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<strong>FEBRUARY</strong>, 2016<br />
In This Issue<br />
Grading the 2016<br />
Signing Class<br />
A glimpse at 207 and<br />
2018 Top Players<br />
Coach Openings:<br />
Where are the best<br />
jobs?
BREAKING DOWN THE 2016 SIGNING CLASS<br />
2<br />
The Class of 2016 Signing Class turned out to be as strong of a class as<br />
we’ve had in years in the Palmetto State. Dozens of players signed with<br />
Division I programs, including more than twenty that signed with Power 5<br />
conferences. In all we saw more than 150 players ink the dotted line to<br />
continue their football careers and education at the next level. Here is the<br />
report card on how did this year.<br />
OVER ALL GRADE - C-<br />
I know we look at the overall number and they are very good but when<br />
we breakdown the BCS level offers, we are only looking at about 20 that<br />
signed. In 2015, the Palmetto state saw 25 and in 2014 we saw 32 sign.<br />
POSITION OF STRENGTH - DEFENSIVE BACKS<br />
There is little doubt that the trash-talking princes of the defense were the<br />
strongest position in the state. With seven Division I-A signees with Troy<br />
Pride (Greer) to Notre Dame, Nick McCloud (South Pointe) to NC State,<br />
James Valdez (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) to NC State, KJ Chamberlain<br />
(Emerald) to App State, Cameron Jones (Spring Valley) to Army, Jeston<br />
Morrow and Jeremiah Maddox (Hilton Head) to Marshall, along with several<br />
FCS defensive back signees, this was clearly the top position in the<br />
state.<br />
WHO WON THE STATE?<br />
This is always a debate; how do you really measure this? Well, If we go<br />
by star ratings, which really don’t mean much until we see if the players<br />
develop, it would appear Clemson gets the nod. The state only had six<br />
four-star players and Clemson signed three of them, while South Carolina<br />
got one, Notre Dame got one, and one remains unsigned. South Carolina<br />
signed six overall in-state players on scholarship while Clemson got four.<br />
I think as for the FCS guys, they all did equally well with Charleston<br />
Southern getting an edge on what I’d consider quality talent. But The<br />
Citadel got the biggest steal, nabbing Chapin quarterback Logan Bailey<br />
who could be a big time impact player in the Bulldogs offensive attack as<br />
one of the state’s best athletes in this signing class.<br />
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The 2016 Signing Class<br />
Quinton Anderson, Sumter (Limestone)-RB<br />
Avery Armstrong, Dreher (Furman)-QB<br />
Drayton Arnold, Myrtle Beach (Old Dominion)-QB<br />
R.J. Bacon, Spring Valley (Presbyterian)-K<br />
Logan Bailey, Chapin (The Citadel)-QB<br />
Quinn Baldwin, Westside (Hutchinson CC)-DB<br />
JB Ballenger, Hillcrest (Limestone)-LB<br />
Quinton Ballenger, Hillcrest (Limestone)-RB<br />
Jamariquoui Barr, CE Murray (Coffeyville CC)-DL<br />
Phillip Barrett, Irmo (The Citadel)-DB<br />
John Baty, Hilton Head (Army)-DB<br />
Josh Bell, Fairfield-Central (Charleston Southern)-DB<br />
Timel Benton, Blythewood (Gallaudet University)-ATH<br />
Justin Berry, West Ashley (Indiana)-QB<br />
Donaven Blackmon, Clinton (Newberry)-DB<br />
Matt Blair, T.L. Hanna (Western Carolina)-OL<br />
Tank Boni, Thomas Heyward (Newberry)-OL<br />
Torrey Boone, Westwood (Highland CC, Kansas) - OL<br />
Ivy Brice, Gray Collegiate (Arkansas Pine Bluff)-OL<br />
