The Next Level Legendary Clemson Coach Frank Howard once famously wondered why one of his assistants offered a scholarship to Great Falls’ Banks McFadden, noting that he was so skinny “he looked like a whooping crane.” McFadden, of course, is now in the school’s Ring of Honor. Joe Collins was a scholarship player at Clemson, or was until the school ran out of money anyway. He went on to build Chester High into a powerhouse in the 1940s. Dode Phillips, who along with McFadden is considered one of the state’s greatest all-around athletes of the first half of the 1900s, didn’t get a scholarship to Erskine at all coming out of Chester (they weren’t offered at that time), digging post holes for tuition money. He guided Erskine (which hasn’t fielded a football team in over 50 years) to wins over Clemson, South Carolina and The Citadel in a two-year stretch. Marion Campbell might have gone to Clemson out of Chester High, but figured he'd get drafted into the military one day (he did) and didn't want to spend his college years marching at what was then Clemson A&M, so he went to Georgia before winning an NFL Championship as a player and becoming a head coach in the NFL. For as long as football has been played in Chester, the county has produced college talent. This year is no exception, which is one of the reasons this year’s football preview is hubbed around players who have already earned, or soon hope to earn a college ride. Lewisville is coming off a 10-3 season and sports one of the nation’s top defensive linemen (Clemson Commit Josh Belk), while safety Mikial Fourney, running back/defensive back Quentin Sanders and others all hold college offers. At Chester, (9-3 last year) junior lineman Wyatt Tunall already has a D-1 offer from Troy, while quarterback/kicker John Erby is being courted by Eastern Michigan and Presbyterian College. With a former freshman All-American (Pha’Leak Brown) and one of the state’s returning ball hawks (Quay Hardin) on hand, Tunall and Erby will soon have company in the offers department. Great Falls is young and coming off a tough year, but with 6-foot-4-and-growing sophomore receiver/safety Kelton Talford and other up-and-comers on hand, the immediate future should be bright for the Red Devils and the long-term prospects should be good for several individual players. I’m look forward to watching all those players in the college ranks in the coming years, but I don’t want to rush them off to college just yet. Hopefully they’ll all have a chance to put their names on a state title trophy before they put it on scholarship papers Chester Floyd expecting “a lot” from 2017 Cyclones In 2016, Chester posted its first winning season and playoff trip since 2012. The team only turned the ball over four times in 12 games and set school records for points scored per game and for total points in a season. With 16 starters returning, including several players garnering college attention in 2017, what is Coach Victor Floyd expecting? “A lot,” Floyd said. “We have high expectations in general.” With the Cyclones holding a number six pre-season ranking, there are obviously high expectations outside the program as well. Offense As they have since Floyd began his second stint as Chester’s coach in 2015, the Cyclones will operate from a spread on offense that will seek to achieve a 60-40 run-to-pass balance. Last year, that offense was run by senior Malik Williams, who rushed for 1,565, passed for 1,779 yards and set a school record with 42 total touchdowns. He’s now playing at Appalachian State, so Floyd is turning to John Erby. Now a senior, Erby is a multi-sport dynamo that also plays soccer, golf and runs track. He was a back-up quarterback last year and a starting wide receiver that averaged nearly 25 yards a catch. Floyd sees a lot of Williams in Erby. “They are very similar. They are both elite players with outstanding athletic ability who throw the ball well,” Floyd said. Erby has already flashed his big play ability in the pre-season, rushing for over 100 yards in a scrimmage against Rock Hill and in last Friday’s jamboree. Sophomore Stan Mills, last year’s JV starter, will serve as his back-up Part of the reason Floyd could afford to move a big-play receiver to quarterback is the depth and talent the team has at wide out. Junior Terrence Mills had a big year in the slot last season and based on pre-season returns seems ready to build on that success. Senior T.J. Hollis will get some work in the slot as well. Senior Quay Hardin splits duty between defensive back and receiver but is a big-play threat with excellent speed and a 6-foot-2 frame. Mills will get work at wide receiver as will junior Dorrien Bagley. Jarel Hill has the ability to play both receiver and running back. The wild card