FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY, 2016
In This Issue
Grading the 2016
Signing Class
A glimpse at 207 and
2018 Top Players
Coach Openings:
Where are the best
jobs?

BREAKING DOWN THE 2016 SIGNING CLASS
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The Class of 2016 Signing Class turned out to be as strong of a class as
we’ve had in years in the Palmetto State. Dozens of players signed with
Division I programs, including more than twenty that signed with Power 5
conferences. In all we saw more than 150 players ink the dotted line to
continue their football careers and education at the next level. Here is the
report card on how did this year.
OVER ALL GRADE - C-
I know we look at the overall number and they are very good but when
we breakdown the BCS level offers, we are only looking at about 20 that
signed. In 2015, the Palmetto state saw 25 and in 2014 we saw 32 sign.
POSITION OF STRENGTH - DEFENSIVE BACKS
There is little doubt that the trash-talking princes of the defense were the
strongest position in the state. With seven Division I-A signees with Troy
Pride (Greer) to Notre Dame, Nick McCloud (South Pointe) to NC State,
James Valdez (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) to NC State, KJ Chamberlain
(Emerald) to App State, Cameron Jones (Spring Valley) to Army, Jeston
Morrow and Jeremiah Maddox (Hilton Head) to Marshall, along with several
FCS defensive back signees, this was clearly the top position in the
state.
WHO WON THE STATE?
This is always a debate; how do you really measure this? Well, If we go
by star ratings, which really don’t mean much until we see if the players
develop, it would appear Clemson gets the nod. The state only had six
four-star players and Clemson signed three of them, while South Carolina
got one, Notre Dame got one, and one remains unsigned. South Carolina
signed six overall in-state players on scholarship while Clemson got four.
I think as for the FCS guys, they all did equally well with Charleston
Southern getting an edge on what I’d consider quality talent. But The
Citadel got the biggest steal, nabbing Chapin quarterback Logan Bailey
who could be a big time impact player in the Bulldogs offensive attack as
one of the state’s best athletes in this signing class.
The 2016 Signing Class
Quinton Anderson, Sumter (Limestone)-RB
Avery Armstrong, Dreher (Furman)-QB
Drayton Arnold, Myrtle Beach (Old Dominion)-QB
R.J. Bacon, Spring Valley (Presbyterian)-K
Logan Bailey, Chapin (The Citadel)-QB
Quinn Baldwin, Westside (Hutchinson CC)-DB
JB Ballenger, Hillcrest (Limestone)-LB
Quinton Ballenger, Hillcrest (Limestone)-RB
Jamariquoui Barr, CE Murray (Coffeyville CC)-DL
Phillip Barrett, Irmo (The Citadel)-DB
John Baty, Hilton Head (Army)-DB
Josh Bell, Fairfield-Central (Charleston Southern)-DB
Timel Benton, Blythewood (Gallaudet University)-ATH
Justin Berry, West Ashley (Indiana)-QB
Donaven Blackmon, Clinton (Newberry)-DB
Matt Blair, T.L. Hanna (Western Carolina)-OL
Tank Boni, Thomas Heyward (Newberry)-OL
Torrey Boone, Westwood (Highland CC, Kansas) - OL
Ivy Brice, Gray Collegiate (Arkansas Pine Bluff)-OL
Brandon Brown, Ashley Ridge (Presbyterian)-LB