Brandon Brown, Ashley Ridge (Presbyterian)-LB<br />
Henry Brown, Spring Valley (Emory & Henry)-DL<br />
TJ Brunson, RNE (South Carolina)-LB<br />
Caleb Bynum, Spartanburg Christian (North Greenville)-TE<br />
Rashad Byrd, North Augusta (Georgia Southern)-LB<br />
Tykeem Canty, CE Murray (Benedict)WR<br />
Cullen Carlen, Hammond (Berry College)-OL<br />
Slade Carrol, Lexington (Charleston Southern)-RB<br />
Lucas Catalfomo, T.L. Hanna (Presbyterian)-WR<br />
KJ Chamberlain, Emerald (App State)-DB<br />
Deondre Champaigne, Fort Dorchester (South Carolina)-WR<br />
Trae Churn, Blythewood (SC State)-WR/TE<br />
Larry Collins, Lower Richland (Coastal Carolina)-WR<br />
Thomas Cook, Byrnes (Limestone)-K<br />
Zay C0wen, T.L. Hanna (Limestone)-WR<br />
D.J. Crosby, James F. Byrnes (Wingate)-LB<br />
Marion Cusano, Greer (Presbyterian)-QB<br />
Chavis Dawkins, James F. Byrnes (South Carolina)-WR<br />
Samuel Denmark, Hanahan (Va Tech)-WR<br />
Anthony Dennis, Hillcrest (Brevard)-DL<br />
Tori Delesline, Hillcrest (Georgia Southern)-LB<br />
Nike Diggs, Seneca (Highland CC)-DL<br />
Dubie Dubose, Abbeville (Newberry)-LB
The Citadel got a steal with QB Logan Bailey of Chapin<br />
Steven Duncan, Ashley Ridge (Western Kentucky)-QB<br />
Chad Earl, Seneca (Highland CC)-DB<br />
Johnathan Earl, Airport (Charleston Southern)-LB<br />
Armni Eden, Lexington (Trinity IL)-OL<br />
Bryan Edwards, Conway (South Carolina)-WR<br />
Zack Epting, Christ Church (Charleston Southern)-OL<br />
Nickolaus Evans, Irmo (Coffeyville JC)-OL<br />
Tavien Feaster, Spartanburg (Clemson)-RB<br />
Phillip Fleming, Lower Richland (Howard)-OL<br />
Jaylan Foster, James F. Byrnes (Gardner Webb)-DB<br />
Ty'Juan Fulton, Spring Valley (Georgia Military)-RB<br />
Jay Fuller, Clinton (The Citadel)-DB<br />
Kahl Gagum, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (North Greenville)-DL<br />
Dre Gaines, Westside (Pikeville)-LB<br />
Braxton Gambrell, Seneca (Johnson C. Smith)-RB<br />
Malcolm Garrett, Cross (SC State)-OL<br />
Brandon Gibson, Seneca (Pikeville)-DE<br />
Austin Gordon, Indian Land (Newberry)-FB<br />
Malik Grate, Pendleton (Wake Forest)-WR<br />
Nick Graves, Lexington (Charleston Southern)-DB<br />
Malik Green, Scott's Branch (Limestone)-DB<br />
Brendan Greene, AC Flora (Hampton)-QB<br />
Malik Griffin, Westwood (Guilford College)-ATH<br />
John Guthrie, James F. Byrnes (Air Force)-OL<br />
Buss Hamilton, James Island (SC State)-RB<br />
Norman Hand, Colleton County (Tennessee Tech)-DE<br />
Bailey Hart, Wando (South Carolina-Preferred Walk On)-QB<br />
Justin Haynes, Spring Valley (Independence JC Kansas)-DB<br />
Cortez Herrin, Saluda (East Carolina)-OL<br />
Brandon Hill, Heathwood Hall (Duke)-LB<br />
Collin Hill, Dorman (Colorado State)-QB<br />
Connor Holdon, Southside Christian (Presbyterian)-ATH<br />
Melquan House, Scott's Branch (Limestone)-DL<br />
Brandon Howard, Westwood (Johnson C. Smith)-K/P<br />
Prince Howard, Spring Valley (The Citadel)-OL<br />
David Isreal, Blythewood (Butler CC)-QB<br />
Tarren Jackson, Silver Bluff (Coastal Carolina)-DE<br />
Ronnie Jamison, Irmo (Highland CC Kansas)-RB<br />
Tavonta Jenkins, Blue Ridge (Limestone)-RB<br />
Azende Jenkins, Seneca (The Lincoln University)-OL<br />
Tyler Jenkins, Byrnes (Limestone)-OL<br />
Blake Jeresaty, Bishop England (Wofford)-OL<br />
Roscoe Johnson, Union County (North Carolina)-WR<br />
Davon Johnson, River Bluff (Highland CC)-DB<br />
Cameron Jones, Spring Valley (Army)-DB<br />
