Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from South Carolina
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up - not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled - they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from South Carolina using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from South Carolina set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
#19 (tie). Ryan Campbell (RB)
- National rank: #1,013 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #63
- College: not committed
- Offers: Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, East Carolina, Howard
- High school: Ashley Ridge (Summerville, SC)
#19 (tie). Scottland Dover (IOL)
- National rank: #1,013 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #82
- College: Appalachian State
- Offers: Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State
- High school: Gaffney (Gaffney, SC)
#17 (tie). Jaemin Pinckney (Edge)
- National rank: #962 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #89
- College: USF
- Offers: USF, Florida State, West Virginia, East Carolina, Appalachian State
- High school: Woodland (Dorchester, SC)
#17 (tie). Somad Eaddy (ATH)
- National rank: #962 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #71
- College: Wake Forest
- Offers: Wake Forest, Appalachian State, Boston College, Ball State, East Carolina
- High school: Riverside (Greer, SC)
#16. Jude Hall (WR)
- National rank: #848 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #116
- College: Memphis
- Offers: Memphis, Boston College, Central Michigan, Charlotte, Cincinnati
- High school: Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville, SC)
#15. Desmond Green (IOL)
- National rank: #778 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #60
- College: Florida
- Offers: Florida, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia Tech
- High school: Timberland (St. Stephen, SC)
#14. Triston Lewis (ATH)
- National rank: #724 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #54
- College: South Carolina
- Offers: South Carolina, Gardner-Webb
- High school: Greenwood (Greenwood, SC)
#13. Tilden Riley (TE)
- National rank: #662 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #35
- College: Vanderbilt
- Offers: Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, Duke
- High school: Orangeburg Preparatory School (Orangeburg, SC)
#11 (tie). Jordyn Best (CB)
- National rank: #629 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #51
- College: NC State
- Offers: NC State, Boston College, Appalachian State, Ball State, Campbell
- High school: Ridge View (Columbia, SC)
#11 (tie). Amiri Acker (WR)
- National rank: #629 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #94
- College: not committed
- Offers: NC State, Liberty, Appalachian State, Boston College, Charleston Southern
- High school: Crescent (Iva, SC)
#10. Franklin Whitley (DL)
- National rank: #555 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #69
- College: Florida State
- Offers: Florida State, Tennessee, Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama
- High school: Greenville (Greenville, SC)
#9. Jayvon Gilmore (QB)
- National rank: #462 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #31
- College: not committed
- Offers: Arkansas, Arizona, Boston College, Charlotte, East Carolina
- High school: Gaffney (Gaffney, SC)
#8. Tamarion Watkins (S)
- National rank: #415 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #33
- College: Texas A&M
- Offers: Texas A&M, South Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Alabama
- High school: Northwestern (Rock Hill, SC)
#7. Carnell Warren (WR)
- National rank: #306 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #47
- College: North Carolina
- Offers: North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, Arizona, Arizona State
- High school: Bluffton (Bluffton, SC)
#6. Jamel Howse (TE)
- National rank: #281 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #13
- College: not committed
- Offers: South Carolina, Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Liberty
- High school: Newberry (Newberry, SC)
#5. Sequel Patterson (ATH)
- National rank: #231 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #13
- College: South Carolina
- Offers: South Carolina, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Boston College, Charlotte
- High school: Indian Land (Fort Mill, SC)
#4. Zyon Guiles (IOL)
- National rank: #186 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #9
- College: South Carolina
- Offers: South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson
- High school: Carvers Bay (Hemingway, SC)
#3. Julian Walker (Edge)
- National rank: #138 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #16
- College: Michigan
- Offers: Michigan, South Carolina, NC State, North Carolina, Appalachian State
- High school: Dutch Fork (Irmo, SC)
#2. J'Zavien Currence (S)
- National rank: #84 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #9
- College: South Carolina
- Offers: South Carolina, Florida State, Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas
- High school: South Pointe (Rock Hill, SC)
#1. Kentavion Anderson (S)
- National rank: #82 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #8
- College: Clemson
- Offers: Clemson, Appalachian State, Boston College, East Carolina, Florida
- High school: Dorman (Roebuck, SC)
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This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 6:15 AM.