Taking A Deep Dive Into the 2027 Football Class In S C As The May Evaluation Period Nears
The HSSR named Sharks junior quarterback Aiden Manavian (5-11, 185) our Mr. Football. This is the first time a junior earned the honor in our 40-year history.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner—Major college football recruiters will soon be visiting within the majority of South Carolina high schools, focused on finding some big-time players in the 2027 class that help elevate their respective programs in future years.
Before we go any further, we always stop to thank Mark Grainger and the fine folks at Modern Turf in Irmo and Rembert for their sponsorship of this recruiting page.
Last year the state of South Carolina hit the magic number of “50” football players in the 2026 class signing on with major college football. The Palmetto state has been one of the few states in the nation that has not seen a drop-off in yearly numbers of players signed sue to so many colleges using the transfer portal to fill immediate needs.
The HSSR feels like the 2027 Class will be just as strong. It appears to be an above average year for wide receivers, defensive backs and even defensive lineman.
There are already two players from the 2027 class in South Carolina committed to major college football. Irmo defensive end Jaiden Bryant (6-3, 245) committed to LSU back in January and he appears firm with his pledge at this time.
Bryant had 75 tackles as a junior with 9 TFL including 10 sacks, 9 hurries, two caused fumbles and a blocked punt. Irmo head coach, Aaron Brand talks about his prized recruit that the HSSR currently ranks as the number three over-all prospect in the 2027 class in the state.
“Jaiden has relentless effort on the field and I have not seen a high school player blocker him yet,” said Coach Brand. “He goes 100 per cent in the weight room, the practice field and on the field on Friday nights. He runs a 4.6 to 4.7 forty with a solid 345- pound bench. He has a great first step and he really gets after the quarterback.
“I would say he is firm with his commitment to LSU,” said Coach Bryant. “I do not like my players to commit to a college unless, they are sure.”
Irmo also has a major college defensive tackle prospect in the 2027 class named Tyrone Jennings (6-3, 275). “Tyrone has one power five offer right now from East Carolina but I feel like interest will pick up when the college coaches come by Irmo In May,” said Coach Brand. “He has the ability to make plays down the line and he moves well for a big man. If I were a power five school I would take him in a heart-beat. He fights off double teams really well and still makes the play.”
Coach Brand got great news when former Cape Fear, NC running back Tai Phillips (6-1, 200) decided to transfer to Irmo in mid-year to play for the Jackets this season. Phillips only played in seven games last season but in that time, he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards with 9 touchdowns. He rushed for over 300 yards and scored six touchdowns against rival Terry Sanford High last season.
“Pretty much everybody in the country has offered Tai,” said Coach Brand. “He is a 4.3 guy in the forty and he runs with low pad level with great vision. We are excited about him coming to Irmo.”
Among Phillip’s top current offers are Alabama, Ohio State, Va. Tech, Penn State etc.
Irmo’s final power five top 2027 prospect is offensive lineman Nate Carson (6-4,270) and the HSSR currently ranks him the number 8 over-all prospect in the state coming into the May evaluation period.
“Everybody in the country is showing interest in Nate,” said Coach Brand. “He currently has offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama among others. He has great feet and flexible hips with long arms that allows him to pass protect really well. He bends really well and his athleticism is very obvious when you watch him play.”
Oceanside Collegiate Academy just might be the top high in the state to visit for skill talent when the college recruiter come calling this May. Long time friend Brent Laprad is the head coach of the Sharks who are coming off two back-to-back state titles and looking for more this season.
In this issue the HSSR has named Sharks quarterback Aiden Manavian (5-11, 185) our first ever Mr. Football as a junior for the first time in our 40-year history. This past season Manavian threw for 4,028 yards completing 244-of-350 passes for a 69 per cent completion rate and 41 touchdowns. One year before, as a sophomore, he passed for 3,507 yards completing 224-of-336 passes for 42 touchdowns.