Lane Jones, West Oak (SC State)-LB<br />
Ethan Kannenberg, Mauldin (Palmetto Prep)-OL<br />
Xavier Kelly, Blythewood (Wingate)-OL<br />
Javon Kinlaw, Goose Creek (South Carolina)-DE<br />
Christian Kinsley, Lexington (Kennesaw State)-K<br />
Rodney Landrum, Dorman (North Greenville)-DB<br />
Ryan Lee, Spring Valley (Coastal Carolina)-QB<br />
Hayden Lindemann, Blythewood (Tusculum)-DL<br />
Dorien Lindsey, Greer (Wofford)-WR<br />
Antonio Lomax, Westside (Georgia Military)-TE<br />
Jeremiah Maddox, Hilton Head (Marshall)-DB<br />
Sulaiman Malik, CA Johnson (Limestone)-WR<br />
Jah-Maine Martin, Conway (Coastal Carolina)-RB<br />
Jeremiah Martin, Seneca (Pikeville)-OL<br />
3<br />
Matthew Martin, Westside (Charleston Southern)-WR<br />
Quinton Martin, Hillcrest (Florida Tech)-DB<br />
Avary McCall, Dillon (Coastal Carolina)-QB<br />
Keon McCallum, Chesnee (Campbell University)<br />
Christopher McCarthy, Westwood (Limestone) - OL<br />
Nick McCloud, South Pointe (NC State)-DB<br />
Scott McClunney, Gaffney (Old Dominion)-WR<br />
Phillip McDowell, Boiling Springs (Carson Newman)-OL<br />
Patrick McNeil, Brookland-Cayce (SC State)-OL<br />
Ray Miller, James F. Byrnes (Campbell)-LB<br />
Charlie Miranda, Sumter (Gardner Webb)-ATH<br />
Tyquilo Moore, White Knoll (Butler CC)-DL<br />
Jestin Morrow, Hilton Head (Marshall)-DB<br />
Noah Moseley, Airport (Kentucky Christian)-OL<br />
Trey Murray, Colleton County (Catawba)-DB<br />
Daquan Nikes, RNE (Johnson C Smith)-OL<br />
Isaiah Odom, CE Murray (Limestone)-RB<br />
Kevin Owens, Spring Valley (Pikeville)-CB<br />
Devyn Padgett, Batesburg-Leesville (Palmetto Prep)-DL<br />
Jalen Page, Wilson (SC State)-OL<br />
Jack Palowski, Wilson (Elon)-K<br />
Jashaad Perry, Newbery (Limestone)-OL<br />
Chris Pham, Blythewood (Presbyterian)-DB<br />
Nyles Pinckney, Whale Branch (Clemson)-DL<br />
Troy Pride, Greer (Notre Dame)-DB<br />
Armonte Prioleau, Timberland (Limestone)-DB<br />
Brantley Queen, Westside (Cumberland)-WR<br />
Austin Randolph, Fort Mill (Newberry)DL<br />
Johnny Ray, Wando (Charlotte)-DE<br />
Mark Rew, Ben Lippen (Ga Tech - Preferred Walk On)-WR<br />
Wesley Robinson, Dorman (Limestone)-DB<br />
Bailey Rogers, Wren (Furman)-WR<br />
Jared Russ, Blythewood (Guilford)-DE<br />
Justin Salters, River Bluff (North Greenville)-K<br />
Tyler Schadewald, Lexington (SC State)-WR<br />
Garris Schwarting, Bamberg-Erhardt (Charleston Southern)-WR<br />
Austin Scott, Spartanburg (Eastern Kentucky)-QB<br />
Emanuel John Scott, Westwood (North Greenville) - OL<br />
Nick Salley, Colleton County (Charleston Southern)-LB<br />
Xavier Simmons, Hillcrest (Palmetto Prep)-DB<br />
Ralph Singleton, Lakewood (Presbyterian)-OL<br />
Trey Smalls, Hanahan (NC A&T)-LB<br />
Bowen Smith, South Aiken (Pikeville)-QB<br />
Chris Smith, South Pointe (South Carolina)-WR<br />
Alec Spooner, Airport (Fla Tech)-DL<br />
Brian Spurgeon, HIllcrest (Florida Tech)-WR<br />
Cade Stewart, D.W. Daniel (Clemson-Gray Shirt)-OL<br />
Quay Strong, Chester (Newberry)-ATH<br />
Joe Sweat, First Baptist (Wingate)<br />
Albert Thompson, Chester (Newberry)-DE<br />
Brandon Tillman, River Bluff (Liberty)-LB<br />
Daquan Tindel, Lakewood (Coffeyvile CC)-LB<br />
Hank Tuipulotu, Nation Ford (Brigham Young)-TE<br />
Cody Turner, Blythewood (Coastal Carolina)-K<br />
Elijah Turner, Seneca (Presbyterian)-QB<br />
Quintavious Turner, Mauldin (Palmetto Prep)OL<br />
James Valdez, Orangeburg-Wilkinson (NC State)-DB<br />
