Will the 2026 Football Recruiting Class In SC Exceed The 40 Major College Signees From the 2025 Class Signed Last Year?
Thomas Heyward junior and multi sport athlete, Tony O'Banner.
HSSR SC 2026 Rising Senior Top 50 List
(Nominate A Player: hsreport@aol.com)
1. Desmond Green-Timberland-OL-6-5,333-
2. Tony O’Banner-Thomas Heyward- RB-Ath-6-1,215
3. Jayvon Gilmore-Gaffney—QB-6-5,200 Arkansas
4. Zyon Guiles-Carvers Bay-OL-6-4,295-4-star
5. Jaylen McGill-Mountain View Prep RB-5-11,190
6. J’Zavien Currence-South Pointe-DB-6-3, 205-SC
7. Carnell Warren-Bluffton-6-4,200-Va, Tech
8. Julian Walker-Dutch Fork-DE-6-6,235-
8. Zay Robertson-Dillon-WR-6-0,165,4.4
10. Anthony Baxter-South Pointe-OL-6-3,330-SC
11. Scotland Dover-Gaffney-OL 6-5,305=App State
12. Jaiden McDowell-Gaffney-RB-5-10,165
13. Tamarion Watkins-FS-Northwestern-6-3, 200
14. Jeremiah Favorite-Boiling Springs-CB-5-10,170
15. Caden Ramsey-Cross-WR-FS-6-5,200
16. Jamel Howze-Newberry-TE-6-3,215-SC
17. Tre Aiken-Clinton-OL-6-4,265
18. Tilden Tiley-Orangeburg Prep-TE-6-5,203
19. Jude Hall-Christ Church-WR-6-3,185-Duke
20. Kentavion Anderson-Dorman-FS-6-2,187-
21. Malcolm Gaston-North Augusta-OL-6-5,335
22. Michael Boulware-Gray Collegaite-MLB-6-2, 205
23. Amiri Acker-Crescent-WR-6-2,185
24. Jordan Avinger-Orangeburg-Wilkinson-LB-6-3,222
25. Terry Radford-Chester-DE-6-1, 230
26. Dallas Dotson-Dixie-QB-FS-6-3,175
27. Erhan Offing-Dutch Fork-QB-5-11,182
28. Amandre Wooden-Batesburg-Leesville-RB
29. Trevor Kalisz-Ashley Ridge-QB-5-11,215
30. Domanick Felton-Dillon-RB-5-8,170
31. Jeremiah Brown-Barnwell-RB-FS-5-11,170
32. Jachin Davis-Stratford-QB-6-1,185
33. Cam McMillon-South Pointe-QB-6-2,187
34. Daniel Capeheart-Dillon-OLB-RB-6-1, 200
35. Terry Gordon-South Florence-ILB-5-11,225
36. Jordan Sullivan-JL Mann-LT-6-4,270
37. Kemori DeWeese-Summerville-WR-5-11,185
38. JT Williams-Summerville-OLB-6-0,195
39. Marcus Cann-Bamberg-Ehrhardt-DB-6-2,180
40. Cody Peterson-Ashley Ridge-OL-6-5,315
41. Kamyron Jones-Abbeville-OL-6-2, 275
42. Zyon Ratchford-Fqaffney-LB-6-4,200
43. Kaleb Simpkins-Strom Thurmond-DB-6-0,170
44 Quin Mahoney-Bishop England-QB-6-3,190
45.Jaylen Baylor-Abbeville-FS-DB-6-1,170
46. Lucas Tankersley-Travelers Rest-MLB-6-1, 205
47. Jordan Roseborough-Dutch Fork-OL-5-11, 215
48. Zach Balog-Bishop England-WR-6-0,170
49. Tylin Drakeford-Camden-5-9,165
50. Kenshon Speaks-Beaufort-OL-6-3, 295
51. Ryan Campbell-Fort Dorchester-RB-5-8,170
52. Brayden Williams-Saluda-RB-5-11,175
53. Jaylon Davis-Union County-OL-6-0,290
54. Harris Stone-Wando-QB-6-2,280
55. Jordan Strong-Lewisville-DB-5-8,160
(45 more to be added in early summer)
Will the 2026 Football Recruiting Class In SC Exceed The 40 Major College Signees From the 2025 Class Signed Last Year?
