All summer long, we at The Post and Courier have been previewing the top high school players at each position in preparation for the start of the 2024 season.
In our final installment, we’ll profile the top defensive backs and specialists in the Lowcountry.
Defensive backs are the last line of defense, but while their job is primarily focused on preventing successful passes, a good defensive back should also be able to provide support against the run game.
Two of the area’s top defensive backs are Oceanside College safety Grayson Freeling and Cross’ Kayden Ramsey.
Freeling, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior, has been a key part of the LandSharks’ defense since he was a freshman. One of Freeling’s strengths is getting up the field to stop the run, and Freeling totaled nearly 100 tackles from the back end last season. But Freeling also excelled against the ball in the air. He didn’t complete a pass in coverage all season.
Ramsey, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior, is one of the state’s top athletes. He has earned all-state honors in football and basketball and competes at a high level in track and field. He led the cross basketball team to the Class A sub-state finals and was named player of the year last season.
Ramsey began receiving scholarship offers from the University of South Florida and Virginia Tech this spring, and while he is a talented wide receiver, many believe he will play safety in college as he continues to get stronger.
Other safeties to watch include juniors Jordan Ravenel and TJ Clary from Goose Creek High School and senior Chase Anderson from Porter-Goad High School. West Ashley High School’s 6-foot-4 safety Lovell Minus is also a player to watch this season.
The area also has some talented cornerbacks, with Summerville’s Ryan White entering his third season as a varsity player for the Green Wave.
Fort Dorchester has two veteran cornerbacks in Jordan Wright and Jaylen White, while Hanahan’s Tyjal Hartwell had 11 interceptions in 2023.
Northwood Academy’s Travis Bethel and Phillip Simmons’ Cam Richardson are also rated as two of the best defensive backs in the area.
Specialist
The top specialist in the area this season is undoubtedly James Island senior placekicker Grady Dangerfield: Built like a fullback, the 6-foot, 220-pound player has some of the best leg strength in the country and is a five-star prospect from two of the nation’s top kicking programs.
Dangerfield started to get a lot of attention last season when he regularly took kickoffs through the end zone in the air — he even cracked the goal post on at least one kickoff — and his field goal acumen has improved significantly, giving James Island coach Jamar McCoy a serious threat to score from 55 yards out.
West Ashley High School senior Jacob Adams is a standout punter and placekicker. Adams made nine field goals last season and is accurate from 45 yards out.
Porter-Gaud’s Quinn Mulholland transferred from James Island to give the Cyclones a big weapon.
Ashley Ridge junior Keith McEuen is one of the area’s top punters, averaging 40 yards per kick last fall, and also serves as placekicker. McEuen’s brother, Will, is a walk-on punter at Clemson.
