South Carolina alum leads high school program to national ranking
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated released their weekly national high school football rankings, and a team led by a former South Carolina quarterback cracked the top-25 list.
SI ranked the Baylor School Red Raiders (Chattanooga, Tennessee), coached by former Gamecock Erik Kimrey, No. 21 in the country. Previously unranked, Baylor moved into the poll after a resounding win over the rival McCallie School.
Kimrey’s undefeated Red Raiders have knocked off three top-12 Volunteer State teams (McCallie, Brentwood Academy, and Lipscombe Academy). The total scoring in those games favored Baylor 88-25. They also defeated Columbia-area school Gray Collegiate by a lopsided 42-7 margin and bested top-10 Georgia team Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 21-14.
As a result, Baylor is one of the top contenders for a state title in Tennessee, and with continued success this fall, the Red Raiders could move even higher in the national rankings.
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The team’s strong start to 2024 is Kimrey’s third chapter of excellence in Baylor red.
Baylor won a Tennessee Division II-AAA State Championship in Kimrey’s first year at the helm in 2022. Then, in year two, the Red Raiders were the state runners-up.
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The current iteration of Baylor football is loaded with talent, too. Six players in the class of 2025 are ranked inside the top-52 in the state according to On3. Georgia Tech offensive line commitment Jimmy Bryson has become a flip target for South Carolina. 2026 4-star lineman Gabriel Osenda also is heavily on the Gamecocks’ radar.
Kimrey’s success at Baylor doesn’t surprise anyone who has paid attention to his career. Before a one-year stint as an assistant at his alma mater that preceded his current role at Baylor, Kimrey coached Columbia’s Hammond School to 12 titles in the Palmetto State. In 17 seasons, he totaled just 20 losses and was the youngest coach in state history to win 100 games.
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For most of his South Carolina football playing career, Kimrey was a reserve behind players like Anthony Wright, Phil Petty, and Corey Jenkins. However, as most Gamecocks remember, No. 13 made one play in garnet and black that will live forever. Throwing “The Fade” to Jermale Kelley in relief of an injured Petty made him a legend in Columbia as the 4th-and-10 4th quarter toss proved to be the deciding score over the ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2000.
Kimrey and Baylor have another tough test up next. Following a well-deserved Bye, the Red Raiders will take on the St. Pius X Golden Lions. Another win would push their record to 8-0 ahead of a 2022 state championship rematch against the Montgomery Bell Big Red.