Henry Brown, Spring Valley (Emory & Henry)-DL
TJ Brunson, RNE (South Carolina)-LB
Caleb Bynum, Spartanburg Christian (North Greenville)-TE
Rashad Byrd, North Augusta (Georgia Southern)-LB
Tykeem Canty, CE Murray (Benedict)WR
Cullen Carlen, Hammond (Berry College)-OL
Slade Carrol, Lexington (Charleston Southern)-RB
Lucas Catalfomo, T.L. Hanna (Presbyterian)-WR
KJ Chamberlain, Emerald (App State)-DB
Deondre Champaigne, Fort Dorchester (South Carolina)-WR
Trae Churn, Blythewood (SC State)-WR/TE
Larry Collins, Lower Richland (Coastal Carolina)-WR
Thomas Cook, Byrnes (Limestone)-K
Zay C0wen, T.L. Hanna (Limestone)-WR
D.J. Crosby, James F. Byrnes (Wingate)-LB
Marion Cusano, Greer (Presbyterian)-QB
Chavis Dawkins, James F. Byrnes (South Carolina)-WR
Samuel Denmark, Hanahan (Va Tech)-WR
Anthony Dennis, Hillcrest (Brevard)-DL
Tori Delesline, Hillcrest (Georgia Southern)-LB
Nike Diggs, Seneca (Highland CC)-DL
Dubie Dubose, Abbeville (Newberry)-LB

The Citadel got a steal with QB Logan Bailey of Chapin
Steven Duncan, Ashley Ridge (Western Kentucky)-QB
Chad Earl, Seneca (Highland CC)-DB
Johnathan Earl, Airport (Charleston Southern)-LB
Armni Eden, Lexington (Trinity IL)-OL
Bryan Edwards, Conway (South Carolina)-WR
Zack Epting, Christ Church (Charleston Southern)-OL
Nickolaus Evans, Irmo (Coffeyville JC)-OL
Tavien Feaster, Spartanburg (Clemson)-RB
Phillip Fleming, Lower Richland (Howard)-OL
Jaylan Foster, James F. Byrnes (Gardner Webb)-DB
Ty'Juan Fulton, Spring Valley (Georgia Military)-RB
Jay Fuller, Clinton (The Citadel)-DB
Kahl Gagum, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (North Greenville)-DL
Dre Gaines, Westside (Pikeville)-LB
Braxton Gambrell, Seneca (Johnson C. Smith)-RB
Malcolm Garrett, Cross (SC State)-OL
Brandon Gibson, Seneca (Pikeville)-DE
Austin Gordon, Indian Land (Newberry)-FB
Malik Grate, Pendleton (Wake Forest)-WR
Nick Graves, Lexington (Charleston Southern)-DB
Malik Green, Scott's Branch (Limestone)-DB
Brendan Greene, AC Flora (Hampton)-QB
Malik Griffin, Westwood (Guilford College)-ATH
John Guthrie, James F. Byrnes (Air Force)-OL
Buss Hamilton, James Island (SC State)-RB
Norman Hand, Colleton County (Tennessee Tech)-DE
Bailey Hart, Wando (South Carolina-Preferred Walk On)-QB
Justin Haynes, Spring Valley (Independence JC Kansas)-DB
Cortez Herrin, Saluda (East Carolina)-OL
Brandon Hill, Heathwood Hall (Duke)-LB
Collin Hill, Dorman (Colorado State)-QB
Connor Holdon, Southside Christian (Presbyterian)-ATH
Melquan House, Scott's Branch (Limestone)-DL
Brandon Howard, Westwood (Johnson C. Smith)-K/P
Prince Howard, Spring Valley (The Citadel)-OL
David Isreal, Blythewood (Butler CC)-QB
Tarren Jackson, Silver Bluff (Coastal Carolina)-DE
Ronnie Jamison, Irmo (Highland CC Kansas)-RB
Tavonta Jenkins, Blue Ridge (Limestone)-RB
Azende Jenkins, Seneca (The Lincoln University)-OL
Tyler Jenkins, Byrnes (Limestone)-OL
Blake Jeresaty, Bishop England (Wofford)-OL
Roscoe Johnson, Union County (North Carolina)-WR
Davon Johnson, River Bluff (Highland CC)-DB
Cameron Jones, Spring Valley (Army)-DB
Lane Jones, West Oak (SC State)-LB
Ethan Kannenberg, Mauldin (Palmetto Prep)-OL
Xavier Kelly, Blythewood (Wingate)-OL
