Tylin Drakeford is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound Class of 2026 defensive back and wide receiver of Camden High School in Camden, S.C. who has tendered offers from Akron, Charlotte, and Georgia Southern.
The phenom junior starred under "Midlands Friday Night Lights" for the state powerhouse Bulldogs in 2024, turning a standout performance for the program who finished 9-4 competing against top competition in the South Carolina High School Leauge's 4A division this fall.
Drakeford was voted the "Midlands Offensive Player of the Year" by Palmetto State football fans this fall, and for several good reasons. He garnered the honors from The State Newspaper, a publication based in Columbia, SC.
Drakeford also raked in several other top honors. All-Region, All-Area, and All-State were among those accomplishments. Drakeford also earned an invite to the Carolina Blitz Junior Showcase Bowl, which slated for Sat., Jan 12 in Columbia.
He dominated on both sides of the football, recording 950 yards on 57 receptions at the wide receiver position. Drakeford averaged 16.6 yards per catch, hauling in 11 touchdowns.
He totaled a whopping 62 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass break ups on the defense. Drakeford was a rangy, mobile, and physical pass-defender in the Bulldogs’ secondary in 2024. The all-around athlete provided a strong presence on the Camden defense.
Drakeford earned two eye-raising offers from the FBS programs before the start of his junior year, but another big-ticket performance this season has helped him further raise his stock as his young, exciting recruiting profile continues to grow.
Drakeford was tendered an offer from high-profile Sun Belt program Georgia Southern in September, and is beginning to draw interest from big-name Power Four programs like Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest, along with perennial Group of Five programs James Madison and Liberty.
Drakeford’s ‘buzz’ continues to increase as he prepares to enter his senior season with the Bulldogs in 2025. During the off-season, he plans to play 7-on-7, compete at camps, and visit college campuses to network with coaching staffs from across the area.
Drakeford plays alongside big-name state athlete Jojo Crim, a solid, underrated senior Class of 2025 cornerback who is committed to Virginia Tech to play the cornerback position.
And he gives an eerily similar feeling to Crim not only as a defensive back, but as an athlete who makes pre-snap recognitions, demonstrates high football knowledge, and generates a shifty, physical, high-flying, consistent presence in the secondary. Among other traits that resemble Crim include his presence as a two-way player who can dominate on the offense, especially at the wide receiver position.
Drakeford, shows off several elite, Division One traits at the position, and there are several reasons to believe he could land many more offers this offseason and find a Group of Five or Power Four home in the future.