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner—With the college football off-campus evaluation period starting in mid- April, and going through the end of May, it is a great time to look into the depth of the 2026 rising senior football class in the state of South Carolina and to also share some strong opinions about a bias (or lack of true knowledge) that continues to exist from out-of-state recruiting services putting out names of young men in our state who need to be evaluated for potential scholarship opportunities.
First and foremost, we also pause to thank Mark Grainger and the fine folks who work at Modern Turf in Irmo and Rembert for sponsoring this recruiting page each month.
A year ago, about this same time, the HSSR, (nor anyone else) would have predicted that the state of South Carolina would have 40 prep football players in the Class of 2025 sign on with one of the 134 major colleges (FBS) playing football.
With the popularity of the transfer portal now working against high school seniors, it was quite impressive to see the state produce 40 major football prospects from one class. Could it happen again in 2026? We hope so, but we are cautiously optimistic.
With this issue the HSSR is releasing our “Top 50 SC HSSR 2026 Football Prospect List” (as of March, 15th) for the state of South Carolina. Could 40 of these players be destined to major college football like they were a year ago? Please know that all 134 major football colleges across the nation are mailed a copy of this publication, in care of their football recruiting coordinators every month! We know this because we pay the postage to get this information to them.
Why are we cautiously optimistic? Well, we maintain that many national recruiting services are under valuing the talent level of prep football in the Palmetto State and we would like to know why? Despite the state producing 40 major college signees a year ago, and despite the fact the state of South Carolina has consistently produced an average of five home grown players being picked in the NFL draft each, year since the HSSR began keeping records in 1987 we maintain a bias exists and we will explain our argument with the facts.
If you google the 247 Sports recruiting web site right now and type in 247 Sports South Carolina 2026 football prospects you will see just 19 players listed for evaluation! If you do the same google search for the state of North Carolina you will find 44 players listed! (As of March, 15th). This trend also allows a greater number of North Carolina prep players to show up on Top 300 football lists put out by organizations like ESPN. The HSSR has long maintained that since we average at least five players selected in the NFL’s seven round draft from the state of South Carolina every year that any service putting out a Top 300 (there are between 260 and 265 college players selected in the NFL draft each year) we should have five Palmetto State 2026 players on this list but it rarely happens!
Let’s talk about one player in particular rated as the number two over-all player in the 2026 class in South Carolina, who is not on the 247 list (currently) or any national Top 300 list. Tony O’Banner (6-1, 211, & 4.59) is versatile athlete/RB/OLB at Thomas Heyward Academy in Ridgeland, SC. O’Banner came out of his junior season with 5,882 career rushing yards. averaging 10.6 yards a carry, and he has scored 85 touchdowns with one year left to play!
O’Banner, has been observed in action at least 10 different games by the HSSR since he “burst” on the scene literally, as an 8th grader. His two touchdowns “burst” of 52 and 48 yards against Williamsburg Academy in the state title game this past November documented a sub 4.6 forty. On one touchdown run he was virtually not touched wth11 players keyed on him at the snap of the ball. He made a “cut on a dime” at the line of scrimmage that was very difficult to make, and he ran straight down the field reminding me of the way George Rogers use to leave defenders behind when he won the Heisman at South Carolina back in the early 1980’s.
In a recent face-to-face conversation with his adopted mother Alicia Crosby (head volleyball coach and respected teacher at the Thomas Heyward Academy) this information was shared with this reporter: “What I really like about Shane Beamer at South Carolina is that on the many occasions we have attended games at South Carolina he always greets Tony, and myself, by our names and he seems to have a sincere interest in Tony as a football player and a person,” said Ms. Crosby recently. “We have been to Clemson games and Tony is very familiar with the Clemson coaching staff also and they seem to have a sincere interest in Tony as well. We have also visited Wake Forest and they keep in touch with Tony also.
