HSSR Class AAAAA Top 20 Rankings (Pre-Season)

HSSR AAAAA Top 20 Football Rankings (Pre-Season)

   1. Gaffney (9-4) Div. II

  2. Summerville (31-1) Div. I

  3. Spartanburg (6-6) Div. I

  4. Northwestern (11-2) Div. II

  5. Dutch Fork (10-5) Div. II

  6. Irmo (13-1) Div. II

  7. Sumter (10-3) Div I

  8. TL Hanna (10-2) Div. II

  9. Byrnes (10-2) Div. I

  10. James Island (12-1) Div. I

  11. White Knoll (13-1) Div. II

  12. Rock Hill (6-5) Div. I

  13. Clover (9-3) Div. I

  14. Hillcrest (10-3) Div. II

  15. Greenville (10-4) Div. II

  16. Myrtle Beach (9-3) Div. II

  17. Greenwood (6-6) Div. II

  18.Ashley Ridge (8-3) Div I

  19. Carolina Forest (9-4) Div. I

  20. JL Mann (11-3) Div. I

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Moncks Corner — Get ready for a lot of communication between your Class AAAAA football fan base calling your high school in late October, when the playoffs are set to begin, due to the fact that the 54 largest high schools in the state will comprise in two divisions with two state champions being crowned this season.

The largest 26 schools will comprise Div. I AAAAA ,and the next largest 28 schools will comprise Div. II AAAAA Div. II. Fans might be wondering is my team Div. I or II?

New faces to AAAAA include former AAAA traditional powers Northwestern, Irmo, Mrytle Beach, Greenwood, and James Island. No traditional AAAAA power teams moved out of AAAAA for this realignment.

The top teams who will compete in Div I AAAAA are likely Summerville, Byrnes, Sumter, and James Island. The top teams in Div. II AAAAA appear to be Gaffney, Dutch Fork, Northwestern, Irmo, TL Hanna, White Knoll, Greenville, and Hillcrest.

Without debate Gaffney will come into the 2024 season the number one team in AAAAA. During May the Indians had 15 players in the rising junior and senior class extended next level offers and highly regarded left tackle Sheldrick Sarratt (6-4, 315) committed to South Carolina in June.

“Things were quite busy around our school in late April, and May, with around 56 colleges visiting my office to get information on our players,” said Gaffney head coach Dan Jones. “This counts even smaller schools like North Greenville and Catawba but we had college coaches in from power five schools like Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, and Florida State also. It is the most we’ve ever had come by I know that. 

Coach Jones said the Gamecocks are getting a solid tackle prospect in Sarratt. “He is a kid with great hips and great feet and he ran p and down the basketball court with ease this past season,” said Coach Jones. “He is very coachable and works hard and I personally feel like Carolina is getting a great player who should get some early playing time in the SEC.

Three factors greatly influenced the college traffic at Gaffney this past May, especially from power five programs. Gaffney left tackle Sheldrick Sarratt (6-4, 297) was considering offers from more than 30 colleges. The other two factors involve the transfer of rising junior quarterback Javon Gilmore (6-5, 190) and interest in rising junior running back Jaiden McDowell (5-9,190) who rushed for 1,392 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a sophomore.

“Jaiden had a great sophomore year and we are expecting even more from him this season,” said Coach Jones. “He has great vision and super hands.”

“Javon Gilmore has a lot of tools you are looking for in a quarterback,” said Coach Jones. “His strong arm should certainly allow us to open up the passing game. He has a high ceiling and he is athletic, very long, and his arm is very strong. We just have to get a few things down with him learning our system but we expect big things out of him for the next two seasons.”

Gilmore was offered by Texas A&M during the May evaluation period. He also has offers from Arkansas, NC State, West Virginia, Va. Tech, Tulane, Miss State, Coastal Carolina, etc.

Joining Sarratt in the Gaffney offensive line will be junior prospect Scotland Dover (6-4, 305) who already has offers from Tennessee and Kentucky. The team’s top returning receiver is Jamarcus Smith (6-1, 185) who had 49 catches for 787 yards and six touchdowns last season. McDowell caught 45 passes for 548 yards and four touchdowns. .

The Gaffney defense returns two-year starting corner back Jayden Sims (5-9,170) who had three interceptions last year. Viante Robbs is a returning starter at free safety, The vocal leader in the middle is senior linebacker prospect Andrew Ruppe (6-1,225) who makes all the calls and he will be starting for the third season. Ruppe had 95 tackles for the 2023 season, including 21 TFL, four caused fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

The defensive front returns Kelic Harris (6-3, 280) along with defensive end Sherman Tate (6-0,220) Josh Corry (6-3, 245) was limited with a broken hand last year but he will add depth at defensive end. Corry could be an H-back some on offense. Senior Karmello Grant (5-10,265) can play all three positions on the defensive front when needed.

Junior prospect Zion Rathchford (6-3, 205) will see time at ILB and Kendarious “Peanut” Bailey (5-11, 215) is a freshman outside linebacker who runs 4.5  Other players competing for time at linebacker include DaQuan Coker (5-11, 188) and Aaron Littlejohn (5-11, 180).