in this group is Jared Dixon, a junior who did not play football last year. At 6-foot-3 and with stunning athletic ability, Floyd said the ceiling is extremely high on Dixon. The team will rarely, if ever, utilize a tight end. Chester will use a “by-committee” approach in the backfield. Junior Pha’Leak Brown, a freshman All-American two years ago, Emmanuel Wright (another junior), Hill and Mills will all share the load this season. Brown is the squad’s leading returning rusher, after accounting for 607 yards and 10 scores on the ground last season. Floyd said each brings something different to the position. “Mills is kind of a one-cut-and-go guy, Hill is a little bit of a dancer, Wright is a one-cut runner and Pha’Leak is sort of a combination,” Floyd said. The offensive line figures to be a team strength with four starters back. Wyatt Tunall is only a junior, but already holds a scholarship offer from Troy. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 260 pounds. Daniel Elkins worked his way into the line-up as a freshman last year and is back for another season at left guard. Junior Montez Hall has earned praise from Floyd for his play at the pivot, The only vacancy from last year is at right guard where current Wingate University player Xi Simpson earned All-State honors last season. The “very talented” Jordan Allen, a 265-pound freshman, is penciled in as the starter. The right tackle will be junior Keith Boyd. Junior D.J. Terrell will be the sixth man, filling in at multiple spots. Defense Last year, the defense had a pair of double-digit sackers and a guy who was second in the state in interceptions. Those two things were definitely related. “One definitely affects the other. We have some holes we have to fill up front right now,” Floyd said. Doing so means replacing all three starters up front in Chester’s aggressive 3-5 defense. Senior Daryl Lowry is a first-time starter, but did get five sacks as a reserve last season. Junior Quay Evans is slated to assume starting duties on the nose and sophomore Teddy Murphy will handle the other end spot. Junior Twon Patton will be the fourth man, backing up all three positions. Some offensive linemen could play on the defensive line if needed. Junior Rollo Hall and Mills will handle the two spur positions (with Brown and Mills backing them up). At linebacker, LaDarius Foster, a senior, will take care of the mike position. A pair of freshmen, Javonti Jackson and Jaylin Woods, will start at the two outside positions. Woods scored on a 90-plus-yard fumble return in the jamboree. Another freshman, Octaveon Minter, will see a lot of playing time. Floyd is very high on the young trio. Dixon and Hardin will line up at safety for the Cyclones. Hardin will also flop over to corner, but wherever he goes it’s a safe bet that opponents will keep an eye on him, since he snared eight interceptions last year. Hollis, junior Zion White and Wright will also get playing time at corner. Erby will handle all punting and placekicking. He kicked a last-second, game-winner last year against Lancaster. Hill, Brown, Hardin and others can all return kicks. Bottom Line Chester went 9-3 last year and had a shot at a region title going into the regular-season finale against Fairfield Central. Most of last year’s cast has returned and there is an infusion of talented young players that has Floyd excited about the future. He’s excited about this year too. Given all that and the general the trajectory of the program since he returned (going from three wins in 2015 to nine last year) Floyd not only has high expectations, he expects to meet them. Chester Cyclones Roster 1 Payton Stillwell WR 11 2 Pha'leak Brown RB/SP 11 3 Miles Erwin WR/DB 10 4 Quay Hardin WR/DB 12 5 Zion Mills WR/DB 11 6 T.J. Hollis WR/DB 12 7 John Erby QB/WR 12 8 Terrence Mills WR/SP 11 9 Stan Mills QB/SP 10 10 Jarel Hill RB/DB 10 11 Jared Dixon WR/DB 11 12 Deston Worthy QB/DB 9 14 Johnathan Goldsborough WR/DB 9 15 Emmanuel Wright RB/DB 11 16 Dorrien Bagley WR 11 17 Johntell Grant DL 10 18 Ly'Terrence Mills WR/SP 10 20 Javonti Jackson RB/LB 9 21 Jaylin Woods LB 9 22 Terrance Springs WR/DB 9 23 Rollo Hall LB 11 25 Ray Murphy LB 10 30 Anthony Spencer LB 10 32 LaDarius Foster LB 12 33 Christian Feaster SP 9 34 Zaire Davis DB 10 38 Teddy Murphy DL 10 39 Octaveon Minter LB 9 40 Pharrow Grant DE 9 44 Rakyaus McMickens WR/SP 9 45 Twon Patton DL 11 50 Wyatt Tunall OL/DL 11 54 Keith Boyd OL/DL 11 55 Quay Evans OL/DL 10 57 Darrell Woods OL/DL 10 58 Dee Lightner LB 12 60 Gage Herr OL/DL 11 61 Montez Hall OL/DL 11 62 Aiden Roberts OL/DL 9 63 Ray White OL/DL 9 64 Jordan Allen OL/DL 9 70 Jeremiah Days OL/DL 9 72 D.J. Terrell OL 11 75 Daniel Elkins OL/DL 10 78 Jaylen Wishert OL 9 90 Daryl Lowry DL 12 Chester 2017 Schedule 8-18 