Top HS linemen for the Upstate

Ranking the Upstate's top 10 offensive linemen

After the heat wave, the football season will start in earnest.

Official practices for the 2025 SCHSL season will kick off on Aug. 1 and Week Zero games are scheduled for Aug. 22. 

We're ranking the Upstate’s best players, position by position, using statistics, on-field observations, team context, recruiting sites, feedback from coaches and college offers to come up with a list of must-watch players for the upcoming season.

Here are the top offensive linemen:

1. Scottland Dover

Gaffney | 6-foot-5, 305 pounds | Senior

Why chosen: Dover is the anchor of Gaffney’s offensive line, especially now that former teammate Shedrick Sarratt is at South Carolina. Dover is listed by 247Sports Composite as the state’s No. 14 overall player in the Class of 2026. He has committed to Appalachian State.

2. Marques Skinner

Riverside | 6-3, 260 | Junior

Why chosen: Skinner is the brother of Mikkel Skinner, a tight end who was ranked as our No. 1 overall recruit for the Class of 2025 and is now at Kentucky. Marques allowed zero sacks in his sophomore season. Among the college offers, which came early last season, are Wake Forest and Kentucky.

3. Cooper Sanders

Wren | 6-4, 275 | Senior

Why chosen: Sanders had 26 knockdown blocks in 2024 while grading out at 98%. He was a big reason Wren went 8-3, and in Region 1-AAAA games trailed only high-flying Westside in points (256 to 243).

4. Rody Barnett

Christ Church | 6-3, 265 | Senior

Why chosen: Barnett is the Class AAA state champion wrestler in the heavyweight division and knows how to use leverage as a blocker in football as well. He did not allow a sack last season and graded out at 88%.

5. CJ Brooks

Gaffney | 6-4, 320 | Junior

Why chosen: Brooks gives Gaffney a powerful duo up front with Dover. He already has offers from Georgia Southern, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State and Florida A&M.

6. Lamont Brewton

Spartanburg | 6-3, 330 | Senior

Why chosen: Brewton is a monster on the line. He’s been putting his skills on display at invitation-only camps and was named best offensive lineman award at a coaches’ combine in Spartanburg. He’s down from 355 pounds and ran the 40 in 5.54 seconds.

7. Parker McMillen

Westside | 6-0, 280 | Senior

Why chosen: McMillen transferred from Dorman for his final season and will be key in Westside's high-powered offense as the Rams try to make it to three consecutive state title games. He played in the Junior Showcase game in Columbia.

8. Max Barnes

Hillcrest | 6-0, 300 | Junior

Why chosen: Barnes didn’t get a chance to show much as a sophomore after transferring from Mauldin because of a torn ACL and meniscus, as well as a sprained MCL. But he’s cleared to go and ready for a big year.

9. Brayden Everette

Mountain View Prep | 6-3, 250 | Junior

Why chosen: Everette is a transfer from Travelers Rest and will be an important versatile blocking piece at tackle or guard for a second-year program that averaged 42.8 points in its debut season, going 12-1.

BIG COMMITMENT: Christ Church WR Jude Hall commits to Memphis football, becomes top-rated recruit in Tigers' 2026 class

10. MJ Marks

Fountain Inn | 5-11, 265 | Senior

Why chosen: Marks is another player who uses his wrestling abilities, having qualified for the state championships in the heavyweight division. He has been an anchor as an interior lineman, helping Fountain Inn become a winning program in its third season.