Eric Von Hollen, Dreher (Maryville-Tenn)-TE<br />
Emanuel Walker, Lake Marion (Wake Forest)-DE<br />
Clarence Watson, AC Flora (Garden City CC)-RB/LB<br />
Chris Webb, Seneca (Catawba)-DB<br />
Eric Weber, Blythewood (East Carolina)-TE<br />
Yafari Wertz, Newberry (Georgia Southern)-QB<br />
Braxton Westfield, Christ Church (James Madison)-WR<br />
Josh Wilkes, South Pointe (Eastern Michigan)-WR<br />
Darius Williams, Ashley Ridge (Newberry)-WR<br />
Lawrence Williams, Kingstree (Limestone)-DL<br />
Datavious Wilson, Hartsville (Wofford)-LB<br />
Terrance Wilson, Batesburg-Leesville (Charleston Southern)-RB<br />
Drew Wilson, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Georgia Southern)-OL<br />
Quin Wright, Westside (Limestone)-RB<br />
Micah Young, James F. Byrnes (Carson Newman)-QB<br />
*If there are names missing from list, please email scvarsity@sc.rr.com
Class of 2017 and 2018 Preview<br />
Class of 2017 Preview<br />
Class of 2018 Preview<br />
The Class of 2017 looks to be stronger than this year’s recruiting cycle,<br />
with more than twenty players already with BCS level offers on the<br />
table. The big question is, who is going to be the top target for the<br />
state. While you can see the list in ranking order on SCVARSI-<br />
TY.COM, I will share with you the players who are going to be battling<br />
for that spot.<br />
Since his sophomore season at Wando High School, wide receiver<br />
Ortre Smith (6-3, 205) has been the talk of the Class. He currently<br />
holds more than a dozen offers. Bamberg-Ehrhart safety Savalas Cann<br />
(6-1, 185) is a player that many media outlets have touted as a top two<br />
or three player. Northwestern defensive end Logan Rudolph (6-4, 230)<br />
is a game-planner type of player who can wreck an offensive game<br />
plan. Like Smith, he has more than a dozen offers.<br />
Here’s a look at the SCV Top 10 Players for 2017 in Alphabetical order:<br />
Last Name First Name Pos Hgt Wgt School<br />
Bent Cameron Ath 6'0 170 Bluffton<br />
Cann Savalas WR 6'0 175 Bamberg-Ehrhardt<br />
Dunbar Jamari RB 5'9 170 Bamberg-Ehrhardt<br />
Johnson Brad DE 6'3 210 Pendleton<br />
Register Will TE 6'5 240 Chapin<br />
Robinson Davondre DB 6'0 190 Lake Marion<br />
Rudolph Logan DE 6'4 230 Northwestern<br />
smith Ortre WR 6'3 205 Wando<br />
Smith Shi WR 6'0 170 Union County<br />
The Class of 2018 looks to be a stout class of prospects and the watch<br />
list is already growing. Leading the way for me for this class is Fort<br />
Dorchester quarterback Dakereon Joyner. The 6-1, 190lbs sophomore<br />
has close to ten offers on the table and led the Patriots to the state 4A,<br />
Division I championship this past season. Look for Wilson defensive<br />
end/linebacker Xavier Thomas (6-4, 235) to be a major player in this<br />
cycle’s rankings, not just in-state but on the national level as well.<br />
Thomas already has more than a dozen offers on the table. I like Fort<br />
Dorchester linebacker Kenneth Brown (6-3, 235), Byrnes wide receiver<br />
Demarcus Gregory (6-2, 190) who holds an offer from NC State, D.W.<br />
Daniel linebacker Jake Venables (6-1, 195), who holds offers from<br />
Clemson, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma, and Mauldin offensive lineman<br />
Logan Carroll (6-5, 250, who Mav Head Coach Lee Taylor says could<br />
be one of the best linemen he’s coached.<br />
Williams Malik DB 5'11 Chester Joyner has close to ten offers on the table as a sophomore.