Westwood 8-25 at Franklin Christian 9-1 Keenan 9-8 at Lancaster 9-15 Lower Richland 9-22 Carolina Pride 9-29 at Indian Land 10-5 Columbia 10-13 at Columbia 10-20 Fairfield Central 10-27 Off week A Matter of Trust Chester Coach Victor Floyd, quite famously, once had a team go an entire season without attempting an extra point or field goal. He said, generally, he has more faith in a well-running offense than he does in getting a perfect snap, perfect placement, excellent blocking and an accurate kick. Yet, last season, in the waning seconds of a contest against Lancaster, with the game on the line, he trotted out John Erby to attempt a game-winning field goal. He didn’t do that because of some radical shift in philosophy. “I have a lot of trust in him,” Floyd said. “He works hard at everything he does.” Erby remembers that play very well. He said blocking out the pressure of the moment, the oncoming rush and the screaming fans wasn’t really that difficult. “I got excited when he said we were kicking a field goal. I know it sounds cliché, but it was just a matter of sticking to what you do in practice,” Erby said. Erby has added some new responsibilities to his plate this year. In addition to handling all kicking and punting for the Cyclones, he is also now the starting quarterback. That isn’t an entirely new role; he was the back-up to Malik Williams last season when he was also one of the team’s top wide receivers. Floyd was comfortable moving Erby under center because the team has a talented wide receiver group, but also because he trusts Erby enough to hand him the controls of what figures to be one of the state’s most explosive offenses. “When we got here (in 2015) he was just the kicker He’s done the things necessary to prepare himself for this, though. He’s probably added 15 pounds since last season in the weight room to stand up to the pounding,” Floyd said. The trust in Erby is well earned on many fronts. The senior seems uniquely qualified to adapt to a position change and show on-field versatility, since he also plays soccer, golf and plans to run track this year as well. He said he’s always enjoyed watching soccer and does think it has helped him in football…and not just in terms of his developing his kicking skills. “It helped me a lot with my footwork. It helps keep me light on my feet,” Erby said. Golf was actually the first sport he played, picking it up at the age of two. “I started to play when my dad did. My best score was an 80, but I don’t get to play that often,” said Erby, who said the principle of concentration runs through both golf and football. . Erby is the kind of player, according to Floyd, who is always where he is supposed to be and always on time. It was quite a surprise then to see Erby absent from a week of summer work and a 7-on-7 competition. Even then he was where he was supposed to be…since the excused week off was to allow him to attend Boys State. He is among the top students in his class and will basically be able to go to any college based on those academics. Good grades usually come to those with a studious nature, which is another thing that translates well to football. He picks things up quickly and retains what he’s been taught. Given his year-round academic and athletic pursuits, Erby doesn’t have a lot of free time, but the uncommon student and player has pretty common interests for a high school senior. He likes music (rap and old school R&B are his favorites), he enjoys playing video games and he likes spending time with his family. He currently has scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan and Presbyterian College but if he has the kind of season he and Floyd are expecting, that list will grow. The early returns are good with 100-yard rushing efforts in a scrimmage and the jamboree and excellent accuracy in the passing game. Erby knows what he’s looking for in a school. “I want to play football in college and I want to go somewhere that runs a system I fit in and offers the major (business management) I’m interested in,” Erby said. Only two pieces from last year’s Chester offense have changed for this season. There’s a new right guard and Erby will be the signal-caller. The Cyclones set a school record for points last year, so Floyd said his expectations are very high for 2017. He expects an even more potent offense than last season. With Erby being a focal point, you can trust that Floyd’s instincts about the coming season are probably correct. Williams Catching on Fast at App St As he transitioned from an inexperienced junior to savvy senior at Chester High School, the game of football slowed down for Malik Williams, according to Cyclones Coach Victor Floyd. Now that he’s a college freshman, things have gone in a decidedly different