Vote: Who should be SBLive South Carolina’s top returning defensive football player from the Class of 2025?

Here are 12 nominees for your voting consideration

There are a ton of great football players from the Class of 2025 returning for their senior football seasons in South Carolina next fall. Who is the best?

We seek your help in determining this and ask you to vote in our poll: Who is the top returning defensive football player in South Carolina from the Class of 2025? Here are 12 players for your consideration.

Start voting. Voting will conclude on Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m.

SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL TOP RETURNING DEFENSIVE PLAYER FROM THE CLASS OF 2025

Onis Konanbanny, DB, Heathwood Hall

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound safety is one of the state’s top prospects, with 22 college offers. Konanbanny recently announced his top of Tennessee, Florida State, Penn State, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Southern California, Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State and LSU.

Andrew Ruppe, LB, Gaffney

Ruppe had a spectacular junior season. The 6-foor-1, 220-pounder hauled in 11 interceptions and made 100 tackles for the Indians, who finished with a 9-4 record.

Jaquavious Dodd, Edge, Eastside

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound end had a major impact with 13 sacks, 12 hurries, 82 tackles and 3 forced fumbles.

Andon Hawkins, LB, Midland Valley

Hawkins was a real ball hawk with a whopping 187 tackles – including 18 for loss. The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder also had an interception, four pass breakups, 13 hurries and a forced fumble.

Zeke Marshall, S, Westside

Marshall is tall for a safety- 6-foot-6. He can catch the ball, too, as evidenced by nine interceptions as a junior. Marshall, who has an offer from West Virginia, made 85 tackles.

Aakil Brown, LB, South Pointe

Brown recorded 12 sacks, 15 hurries and 42 tackles,

Tremaine Davis Jr., CB, Daniel

Davis had 8 interceptions and 58 tackles while helping lead the undefeated Lions to the 3-A state championship.

Hank Aeppli, LB, Lucy Beckham

Aeppli had a superb all-around season for the Bengals with 12 sacks, 15 hurries, 71 tackles (including 20 for loss), 3 caused fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Jordan Joe, S, North Central

The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder had 7 interceptions, returning them for 139 yards. Joe was also in on 51 tackles for the Knights.

Gavin Stam, Chapin

The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder led his team with 111 tackles, including 21 for loss. Stam also had 4 sacks, 7 hurries, and a fumble recovery.

Gabe Roper, Northwood Academy

Roper had a big junior season with 10 sacks and 99 tackles, including 22 for loss.

Ramani Bruton, DB, Greenville

The 6-foot, 170-pounder snagged 5 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, to along with 3 pass breakups and 27 tackles.


Published
Mike Duprez
MIKE DUPREZ

Mike Duprez became a freelance sports journalist for Scorebooklive.com several months after retiring from the newspaper business. A native of Oakland, California, Duprez moved around as a child due to his father’s service in the United States Marine Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. Duprez, who lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had 30 years of experience in newspapers as well as other endeavors before retiring at the end of 2021. He covers stories in both North Carolina and South Carolina for Scorebooklive.com.