Javon Kinlaw, Goose Creek (South Carolina)-DE
Christian Kinsley, Lexington (Kennesaw State)-K
Rodney Landrum, Dorman (North Greenville)-DB
Ryan Lee, Spring Valley (Coastal Carolina)-QB
Hayden Lindemann, Blythewood (Tusculum)-DL
Dorien Lindsey, Greer (Wofford)-WR
Antonio Lomax, Westside (Georgia Military)-TE
Jeremiah Maddox, Hilton Head (Marshall)-DB
Sulaiman Malik, CA Johnson (Limestone)-WR
Jah-Maine Martin, Conway (Coastal Carolina)-RB
Jeremiah Martin, Seneca (Pikeville)-OL
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Matthew Martin, Westside (Charleston Southern)-WR
Quinton Martin, Hillcrest (Florida Tech)-DB
Avary McCall, Dillon (Coastal Carolina)-QB
Keon McCallum, Chesnee (Campbell University)
Christopher McCarthy, Westwood (Limestone) - OL
Nick McCloud, South Pointe (NC State)-DB
Scott McClunney, Gaffney (Old Dominion)-WR
Phillip McDowell, Boiling Springs (Carson Newman)-OL
Patrick McNeil, Brookland-Cayce (SC State)-OL
Ray Miller, James F. Byrnes (Campbell)-LB
Charlie Miranda, Sumter (Gardner Webb)-ATH
Tyquilo Moore, White Knoll (Butler CC)-DL
Jestin Morrow, Hilton Head (Marshall)-DB
Noah Moseley, Airport (Kentucky Christian)-OL
Trey Murray, Colleton County (Catawba)-DB
Daquan Nikes, RNE (Johnson C Smith)-OL
Isaiah Odom, CE Murray (Limestone)-RB
Kevin Owens, Spring Valley (Pikeville)-CB
Devyn Padgett, Batesburg-Leesville (Palmetto Prep)-DL
Jalen Page, Wilson (SC State)-OL
Jack Palowski, Wilson (Elon)-K
Jashaad Perry, Newbery (Limestone)-OL
Chris Pham, Blythewood (Presbyterian)-DB
Nyles Pinckney, Whale Branch (Clemson)-DL
Troy Pride, Greer (Notre Dame)-DB
Armonte Prioleau, Timberland (Limestone)-DB
Brantley Queen, Westside (Cumberland)-WR
Austin Randolph, Fort Mill (Newberry)DL
Johnny Ray, Wando (Charlotte)-DE
Mark Rew, Ben Lippen (Ga Tech - Preferred Walk On)-WR
Wesley Robinson, Dorman (Limestone)-DB
Bailey Rogers, Wren (Furman)-WR
Jared Russ, Blythewood (Guilford)-DE
Justin Salters, River Bluff (North Greenville)-K
Tyler Schadewald, Lexington (SC State)-WR
Garris Schwarting, Bamberg-Erhardt (Charleston Southern)-WR
Austin Scott, Spartanburg (Eastern Kentucky)-QB
Emanuel John Scott, Westwood (North Greenville) - OL
Nick Salley, Colleton County (Charleston Southern)-LB
Xavier Simmons, Hillcrest (Palmetto Prep)-DB
Ralph Singleton, Lakewood (Presbyterian)-OL
Trey Smalls, Hanahan (NC A&T)-LB
Bowen Smith, South Aiken (Pikeville)-QB
Chris Smith, South Pointe (South Carolina)-WR
Alec Spooner, Airport (Fla Tech)-DL
Brian Spurgeon, HIllcrest (Florida Tech)-WR
Cade Stewart, D.W. Daniel (Clemson-Gray Shirt)-OL
Quay Strong, Chester (Newberry)-ATH
Joe Sweat, First Baptist (Wingate)
Albert Thompson, Chester (Newberry)-DE
Brandon Tillman, River Bluff (Liberty)-LB
Daquan Tindel, Lakewood (Coffeyvile CC)-LB
Hank Tuipulotu, Nation Ford (Brigham Young)-TE
Cody Turner, Blythewood (Coastal Carolina)-K
Elijah Turner, Seneca (Presbyterian)-QB
Quintavious Turner, Mauldin (Palmetto Prep)OL
James Valdez, Orangeburg-Wilkinson (NC State)-DB
Eric Von Hollen, Dreher (Maryville-Tenn)-TE
Emanuel Walker, Lake Marion (Wake Forest)-DE
Clarence Watson, AC Flora (Garden City CC)-RB/LB
Chris Webb, Seneca (Catawba)-DB