direction. “The biggest difference is in the college game, everything moves fast,” Williams said. The former Cyclone is now at Appalachian State, where he is ticketed to get playing time at wide receiver this year. He is certainly no stranger to things moving fast. At Chester he helmed an offense that put a premium on a torrid pace and an unrelenting tempo. On the basketball court (where he earned Region Player of the Year honors) he was a blur, deftly blowing up and down the court. He was also a track standout where his best asset, naturally, was his speed. It’s not an overstatement to say he was usually the fastest player on any field of competition. None of that prepared him for what was waiting on him in college. “Everybody up here was a three or four star guy in high school and they can all run,” he said. “And everything just moves faster. The routes, all the motion, everything.” Williams reported to Boone, North Carolina just days after his high school graduation. He’s already got two classes under his belt (he made an A in one and a B-plus in another) and says he’s settling into the life of a college student and athlete very well. “Everybody’s cool up here, everybody knows everybody. It’s a great atmosphere,” he said. To get on the field as a true freshman, a player has to be a quick study. The offensive system has been force fed to Williams and his fellow freshman. He is already learning to balance independent study for classes, organized study halls and studying for football. It’s not uncommon, he said, for him to go to four meetings a day. That means a lot of film study, often of a practice he has just completed, something that rarely, if ever, takes place in high school. “We’ll watch ourselves running plays we just installed. We watch how we did, but the coaches will stop it sometimes and get on you a little bit. They’ll ask you what you were doing or what you were thinking on a play,” Williams said. The conversion from high school quarterback to college wide receiver has not been especially difficult, he said. He played receiver as a youngster and in the North-South All-Star game last year. Williams says he’s “an athlete, so the switch comes kind of easier.” Even the larger switch of going from a small high school to a big college campus, of leaving home and of fitting in among grown men hasn’t been that hard for him. For that, he credits Floyd. “Coach Floyd prepared me for it. He told me about competing and working hard and finding time to study hard,” Williams said. The early returns are good, with Williams getting some work with the first-string in practice. In the team’s most recent scrimmage, he had six catches, including one for a touchdown. Floyd said he isn’t at all surprised that Williams is thriving at Appalachian State in the early-going. “He’s an extremely smart kid and highly motivated. He’s one of the most committed kids I’ve ever had. He always gives it all he has and wants to be someone who is a leader of the program,” Floyd said. As for this season, Williams isn’t content just to see playing time, he wants to succeed at a high level and help his team do the same. He thinks the Mountaineers have the talent to make it to a bowl game. If he has the kind of individual success he’s expecting, team success is sure to follow. “Probably a Freshman All-American or something like that,” he said of this year’s goals. He’s not only expecting big things, he’s expecting them to come fast. Great Falls Numbers (and hopes) are up in Great Falls Scotty Steen is in a new position this year at Great Falls, in more ways than one. He gave up his long-time role as an assistant coach to become the head coach of the Red Devils, but he also gave up his position as a practice wide receiver. “I was happy to give that up,” he said. “The bruises and soreness don’t heal quite as fast when you get older.” Last year, Great Falls’ roster was so depleted that the team forfeited one game, nearly had to pull the plug on the season entirely and assistant coaches had to stand in as players in practice. This year, enthusiasm and interest are both up and the number of players has increased; all major plusses as the program tries to snap out of a long losing streak. Offense Great Falls will stick with the spread offense that it switched to last season. Steen said it will be “a balanced spread” that sometimes uses a tight end, sometimes goes four wide and seeks to run and pass with equal effectiveness. Steen will throw a lot of different personnel groupings at opponents. “We’re going to play a lot of people,” he said. “I think it’s very important to get as many guys as possible involved.” It’s likely that both junior Trent Isenhower and sophomore Kel Brown will see time at quarterback this season. After what the