Meet the 2023 All-Anderson, Pickens preseason high school football team
South Carolina high school football in the Upstate is right around the corner, and to get you prepared for those Friday night lights, here is the 2023 preseason All-Anderson, Pickens football team − a position-by-position collection of the top players in the area going into the 2023 season.
First Team | Offense
Cutter Woods, Westside
Quarterback | Junior
Woods, who has offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, passed for more than 3,000 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He also rushed for four TDs.
Marquise Henderson, Belton-Honea Path
Running Back | Junior
A three-star recruit with offers from Cincinnati, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt, Henderson racked up 1,681 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns on 140 touches in 2022.
Jakari Bennett, Daniel
Running Back | Senior
Bennett rushed for 655 yards with eight touchdowns on just 54 carries — an average of 12.1 yards per carry. Expect him to have more touches behind a stacked Daniel offensive line.
Jimmar Boston, Westside
Wide Receiver | Senior
Boston, a three-star recruit and the No. 7 player on the 2023 Dandy Dozen list, had 699 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 34 catches last season. Boston has offers from NC State and Virginia Tech.
Joshua Williams, Westside
Wide Receiver | Senior
Williams, a Chattanooga commit, was the leading receiver for Westside last season with 42 catches for 883 yards with 10 touchdowns, and the passing game could be even better with their new offensive-minded coach Brian Lane.
Zack Ramsey, T.L. Hanna
Tight End | Senior
Ramsey is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end — who's more of a second tackle in this offense — with offers from S.C. State, Newberry and Limestone, that punishes opposing defenders as a blocker.
Abijah Webb, Pendleton
Athlete | Junior
Webb is a two-time All-Region 1-AA and All-Anderson, Pickens first-team selection who caught 54 passes, had 1,292 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns in 2022.
864Huddle's Dandy Dozen series: 2023 Dandy Dozen | No. 12 Knai Cook | No. 11 Jayden Wilson-Abrams | No. 10 Avery McFadden | No. 9 Joshua Williams | No. 8 Steven O'Dell | No. 7 Jimmar Boston | No. 6 Watson Young | No. 5 Julius Tate
Chase Gregorek, T.L. Hanna
Offensive Line | Senior
The 6-5, 290-pound left tackle, who has offers from Army West Point, East Tennessee State, Newberry and North Greenville, was key to T.L. Hanna’s 10-2 season in 2022 as their leader on the offensive line.
Jack Harris, Powdersville
Offensive Line | Senior
An All-Region 2-AAA selection, Harris has the athleticism and strength to be a weapon in space for Powdersville's run game.
Cooper Sanders, Wren
Offensive Line | Sophomore
At 6-4 and 230 pounds, expect the young lineman to be a big reason for Wren's improvement this season after winning only three games in 2022.
Jonathan Welsh, Easley
Offensive Line | Senior
Welsh's size — 6-3, 250 pounds — quick feet, and technique in pass protection are what make him one of the best bookend tackles in the area.
Watson Young, Daniel
Offensive Lineman | Senior
At 6-3, 280 pounds, the Appalachian State commit is one of the best linemen in the area and the No. 6 player on 864Huddle's 2023 Dandy Dozen.
First-Team | Defense
Exzavier Burns, Belton-Honea Path
Defensive Lineman | Junior
The 6-foot-2, 330-pound nose guard had 27 tackles, one for a loss, and two sacks in 2022. Expect Burns to take the next step this season.
Jake Duncan, Crescent
Defensive Lineman | Junior
The 6-3, 285-pound two-way lineman had 39 tackles, eight for a loss, and two sacks last season.
Jaedyn Young, Daniel
Defensive Lineman | Senior
Young's production last season was the best in the area — 6.5 sacks, 54 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Expect more of the same in 2023.
Carson Gregory, Pendleton
Linebacker | Junior
With good speed and toughness, Gregory was a menace last season, making 106 tackles including eight sacks.
Omari Jackson, Belton-Honea Path
Linebacker | Junior
Jackson had two interceptions, 71 tackles and two sacks last season as a linebacker-safety hybrid.
Harrison Jefferies, Powdersville
Linebacker | Senior
Jeffries (6-1, 205) has been highly productive, making 176 tackles in the past two seasons. Last year, as the heart of a Powdersville team decimated by injuries, he had five sacks, three forced fumbles, a blocked punt and scored one touchdown.
Anderson, Pickens Players to Watch: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers, Tight Ends | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen | Linebackers | Defensive Backs
Talan Scott, Easley
Linebacker | Senior
Scott (6-1, 220) had 15 tackles for loss with five sacks and an interception last season along with two forced fumbles.
Zeke Marshall, Westside
Defensive Back | Senior
A 6-6 safety who's also one of Westside's best basketball players, is a rangy and athletic safety who can make plays all over the field and make QBs second-guess throws in his direction.
Tyler Morgan, Wren
Defensive Back | Junior
Morgan, the younger brother of Wofford linebackers Nick and Harrison Morgan, had three interceptions, 87 tackles and seven pass deflections last season.
Cam Strong, T.L. Hanna
Defensive Back | Junior
At 6-1, 170 pounds, with offers from Duke, Charlotte and Georgia State and the play on the field to back it up, Strong is the best DB in the area.
Isaac Turner, Daniel
Defensive Back | Senior
A versatile DB who played safety and cornerback last season, Turner had eight tackles for loss, 46 total tackles, and three interceptions last season.
Second Team | Offense
QB Eli Hudgins, Powdersville, Sr.
RB Vashun Burton, T.L. Hanna, Sr.
RB Jayden Pepper, Powdersville, Sr.
WR LJ Maddox, Pendleton, Sr.
WR William Patton, Easley, Sr.
TE Kyler Turner, Easley, Jr.
ATH Jaylon Boles, T.L. Hanna, Sr.
OL Lonnie Blassingame, Wren, Sr.
OL Keylan Dixon, Belton-Honea Path So.
OL Nick Hatten, Westside, Sr.
OL Rocky Herd, Daniel, Jr.
OL Eden Negrete, Easley, Sr.
Second Team | Defense
DL Krajus Mansel, Palmetto, Jr.
DL Kade Maxey, Pickens, Jr.
DL Ahmad Powell, Crescent, Sr.
DL Jaylen Putnam, Palmetto, Jr.
LB Spencer Conn, Daniel, Jr.
LB Landen Lecroy, Crescent, Sr.
LB Ty Plumblee, Daniel, Sr.
DB Brett Batson, Pickens, Sr.
DB Teghan Cole, T.L. Hanna, Sr.
DB Jaylan Henry, Easley, Sr.
DB Landon Santana, Easley, Sr.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC high school football: 2023 All-Anderson, Pickens preseason team
