. The small but speedy receiver is a super active player who could go beyond passing targets to help the Generals on end arounds and in the return game. His touches will increase over time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664361' first='John' last='Conners']</strong> DL/LB, Greenville&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The time Conners spent on the field last fall was almost entirely as a defensive end. This fall, he's slated to don more of an outside linebacker look while putting his pursuit skills even more to the test. He's has the physical tools to handle either role.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means']</strong> RB, Dorman&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Means has every opportunity to be a 1,000-yard tailback despite the Cavaliers' level of competion. In fact, in order to get there, he probably only needs four-five carries more per game than he got last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581467' first='Brooks' last='Dow']</strong> QB, Pickens (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dow is a big body who could be asked to run much more than he is. He's also got an accuracy with his arm that probably hasn't been lauded enough. We understand both points equally, and we're interested observers in watching his opportunity to impress grow.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664203' first='Travonne' last='Johnson']</strong> ATH, TL Hanna&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was tasked with running out of the wing last fall, when he put up 343 yards rushing and receiving and totalled four offensive touchdowns. He's also playing cornerback (17 tackles, three pass break-ups). His number will get called more on one side of the ball, probably less on the other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->