Ranking the Top 25 Midlands HS football offensive players for 2025
The 2025 high school football season is upon us.
To get you ready for the upcoming season, The State sports staff compiled a list of Top 25 offensive players for the season and others to keep an eye on this year.
Top 25 Offensive Players
1. Amadre Wooden, RB, Batesburg-Leesville: The area’s second-leading rusher from a year ago. During his junior season, Wooden rushed for 2,138 yards (third most in school history) and had 26 touchdowns. He was a Class 2A All-State selection.
2. Jamel Howse, TE, Newberry: The senior and South Carolina commitment remade his body in the offseason and should be a huge weapon on both sides of the ball this season for the Bulldogs. On3/Rivals has him as the No. 6 prospect in the state, and 247Sports has him as No. 7, after catching 34 passes for 412 yards.
3. Khristian Jackson, WR, Ridge View: One of the top prospects in the state for the Class of 2027 was slowed by an injury in the summer but will be ready to go for the Blazers’ offense. Jackson caught 49 passes for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
4. Tylin Drakeford, ATH, Camden: The senior did it all last season for the Bulldogs. Drakeford had 1,380 all-purpose yards and accounted for 15 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he had 54 tackles, four passes defended and an interception.
5. Kendall Byrd, WR, AC Flora: The senior had a big junior season with 83 catches for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns. Byrd was a Class 4A All-State selection.
6. Nate Carson, OL, Irmo: The junior tackle is the fourth-ranked prospect for SC’s Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. Carson has offers from South Carolina, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida and Florida State, among others.
7. Brody Lorenzo, OL, Dutch Fork: The only sophomore to make the list. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder already has Division I offers and will be an anchor for the Silver Foxes.
8. Roper Wentzky, QB, AC Flora: Senior is entering his third year as starting quarterback. Wentzy completed 62.9% of his passes last season for 2,684 yards with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
9. Jayden Boyd, WR, Westwood: Boyd is a speedy playmaker whose numbers should increase during his senior season. The Duke commitment transferred late this summer from Fairfield Central to Westwood. Last season with the Griffins, he had almost 600 yards of total offense and five touchdowns last season and also plays defense.
10. Caleb Geronomi, WR, White Knoll: Senior is committed to Richmond and had 63 catches for 975 yards and four touchdowns last season. On defense, he had 32 tackles and one interception.
11. Tre Howard, QB, Ridge View: Junior is entering his second year as starting quarterback and third year on varsity. Howard completed 65.6% of his passes last year for 2,476 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 298 yards and three touchdowns.
12. Blake Betette, WR, AC Flora: Senior transferred to Flora after playing before at Richland Northeast. Last season, the Dartmouth commitment had 81 catches for 1,158 yards and 10 touchdowns.
13. Caden Muskus, OL, Chapin: Muskus is a four-year starter for the Eagles and is committed to Appalachian State. Last season, he graded out at 80 or better in every game, and was a Class 5A All-State selection.
14. Maleek Miller, RB/WR, Irmo: Junior had a big sophomore season and his role should increase more with the graduation of Donovan Murph. As a sophomore, he caught 55 passes for 914 yards and had 1,758 all-purpose yards with 13 touchdowns.
15. Trevon Williamson, RB, Gray Collegiate: Williamson makes the move to Gray Collegiate after playing at Gilbert last year. He had 1,125 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024.
16. Reed Paolucci, OL, Blythewood: The Blythewood junior is the top lineman for the Bengals and is seeing time and at guard and center this season. He has offers from Duke, East Carolina, Southern Miss, East Tennessee State and Jacksonville State.
17. Carter Coleman, WR, Ridge View: Coleman returns to Ridge View, where he played his first two years, after playing in 2024 at Blythewood. The Richmond commit had 53 catches for 834 yards and 15 total touchdowns last season.
18. Stone Furrey, WR, Dutch Fork: The senior transferred to Dutch Fork after playing last season at Chapin. The son of South Carolina receivers coach Mike Furrey will be a big-play threat in the Silver Foxes offense after catching 55 passes for 708 yards and four TDs.
19. Hunter O’Neal, RB, Keenan: Junior had a big sophomore season and will be counted on even more in 2025. O’Neal had 1,390 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
20. EJ Richardson, ATH, Lugoff-Elgin: The junior had a big sophomore season with 1,512 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns.
21. Hayden Myers, RB, River Bluff: Senior should be the Gators’ workhorse on the ground once again and had 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
22. Patrick Belk, QB, Heathwood Hall: The senior has been a mainstay for the Highlanders at quarterback during his time at the school. Belk missed most of 2023 with an injury but bounced for a big season last year.
23. Tiyon Fanning, RB, White Knoll: Fanning missed time with injuries last season but is expected to have a big role this season for the Timberwolves. He rushed for 640 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
24. Darius Carter WR, River Bluff: Carter made it to River Bluff after playing last season at Ridge View. He had 36 catches for 549 yards and three touchdowns last season and has several Division I offers.
25. Bryson Moore, OL, Irmo: Moore is another big part of the Yellow Jackets’ offensive line and committed to Charleston Southern in the offseason.
Others Midlands players to watch
Jack Armstrong, OL, Gray Collegiate; Josh Berndt, OL, Hammond; Kaleb Berry, WR, Gray Collegiate; Spencer Bobian, RB, Ridge View; Jordan Browning, OL, Brookland-Cayce; Dante Caldwell, RB, Swansea; Kenton Caldwell, QB, Newberry; Jamere Crooks, WR, Newberry; Chanson Evans, OL, Dreher; Hiszari Grant, WR, Gray Collegiate; Kelan Hammond, OL, Lugoff-Elgin; BJ Jones, RB, Newberry; Solomon Kelson, RB, Lower Richland; Jaxon Knotts, QB, Dutch Fork; Brandon Mack, RB, Dreher; Colione Martin, RB, Dutch Fork; Kanye Reed, WR, Hammond; Angelo Rios, RB, Westwood; James Ross, OL, Ridge View; Shamil Saadiq, WR, Lugoff-Elgin; Kevin Sightler, OL, Swansea; Isaiah Small, WR, Richland Northeast; BJ Suits, QB, Northside Christian; Ashton Thompson, OL, AC Flora; Tyler Waller, QB, Gray Collegiate; Amire White, RB, Irmo; Brayden Williams, RB, Saluda
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM.