Eric Weber, Blythewood (East Carolina)-TE
Yafari Wertz, Newberry (Georgia Southern)-QB
Braxton Westfield, Christ Church (James Madison)-WR
Josh Wilkes, South Pointe (Eastern Michigan)-WR
Darius Williams, Ashley Ridge (Newberry)-WR
Lawrence Williams, Kingstree (Limestone)-DL
Datavious Wilson, Hartsville (Wofford)-LB
Terrance Wilson, Batesburg-Leesville (Charleston Southern)-RB
Drew Wilson, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Georgia Southern)-OL
Quin Wright, Westside (Limestone)-RB
Micah Young, James F. Byrnes (Carson Newman)-QB
*If there are names missing from list, please email scvarsity@sc.rr.com

Class of 2017 and 2018 Preview
Class of 2017 Preview
Class of 2018 Preview
The Class of 2017 looks to be stronger than this year’s recruiting cycle,
with more than twenty players already with BCS level offers on the
table. The big question is, who is going to be the top target for the
state. While you can see the list in ranking order on SCVARSI-
TY.COM, I will share with you the players who are going to be battling
for that spot.
Since his sophomore season at Wando High School, wide receiver
Ortre Smith (6-3, 205) has been the talk of the Class. He currently
holds more than a dozen offers. Bamberg-Ehrhart safety Savalas Cann
(6-1, 185) is a player that many media outlets have touted as a top two
or three player. Northwestern defensive end Logan Rudolph (6-4, 230)
is a game-planner type of player who can wreck an offensive game
plan. Like Smith, he has more than a dozen offers.
Here’s a look at the SCV Top 10 Players for 2017 in Alphabetical order:
Last Name First Name Pos Hgt Wgt School
Bent Cameron Ath 6'0 170 Bluffton
Cann Savalas WR 6'0 175 Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Dunbar Jamari RB 5'9 170 Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Johnson Brad DE 6'3 210 Pendleton
Register Will TE 6'5 240 Chapin
Robinson Davondre DB 6'0 190 Lake Marion
Rudolph Logan DE 6'4 230 Northwestern
smith Ortre WR 6'3 205 Wando
Smith Shi WR 6'0 170 Union County
The Class of 2018 looks to be a stout class of prospects and the watch
list is already growing. Leading the way for me for this class is Fort
Dorchester quarterback Dakereon Joyner. The 6-1, 190lbs sophomore
has close to ten offers on the table and led the Patriots to the state 4A,
Division I championship this past season. Look for Wilson defensive
end/linebacker Xavier Thomas (6-4, 235) to be a major player in this
cycle’s rankings, not just in-state but on the national level as well.
Thomas already has more than a dozen offers on the table. I like Fort
Dorchester linebacker Kenneth Brown (6-3, 235), Byrnes wide receiver
Demarcus Gregory (6-2, 190) who holds an offer from NC State, D.W.
Daniel linebacker Jake Venables (6-1, 195), who holds offers from
Clemson, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma, and Mauldin offensive lineman
Logan Carroll (6-5, 250, who Mav Head Coach Lee Taylor says could
be one of the best linemen he’s coached.
Williams Malik DB 5'11 Chester Joyner has close to ten offers on the table as a sophomore.

JOB OPENINGS:
Off-season changes
and where the best
remaining jobs are.