JOB OPENINGS:<br />
Off-season changes<br />
and where the best<br />
remaining jobs are.<br />
As it is with every year, the job board is full of openings that starts the<br />
annual coaching carrousel moving. Here’s a look at the open jobs and<br />
which one’s are the best gigs for coaches.<br />
Berkeley is considered the top open job by most coaches.<br />
1. Berkeley<br />
According to the message board minnions, as well as a straw poll of<br />
coaches from around the state, this could be the best job available right<br />
now. The players are there and this is a place you can win. The community<br />
support is second to none, though you may have to put up with<br />
“City Slicker” but he’s not such a bad guy. It IS separate from the athletics<br />
director position but the money isn’t bad for a coaching position,<br />
though you will be teaching.<br />
2. Summerville<br />
I can think of several reasons this shouldn’t be sitting at the No. 2 spot<br />
here, but I keep coming back to: it IS Summerville. Obviously, it is rich<br />
in tradition but there are some details that will make in-state big names<br />
think about this carefully. For one, every coach I’ve talked to seems to<br />
think there will have to be changes made in the staff for various reasons<br />
I won’t get into here. Second, unlike the glory years of the Green<br />
Wave, there are other schools in the area that draw talent such as Fort<br />
Dorchester and West Ashley. Even Pinewood Prep has managed to<br />
pick up a few kids that could be playing for the Wave. From what I understand,<br />
there is influence outside of that of administration that impacts<br />
decisions in the program. I think this could be a great job if<br />
changes that need to be made can be made. The question is, can<br />
those changes be made?<br />
3. Manning<br />
Manning has lost kids to attrition but they are in the right classification<br />
and can still win; staying in 3A lower state is going to help them with<br />
their biggest competition in region coming from Hanahan and Timberland.<br />
Outside region in lower state, Dillon will be the giant. The money<br />
the district has invested in facilities will be a big draw and the right guy<br />
in this job will get the Monarchs back to consistent winning ways.<br />
4. Union County<br />
Union County has an interesting situation that needs to be cautiously<br />
approached. This is a program with tradition in their past but this is a<br />
community that has changed dynamically from a socio-economical<br />
standpoint and it has impacted the school. The Union “crowd” wants to<br />
see this team continue to compete with the upstate giants like Spartanburg<br />
and Gaffney but the fact is, they just can’t do it anymore. Attrition<br />
has impacted the caliber level of this team and when they fail to compete<br />
with those teams that they did compete with in the past, the fanbase<br />
and unrealistic administration blames the coaches.<br />
5. Wilson<br />
Another pretty good job for the right guy. There is talent in the school<br />
and and they could be termed a “sleeping giant.” Coach Daryl Page<br />
proved this program can make it to the finals and that same type of talent<br />
still walks the halls. The biggest challenge is that the new classification<br />
has them in a region that is going to be competitive with the likes of<br />
Myrtle Beach and Marlboro County. At the time of this writing, the Tigers<br />
appear to have a final three for the job.<br />
The rest of the openings in alphabetical order:<br />
Branchville - Has 60 they’ve decided to choose from but I was told<br />
there are no teaching positions available.<br />
Edisto - Could be a good gig for the right guy. This is a school that<br />
you’re going to have to possibly pick up kids and get them to and from<br />
practice but an inspired coach can win here.<br />
May River - Good job with no AD; new program but with the region<br />
they are in could be competitive (in top four) right away.<br />
Lower Richland - Tough place to win these days. The 2.0 eligibility<br />
rule by the district combined with not being able to compete with the<br />
basketball program for athletes makes it a tough battle.<br />
Swansea - A lot of tradition and loaded with athletes. The 3A classification<br />
helps and Chad Leaphart proved you can still win here. Very<br />
strong community support
The SCVarsity.com All-State Football Combine is the top football combine event in the Southeast and possibly the entire country. Drawing<br />
more than 500 athletes to take part in testing, skills sessions, and intense one-on-one competitions, this event is second to none of<br />
its kind. Players will arrive and check in and receive their competition performance shirt and shorts, and have their photo's made for profiles.<br />
They will then beging the measuring/testing phase of the event. Changes to this year's protocol are linemen will run the 40 yard<br />
dash and receive a 10-yard split time as well. Wide receivers will run a 60 yard dash and recieve a 40 yard split time as well. For evaluation<br />
purposes, I want to be able to see a WR's full-stride speed so we are going to the 60 yard dash but those players will still<br />
recieve a 40 yard dash time.<br />
THE COMBINE REGISTRATION COVERS INSURANCE, PERFORMANCE SHIRTS AND SHORTS.<br />
You may register online at www.scvarsity.com. WHEN REGISTERING, PLEASE CHOOSE ONE POSITION TO WORK<br />
OUT AT. SHIRT COLORS ARE BASED ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSIVEYPOSITIONS.<br />
DATE: April 30th, 2016<br />
SITE: BROOK LAND-CAYCE HIGH SCHOOL<br />
COST: REGISTRATION FEES ARE $60.00<br />
(Includes your performance gear for the event)