“If I had to guess which two major colleges are close to actually making an official offer to Tony it would be either Liberty or Duke and we have visited both schools a lot,” said Ms. Crosby. “Tony has a 3.5 GPA and academics are very important to him. His school work is our total focus, on most nights, during the school year. We appreciate very much the interest that both Liberty and Duke have shown in him, as well as the interest from Clemson, South Carolina and Wake Forest.”
Imagine how shocked I was, after talking with Ms. Crosby, to once again google Tony O’Banner and see that 247 Sports only listed Liberty as the only college showing interest in O’Banner! At the very least it should say South Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest, Liberty and Duke. (Agree or not?)
It will be a shame if O’Banner’s accomplishments on a football field the past four seasons does not earn him a spot on the 247 SC List for May evaluation. It makes me question just where they get their information from. It should make everyone in SC prep football circles concerned if this hard-working young man is not shown more respect in the recruiting process. O’Banner has great family support, and great support from his coaches and teammates. He has made a small community of Ridgeland S.C. very proud.
A young man from Orangeburg Prep name T. Riley (6-5, 205, 4,6) has really caught the attention of college football recruiters since the 2024 football season. This writer met T., and his father, at a baseball game at Orangeburg Prep last April.
Riley is a three-sport star at O-P playing football, basketball and baseball at a very high level.
Currently Riley has seven major college offers, and he is being recruited as a flex tight end. He holds current offers from Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Virginia, East Carolina, South Florida, Florida Atlantic and Liberty.
In basketball this past season he was the MVO of his region tournament. For the season he averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks a game. He joined the 1,000-point club with 10 game left in the season. By next season he will also join the 1,000-career rebound club.
In baseball, T has started for OP in center field since the 8th grade and is also a left-handed pitcher. He batted .455 last yr with four home runs, 31 RBI’s, 8 doubles, and 4 triples.
In the class room T. Riley is a 4.0 student and he is the President of the junior class at his high school. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
The HSSR has four Gaffney rising seniors in the HSSR 2026 Top 50 list. They are quarterback Jayvon Gilmore (6-5,200) who threw for 2,500 yards last year, Gilmore is a firm commitment to Arkansas. Scotland Dover (6-3, 300), an offensive tackle, has been committed to Appalachian State but with a coaching change Dover might be open to listening to other schools.
Then running back Jaiden McDowell (5-11, 185) is a top running back returning prospect who battled through injures his junior season. He returned for the play-offs and performed really well last season. The fourth member of the HSSR rising senior Top 50 list is linebacker Zyon Ratchford (6-4,200) and he was recently offered by Virginia Tech.
Then in the sophomore class you have big time Gaffney CB/WR Zion Dawkins (5-11, 180) getting interest from schools like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and South Florida among others.
Carvers Bay big time offensive lineman Zyon Guiles (6-4, 295) has scheduled a news conference at his school for Friday March, 21st to announce his choice of colleges. He is reportedly is down to a top five of South Carolina, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia and Florida.
Prior to the 2024 football season in SC Guiles attended the annual HSSR media day held at the University of South Carolina. At that time on his prospect form, he listed his top five as South Carolina, Tennessee, Clem son, NC State and Georgia.
Guiles has a direct blood line to the Geathers family in the Carvers Bay area ad he is big, fast, and can move the pile in front of him
While it is too early to forecast just how many Palmetto state 2026 players will sign on with one of the 134 major college football programs, after the 2025 season concludes, one thing for sure is that the HSSR top 10 group could all be destined for the NFL.
They are top rated Desmond Green, an offensive lineman from Timberland, the aforementioned O’Banner along with Gilmore of Gaffney.
The other seven include: 5. Jaylen McGill-Mountain View Prep RB-5-11,190, 6. J’Zavien Currence-South Pointe-DB-6-3, 205-SC, 7. Carnell Warren-Bluffton-6-4,200-Va, Tech, 8. Julian Walker-Dutch Fork-DE-6-6,235-, 9. Zay Robertson-Dillon-WR-6-0,165,4.4, and 10. Anthony Baxter-South Pointe-OL-6-3,330-SC.
Recruiting remains an inexact science but one fact is that you have to be evaluated before you can be offered, Let the evaluations begin!
