Zone Reads: 15 Upstate Players Ranked In First 55 For 2023 Class

The northwest corner of the state is a hotbed for high school football. That’s never been disputed, and it’s never been more evident. There are 15 players from Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Oconee counties ranked in the first 55 of the Prep Redzone 2023 rankings. Here’s a look at each of them. [player_tooltip player_id="91355" first="Markee" last="Anderson"]<strong>, OL, Dorman (Ranked No. 7 overall)</strong> An athletic, physical lineman with a rare combination of speed and power, Anderson is flexible enough to play guard, tackle, and even some H-back for the Cavaliers. He’s got 10 D1 offers, and likely more on the way. [player_tooltip player_id="91157" first="Kazi" last="Bland"]<strong>, LB, Southside (Ranked No. 48 overall)</strong> Bland is a thumper, getting to the ball in a hurry and arriving in a bad mood. He had 50 total tackles last season, including 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and contributed three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. [player_tooltip player_id="91149" first="Tyler" last="Brown"]<strong>, WR, Greenville (Ranked No. 34 overall)</strong> Brown is electric in space, with moves and speed to make defenders miss. He’s also physical enough to shuck tacklers, go over the middle without hesitation, and effectively block downfield. [player_tooltip player_id="202774" first="DJ" last="Geth"]<strong>, OL, Dorman (Ranked No. 46 overall)</strong> Geth has been rocketing up the rankings, thanks in part to his play on the field and in part to his dominance at camps. He was the OL MVP at the recent Upstate session of the Palmetto Combine, and should see his stock rise even more. [player_tooltip player_id="89339" first="Raheim" last="Jeter"]<strong>, QB, Spartanburg (Ranked No. 5 overall)</strong> Jeter has shown all the tools and a winning mentality, helping lead Spartanburg to the 5A Upper State title game last year. The West Virginia commit can make every throw, and is a rugged runner when he breaks out of the pocket. [player_tooltip player_id="89342" first="Cam" last="Johnson"]<strong>, OL, Seneca (Ranked No. 12 overall)</strong> Johnson plays with quick feet, good hands, and great leverage. He makes pancakes and knockdowns commonplace, and routinely completely eliminates multiple defenders on a single play. [player_tooltip player_id="262574" first="Bennett" last="Judy"]<strong>, QB, Hillcrest (Ranked No. 55 overall)</strong> Judy (pictured) made a huge mark a year ago, throwing for more than 3,100 yards and accounting for 43 touchdowns for the Rams. He has a great supporting cast returning, and expectations are sky high. [player_tooltip player_id="91144" first="Misun" last="Kelley"]<strong>, DB, Daniel (Ranked No. 29 overall)</strong> Kelley is a huge part of the Lions’ success on defense during their two-year run atop the 3A ranks, but he’s so much more. He’s the No. 2 DB in the class, a go-get-it receiver, and a kick returner with blazing speed. [player_tooltip player_id="89340" first="Grayson" last="Loftis"]<strong>, QB, Gaffney (Ranked No. 8 overall)</strong> Loftis threw for nearly 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, despite the 5A state champion Indians having a ground game that chewed up more than 3,000 yards. The Duke commit has a phenomenal arm, great mobility, and fantastic leadership skills on the field. [player_tooltip player_id="89349" first="Ja’Corey" last="Martin"]<strong>, QB, Southside Christian (Ranked No. 44 overall)</strong> Martin is a true dual-threat QB, as dangerous with his legs as with his arm. He led the Sabres to another 1A state crown on the strength of 2,278 passing yards, 921 rushing yards, and a combined 54 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id="91140" first="Eli" last="Merck"]<strong>, WR, Daniel (Ranked No. 11 overall)</strong> Merck is a burner who helped the Lions put up video game-type numbers over the past two seasons on the way to a pair of 3A titles. With elite speed and 74 catches for 1,053 yards and 15 scores, Merck’s play ranges from "hard to cover" to "absolutely un-coverable". [player_tooltip player_id="89333" first="Jalen" last="Rambert"]<strong>, LB, Powdersville (Ranked No. 2 overall)</strong> Rambert’s a prototype linebacker. He pursues sideline-to-sideline, covers well, steps into gaps to stop the run, and is a fantastic pass-rusher. He’s a huge reason the Patriots put up their best season in history last year. [player_tooltip player_id="89334" first="Luke" last="Schuller"]<strong>, LB, Greenville (Ranked No. 19 overall)</strong> A tackle machine, Schuller was credited with 142 stops last season. He’s an active, effective MLB who has a nose for the ball and always seems to be around the play. [player_tooltip player_id="146355" first="Bryce" last="Smith"]<strong>, OL, Daniel (Ranked No. 40 overall)</strong> Smith, a guard with great feet and a quick first step, is essential to the Lions’ running game. Whether pulling or blocking heads-up, Smith does a great job of controlling the interior of the line for Daniel. [player_tooltip player_id="91152" first="Thomas" last="Williams"]<strong>, RB, Powdersville (Ranked No. 28 overall)</strong> Williams was a key performer for the Patriots’ offense last season. He contributed more than 1,500 yards on the ground as the Patriots finished with an undefeated regular season. But his future’s also bright on the defensive side, where he recently won defensive skill MVP honors at the Palmetto Combine Upper State session, and was clocked at more than 22 MPH. &nbsp;