Gaffney will have early August scrimmages with Greer and Greenwood. They will play Independence High from Charlotte in their hosted McDonalds Classic in mid-August.

Last season Gaffney finished 9-4. They out-scored teams 391-297. They passed for 2,766 yards while rushing for 1,957 net yards for a total offense of 4,723 yards

A strong number three is Spartanburg coached by well-respected Mark Hodge. The Vikings return 11 offensive players with starting experience and 8 players return with starting defensive experience, plus they have their kicker and long snapper back.

“Over-all character and team leadership,” is how Coach Hodge defines the 2024 Vikings. “This team has overcome many adversities and has grown as an individual, both as people and athletes."

Coming into August drills TJ Johnson and Trey Burke will share time at quarterback. Johnson is more of a dual threat while Burke is more of a pro-style athlete. The Viking receivers are led by Justin Rice and the top RB returning is Trenten Lynch. The OL will be led by senior veterans Trey Weathers and John Hammon.

The Spartanburg defense is strong in the middle anchored by linebackers Cam Smith and Peyton Jones. Coach Hodge cites this duo as the best inside backers in the state.

Will Love returns for his third year as the team’s next level licker along with talented long-snapper Joshua Hodge.

Summerville (13-1) knocked on the door of competing for a AAAAA title under former Green Wave stand-out player Ian Rafferty who now head coaches the Green Wave. They lost a close game on the road at White Knoll in the lower state finals.

The Green Wave return next level QB prospect Jaden Cummings (6-0, 190), H-back Ke-Shon Washington (6-0, 215) and LT John Corley (6-1, 260) in the offensive front.

Cummings completed 189-of-275 passes (70 per cent) for 3,333 yards and 36 TD’s a year ago. He also rushed 54 times for 250 yards adding four TD's via he ground. However, 1,528 of those passing yards and 69 completions went to sure-handed Yannick Smith who is now turning heads at East Carolina.

Among their top sophomores is five stars rated DB/WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray who had an outstanding freshman season and he is already showing up on national prospect lists. OLB JT Williams is a highly regraded junior LB.

“We had a great year (2023) finishing 13-1 and advancing to the lower state championship for the second yea ran a row,” said Coach Rafferty. “Our program has won 24 games in the last two years and has not lost a home game in two years.

“We led the state in total offense and in scoring offense,” said Coach  Rafferty. “We will miss the 13 seniors who are all being recruited to the next level. The future of pour program looks bright and while we are losing outstanding players we will return a ton of young talent on both sides of the football.”

Ashley Ridge could be a AAAA spoiler team with the return of junior QB Trevor Kalisz who completed 214-of-328 passes for 2,989 yards and 28 TD’s a year ago. Senior LB Dylan Polansky also returns after recording 71 tackles and 17 sacks as a junior.

Perry Woolbright will be on the Shrine Bowl coaching staff from Clover (9-3) and his team will be led by one of the best RB’s in the state in Landon Stone (6-0, 190) who rushed for 2,350 yards on 288 caries scoring 21 TD’s a year ago.

Head coach Randy Birch of Rock Hill could be a surprise team in AAAAA with the transfer of Lewisville QB Ian Grissom (6-2, 175) who has a big-time arm to go along with highly regarded WR Malik Clark (6-2, 172) the top WR in the 2025 class in SC. Grissom passed for 2,655 yards and 35 TD’s last year. This duo could make things happen for the Bearcats this season.

 Northwestern: QB Finley Polk threw for over 2900 yards and 38 touchdowns last season. Also return leading receiver Jayden Nichols.

Dutch Fork: Junior QB Ethan Offing returns with experience and is a dual threat. Josh Smith is a key returning receiver and Josh Benson anchors an OL with solid experience. Linebackers are strength defensively, led by Josh Smith

Fort Dorchester: Junior running back Ryan Campbell is a game-breaker on offense. Three returners on OL…need to find a QB  DE Malachi Watson is third-year starter on defense

Goose Creek:  Gators return a ton on offense, led by junior quarterback Kymani Clary (1972 yards 19 TD) and junior running back Meliq McGowan (1615 yards 19 TD) Return 4 starting OL led by all-region Dallas Lee.  Jordan Ravenell, a junior, is a leader in the secondary.

Berkeley:  Sophomore QB Henry Rivers threw for more than 2,300 yards as a freshman…top 2 WR return in seniors Kayden Bash and Kevin Boone (both over 700 yards last season), junior OT Zion Britt is a college prospect…. defense led by returning LB Kevin Rivers Jr, and Marcus Henderson, both started as sophomores.

JL Mann:  Won 11 games last year, RB LaDannian Martin a transfer from Greer will be a key player combined with good experience at OL with senior all-stater Jordan Sullivan. WR senior Keyshun Henderson is big time playmaker. They will have LB Wyatt Ward anchoring the defense

TL Hanna:  QB Brandon Cunningham is returning along with RB Kedarrion Patterson, who rushed for more than 1600 yards and 28 touchdowns and on defense, DB Cameron Strong is NC State commitment