The HSSR has this gifted signal called ranked among out top 5 prospects for the 2026 season and colleges should not hold his 5-11 height against him says Coach LaPrad. “Baker Mayfield is a top quarterback in the NFL and he is barely six-feet tall and look what he has accomplished,” said Coach LaPrad. “Aiden is like having a coach on the field and he can make all the throws with great check down vision and instincts.
“This kid has a gun for an arm.” said Coach LaPrad. “He has rubber bands in his shoulders. He is number three in his class academically with a 5.1 GPA. Don’t forget we had Sam Hartman at 5-11 in our program a few years ago. Sam went to Wake Forest and played so well that Notre Dame gave him $3 million to come play with them his final year. I witnessed Manavian hit the top of the goal posts on a throw from the 48- yard line the other day.”
Currently Manavian’s top firm offer is Miami of Ohio but Coach LaPrad says that Wake Forest has indicated to him that Manavian is about to get an offer from them.
One of the main reasons highly regarded former Summerville wide receiver Jaiden Kelly- Muray (5-11,175) transferred to Oceanside Collegiate is to play with Manavian. Kelly-Murray is ranked as the number two over-all and top receiver prospect in the state from the 2027 class.
As a freshman Kelly-Murray started as a free safety when he had a ton of interceptions but he has played mainly receiver since his sophomore season. This past season he caught 64 passes for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns. He runs a 4.4 forty and he very hard to cover one-on-one.
“Jaiden currently has 39 offers, all but Clemson and Virginia in this part of the country,” said Coach LaPrad. “I have no idea what they are waiting on. “Florida offered him as a safety but at 5-11 he feels his NFL opportunity is more at slot receiver and I agree with him.”
Manavian will have two top targets to choose from this season as Oceanside rising senior Anthony Williams (6-2, 180) returns after catching 64 passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. “Anthony is super special with great speed and great hands, and he catches the ball at a high point,” said Coach LaPrad. “He is a great kid on-and- off the football field. He runs a 4.4 forty. He is getting a ton of recruiting interest right now.”
Staying with top flight receivers, Bluffton head coach Hayden Gregory describes his 2027 receiver Amare Patterson (6-1, 190) as a sure power five offer. Patterson has already taken visits to Georgia, LSU, and Florida and he is drawing serious interest from Arkansas and FSU as well.
“Number one, Amare is a track sprinter champion and he is super- fast,” said Coach Gregory. “He had 58 catches for 900 yards last season when he had another receiver sign with North Carolina. “I would say he has around 35 offers right now. I would say his top three schools right now are Georgia, Florida and LSU and they have all offered.”
Everyone was impressed with the quarterback play of Bamberg-Ehrhardt Brian McMillian in the Class A state title game where he led his team to victory. McMillian is just 5-11, 165 and after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards last season his head coach says he is being looked at by colleges as a defensive back.
“Brian is the best athlete on our team and we have a lot of good athletes playing for us,” said head coach Corey Crosby. “Brin would make someone an outstanding defensive back at the next level. He has great football instincts and he is very coachable.”
The Hammond School just might have a late blooming prospect in 2027 linebacker Jackson Ross (6-3, 215) whom we have always regarded as a basketball prospect. Ross has visited SC, Vandy, and Texas Tech and all three schools are keeping in touch. Ross caught six touchdowns as a TE also last season. He is also drawing interest from Duke and North Carolina.
The other 2027 commitment to major college football right now is Daniel receiver Trey Wimberly (6-0,170) and he pledged to the nearby Tigers back in May of 2025. Wimberly caught 57 passes for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.
One of the top running backs in the 2027 class is Byrnes High’s Tre Segarra (5-11, 205). As a junior he rushed for 1,460 yards on 174 carries and scored 17 touchdowns. He has visited Tennessee, South Carolina, Indiana, and Stanford with Alabama showing strong interest also.
Well, this is about all the space we have for our Modern Turf recruiting issue this month. It appears to be another great year for high school prep football talent in South Carolina. We have to thank the great high school football coaches we have amongst us in South Carolina who do a great job of teaching the fundamentals of the game to their players.
