A look at the ranking of the top-10 receivers or tight ends in the Columbia area as determined by The State newspaper staff for the 2024 season.
1. Jordon Gidron, Ridge View: Junior caught 45 passes for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games this season and won the 100- and 200-yard dash in the Class 4A championships. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina for the Class of 2026 and seventh-best receiver in the country. Gidron has narrowed his recruiting down to final 12 schools.
2. Donovan Murph, Irmo: Junior was first-team all-state, caught 57 passes for 1,087 yards and school-record 17 touchdown passes. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 3 prospect in the state for the Class of 2026 and 19th-best receiver in the country.
3. Mike Tyler, Hammond: Listed as a tight end but plays more like a receiver. Senior caught 33 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, including the game-winning 32-yard grab in the SCISA 4A championship. 247Sports Composite ranks him a three-star prospect and 32nd-best tight end prospect in the country. He has narrowed down his recruiting to Duke, LSU and West Virginia.
4. Jamel Howse, Newberry: Another tight end part of the talented junior class in state. Junior caught 36 passes for 789 yards and nine touchdowns. Has multiple Power 4 offers.
5. Kendall Byrd, A.C. Flora: Junior was first-team all-state and caught a career-high 66 passes for 1,069 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023.
6. Ty Grier, Fairfield Central: Grier catches passes and also lines up some in the backfield for the Griffins. The junior had 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
7. Stephen Collier, River Bluff: Plays tight end and receiver for the Gators and sees action on defense. Senior caught 46 passes for 626 yards and nine touchdowns. Committed to East Carolina.
8. Krew Morris, Gilbert: Senior led Indians last year with 53 catches for 822 yards and eight touchdowns.
9. Amarii King, Brookland-Cayce: Played last season at Cardinal Newman and caught 32 passes for 555 yards and six touchdowns.
10. Carter Coleman, Blythewood: Junior played last year at Ridge View and caught 59 passes for 689 yards and five touchdowns.
Others to watch: Connor Gooding, Gilbert; Hayden Morris, Ridge View; Boykin Bickley, Dutch Fork; Blake Betette, Richland Northeast; Zion Job, Gray Collegiate; Noah Lucas, Lower Richland; Shamil Saadiq, Lugoff-Elgin; Tyheim McNeil, Keenan; Joshua Davis, AC Flora; Khalen Bostic, Chapin; Avery Jones, Airport
Media_Day023.JPGDonovan Murph of Irmo High School is pictured on Friday, July 12, 2024.
August 7, 2024
State, The: Web Edition Articles (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak, The State
Section: high_school