As big as Clemson and South Carolina football may be in the state, high school football reigns supreme in South Carolina.
The top college programs have made it a priority for decades to recruit the state to build their rosters and contend for championships. While other states have risen slightly above South Carolina on the recruiting front, it’s still regarded as one of the best for landing elite talent.
In this cycle alone, there are multiple players ranked as top-200 prospects nationally.
Here’s a look at the top 10 players from the Palmetto State in the 2027 class.
1. Jaiden Bryant, Irmo (Columbia)
Position: EDGE
Height: 6-3.5
Weight: 245
Commitment: LSU
Football recruiting notes: Bryant is regarded as one of the best defensive line prospects in the 2027 class and for good reason. He totaled 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two sacks in 2025.
2. David Segarra, Byrnes (Duncan)
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 205
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Segarra was one of the state’s best running backs in 2025, rushing for 1,460 yards and 17 touchdowns on 174 carries. He has official visits scheduled to Indiana (May 15), Tennessee (June 12) and South Carolina (June 19).
3. Seth Tillman, South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 294
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Tillman was a force up front last season for the 14-1 Stallions. He finished his junior season with 61 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
4. Nate Carson, Irmo (Columbia)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-4
Weight: 270
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Carson is the anchor of an Irmo offensive line that helped the Yellow Jackets average 364 yards and 37.3 points per game. He’s scheduled to take official visits to Clemson (May 29), Tennessee (June 5) and South Carolina (June 19).
5. Chanin Harris, Byrnes (Duncan)
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: While the Rebels were run-heavy last season, Harris carved out a significant role for himself in the passing game. He finished the year with 44 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns.
6. Amare Patterson, Bluffton (Ridgeland)
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-0.5
Weight: 189
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Patterson was one of two receivers for the Bobcats who finished the 2025 season with more than 900 receiving yards. He caught 51 passes for 912 yards and 10 touchdowns.
7. Jaiden Kelly-Murray, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant)
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Commitment: South Carolina
Football recruiting notes: Transferring in from Summerville, Kelly-Murray joins a Landsharks offense that had two receivers surpass 1,000 yards last season. He should prove to be a valuable pick-up after catching 64 passes for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns his junior season.
8. Trey Wimbley, D.W. Daniel (Central)
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Commitment: Clemson
Football recruiting notes: The Lions had a pass-friendly offense in 2025 with Wimbley, a future Clemson Tiger, at the heart of it. He finished the season with a team-high 57 receptions for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns.
9. Aiden Gibson, Woodruff
Position: Running Back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 203
Commitment: Penn State
Football recruiting notes: Averaging 146.5 yards per game, Woodruff played a major role in leading the Wolverines to 11 wins. He finished the year with 1,611 yards and 21 touchdowns on 2055 carries.
10. Jaden Wuerth, Dutch Fork (Irmo)
Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6-2
Weight: 260
Commitment: Clemson
Football recruiting notes: Wuerth will be relied upon heavily in 2025 to lead the Silver Foxes defense after a great junior season. In 2025, he recorded 62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, and three forced fumbles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina’s top 2027 HS football recruiting rankings list revealed