With the South Carolina high school football season nearing its Aug. 23 kickoff of Week Zero, here's a look at rankings for the Upstate's best linebackers in the SCHSL. The list includes a pair from J.L. Mann and a pair from Spartanburg as both teams make their playoff pushes in Class AAAAA.
Best SC high school football LBs in Upstate for 2024
7. Cayden Workman
J.L. Mann
Vitals: 5-9, 180, Jr.
College offers: None
Workman is one of the best junior linebackers in the state. He is a transfer from Eastside and a key addition for Mann, which made the Class AAAAA Upper State championship game in its first state semifinals appearance since 1984. Workman had 102 tackles, 13 for loss, with eight quarterback pressures and two sacks.
6. Jaxx Wilson
Westside
Vitals: 6-1, 190, Jr.
College offers: None
Wilson was another sophomore standout last season and is the top returning tackler for Class AAAA champion Westside (14-1). The middle linebacker made 116 tackles (27 unassisted) with six for loss. Westside graduated two outside linebackers who were the top tacklers on the team.
UPSTATE'S BEST DEFENSIVE BACKS: Greenville subscribers | Spartanburg | Anderson
5. Tye Kelly
Belton-Honea Path
Vitals: 6-2, 175, Sr.
College offers: None
Kelly led Belton-Honea Path in total tackles (76), unassisted tackles (48) and tackles for loss (12). He can also play defensive back. The Bears (13-1) made it to the Class AAA Upper State final were the only team to hold state champion Daniel to fewer than 30 points all season. Only two teams held the Lions (15-0) under 40.
4. Andrew Ruppe
Gaffney
Vitals: 6-1, 220, Sr.
College offers: Newberry, Wingate
Ruppe might be the best drop-back coverage linebacker in the state. He had 11 interceptions last season, behind only Chester cornerback Reggie Heath, who is now at Newberry. No other linebacker had more than five picks. Ruppe also made 24 solo tackles and forced two fumbles.
UPSTATE'S TOP WIDE RECEIVERS: Greenville subscribers | Spartanburg | Anderson
3. Peyton Jones
Spartanburg
Vitals: 5-10, 205, Sr.
College offer: Tennessee State
Jones was the leading tackler for the best defense in the power-packed Region 2-AAAAA. Spartanburg was 6-6 overall, 1-3 in league play, but allowed only 13.7 points per game. Jones led the way with 83 tackles, 65 solo stops and 13.5 tackles for loss.
UPSTATE'S TOP RUNNING BACKS: Greenville subscribers | Spartanburg | Anderson
2. Wyatt Ward
J.L. Mann
Vitals: 6-2, 220, Sr.
College offer: Erskine
Ward was the Upstate’s leading tackler for all classifications and ranked ninth in the state, according to MaxPreps, with 155. He had 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, six quarterback pressures and also intercepted three passes. J.L. Mann (11-3) is expected to make another strong run at the state title and its defense seems better than last season.
1. Cam’Rich Smith
Spartanburg
Vitals: 5-9, 200, Sr.
College offer: North Carolina Central
Smith had 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks last year. He also caused two fumbles and scooped up another. Smith, who also played defensive back, started the season with a 20-tackle game against Rock Hill and had 13 solo stops. He finished the season with 79 tackles, 52 unassisted. He was Region 2-AAAAA defensive player of the year.
UPSTATE'S TOP QUARTERBACKS: Greenville subscribers | Spartanburg | Anderson
Todd Shanesy is an award-winning senior writer who now covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com . Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ .
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Ranking Upstate's best linebackers in 2024 South Carolina high school football season
Most Popular
Comments / 0