[caption id="attachment_18142" align="alignleft" width="211"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sports-Nyles_Pinckney.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18142" alt="Whale Branch defensive lineman Nyles Pinckney ranks as one of the nation’s top high school football players. Photo courtesy of Gamecock Showcase." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sports-Nyles_Pinckney-211x300.jpg" width="211" height="300" /></a> Whale Branch defensive lineman Nyles Pinckney ranks as one of the nation’s top high school football players. Photo courtesy of Gamecock Showcase.[/caption]

Beaufort is home to one of the nation’s top high school defensive linemen. Whale Branch Early College High School defensive lineman Nyles Pinckney is ranked 95th on the Rivals 100 for the Class of 2016. The Class of 2016 rankings were released by the recruiting website last week.

Pinckney, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle, currently holds scholarship offers from Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina and South Carolina. During his sophomore season at Whale Branch, Pinckney registered 26 tackles for losses, including four sacks. Pinckney also recorded three fumble recoveries, two blocked punts, one interception and two defensive touchdowns for Whale Branch during his sophomore season in 2013.

Both Rivals and 247Sports ranks Pinckney as a four-star prospect. Clemson was the first school to offer Pinckney a scholarship when he was in attendance at the Tigers’ spring game on April 13. Pinckney visited South Carolina for practices twice during the spring, but was unable to attend the Gamecocks’ spring game.

The Whale Branch football team will kick off the 2014 season later in the month.