As it is with every year, the job board is full of openings that starts the
annual coaching carrousel moving. Here’s a look at the open jobs and
which one’s are the best gigs for coaches.
Berkeley is considered the top open job by most coaches.
1. Berkeley
According to the message board minnions, as well as a straw poll of
coaches from around the state, this could be the best job available right
now. The players are there and this is a place you can win. The community
support is second to none, though you may have to put up with
“City Slicker” but he’s not such a bad guy. It IS separate from the athletics
director position but the money isn’t bad for a coaching position,
though you will be teaching.
2. Summerville
I can think of several reasons this shouldn’t be sitting at the No. 2 spot
here, but I keep coming back to: it IS Summerville. Obviously, it is rich
in tradition but there are some details that will make in-state big names
think about this carefully. For one, every coach I’ve talked to seems to
think there will have to be changes made in the staff for various reasons
I won’t get into here. Second, unlike the glory years of the Green
Wave, there are other schools in the area that draw talent such as Fort
Dorchester and West Ashley. Even Pinewood Prep has managed to
pick up a few kids that could be playing for the Wave. From what I understand,
there is influence outside of that of administration that impacts
decisions in the program. I think this could be a great job if
changes that need to be made can be made. The question is, can
those changes be made?
3. Manning
Manning has lost kids to attrition but they are in the right classification
and can still win; staying in 3A lower state is going to help them with
their biggest competition in region coming from Hanahan and Timberland.
Outside region in lower state, Dillon will be the giant. The money
the district has invested in facilities will be a big draw and the right guy
in this job will get the Monarchs back to consistent winning ways.
4. Union County
Union County has an interesting situation that needs to be cautiously
approached. This is a program with tradition in their past but this is a
community that has changed dynamically from a socio-economical
standpoint and it has impacted the school. The Union “crowd” wants to
see this team continue to compete with the upstate giants like Spartanburg
and Gaffney but the fact is, they just can’t do it anymore. Attrition
has impacted the caliber level of this team and when they fail to compete
with those teams that they did compete with in the past, the fanbase
and unrealistic administration blames the coaches.
5. Wilson
Another pretty good job for the right guy. There is talent in the school
and and they could be termed a “sleeping giant.” Coach Daryl Page
proved this program can make it to the finals and that same type of talent
still walks the halls. The biggest challenge is that the new classification
has them in a region that is going to be competitive with the likes of
Myrtle Beach and Marlboro County. At the time of this writing, the Tigers
appear to have a final three for the job.
The rest of the openings in alphabetical order:
Branchville - Has 60 they’ve decided to choose from but I was told
there are no teaching positions available.
Edisto - Could be a good gig for the right guy. This is a school that
you’re going to have to possibly pick up kids and get them to and from
practice but an inspired coach can win here.
May River - Good job with no AD; new program but with the region
they are in could be competitive (in top four) right away.
Lower Richland - Tough place to win these days. The 2.0 eligibility
rule by the district combined with not being able to compete with the
basketball program for athletes makes it a tough battle.
Swansea - A lot of tradition and loaded with athletes. The 3A classification
helps and Chad Leaphart proved you can still win here. Very
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
more than 500 athletes to take part in testing, skills sessions, and intense one-on-one competitions, this event is second to none of
its kind. Players will arrive and check in and receive their competition performance shirt and shorts, and have their photo's made for profiles.
They will then beging the measuring/testing phase of the event. Changes to this year's protocol are linemen will run the 40 yard
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
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
recieve a 40 yard dash time.
THE COMBINE REGISTRATION COVERS INSURANCE, PERFORMANCE SHIRTS AND SHORTS.
You may register online at www.scvarsity.com. WHEN REGISTERING, PLEASE CHOOSE ONE POSITION TO WORK
OUT AT. SHIRT COLORS ARE BASED ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSIVEYPOSITIONS.
DATE: April 30th, 2016
SITE: BROOK LAND-CAYCE HIGH SCHOOL
COST: REGISTRATION FEES ARE $60.00
(Includes your performance gear for the event)