team went through last year, Steen said having two capable signal-callers is a luxury. “A season is very long, so I think it’s crucial to have multiple guys who can play that position,” said Steen, who actually played four quarterbacks in a recent scrimmage. “We got to the point last year that we didn’t have a quarterback. We were just snapping it directly to the running back. That’s a bad feeling.” Multiple players will see time at running back including senior Gage Spinks, who Steen says runs with power and often seeks out contact. Sophomore Quay Bowser and freshman Elijah Simpson bring exciting speed to the position. The Red Devils will sport possibly the tallest wide receiving corps in South Carolina this year. On the outside, opponents will have to find ways to deal with senior Tommy Belk, who stands almost 6-foot-3, and sophomore Kelton Talford, who is 6-foot-4 and still growing. “They aren’t just tall guys. They are smart players who work very hard,” Steen said. Talford had the unique distinction last year of starting in three sports (football, basketball and baseball) as a freshman. “I like to stay to active,” Talford said. Whoever isn’t playing quarterback will likely get time at receiver as well. Junior Travis Payne has flashed big potential in the pre-season and will get lots of work in the slot. Freshman Da’Shawn Johnson, who is almost six feet tall will get snaps as will freshman Kaleb Funderburk, who Steen says “plays with no fear at all.” Another inviting target in the passing game will be tight end Zac Roberts, a 6-foot-3 senior. Great Falls will have size (nearly 240 a man) and experience (three seniors) on the offensive line. From left to right the Red Devils will feature junior Dustin Smith, senior Cody Spires, senior Artez Blackmon, senior Jamie Craig and sophomore Anthhony Cunningham. With last year’s numbers crunch, Cunningham was forced into the line-up as a freshman and took the normal lumps you would expect. “This year is going to be different. He’s a man now and a great guy,” Steen said. Defense The Red Devils will now be operating from a 3-4 look on defense. Steen will utilize the same “play a lot of guys” philosophy on defense that he has for the offense. A number of players will get reps in the trenches, including Spires, Smith, Craig, Johnson and Justin Montgomery. Steen said any of those and more can play either inside or outside. The linebackers figure to be Spinks, Simpson, Isenhower and Funderburk, though again, other players will get time at this position. The secondary will boast impressive athleticism, but given that some wide receivers do double duty on the defense’s back end, size will be an asset as well. Brown and Bowser are penciled in as the starting corners and Belk and Talford will man the safety spots. Steen said, obviously, the two are long, rangy players with good hands, but said both are also tough. “They can come up and hit you too,” he said. Steen said he’s been extremely pleased with the way his defense has come together. He saw a lot of good signs in the team’s three-way scrimmage with York’s JV team and the Carolina Crusaders. “We saw multiple formations and a lot of motion and performed very well,” he said. The kicking game remains a work in progress, but if the season started now, Steen would have freshman Jeremy Bentley punting and Bowser kicking off. There are multiple options in the return game, including Bowser, Isenhower, Talford and Belk. Bottom Line After nearly 20 years as an assistant, Steen said “the newness” of being a head coach hasn’t worn off yet. The schedule isn’t an easy one, with region foes Lamar, McBee and Great Falls all starting the year ranked in the top 10 in Class A. Still, he likes the attitude and talent he has on hand and thinks it is enough to pull the program out of it’s 15-game losing streak. Having a full roster is a big part of that and not just because it means more talent and more depth. “Competition makes you better and makes you stronger. If you’re the only person there and you’re going against air or against a bag in practice every day, you aren’t going to be as motivated. If somebody is on your heels trying to take your job, it makes it more competitive and makes everybody better.” Great Falls Red Devils Roster 1 Trent Isenhower QB/LB 5'11" 165 Jr. 2 Kel Brown WR/DB 5'9" 165 Soph. 3 Zac Roberts WR/LB 6'3" 195 Sr. 4 Tommy Seagle QB/DB 5'7" 120 Fr. 5 Kaleb Funderburk QB/DB 5'8" 150 Fr. 6 Kelton Talford WR/DB 6'4" 160 Soph. 7 Quay Bowser RB/DB 5'7" 150 Soph. 8 Christian Blake WR/DB 5'5" 135 Fr. 9 Travis Payne WR/DB 5'10" 160 Jr. 10 Sincere Wilmore WR/DB 5'8" 145 Soph. 11 Hunter Funderburk WR/LB 5'5" 135 Fr. 12 Tommy Belk WR/DB 6'3" 160 Sr. 21 Elijah Simpson RB/LB 5'7" 190 Fr. 22 Gage Spinks RB/LB 5'10" 170 Sr. 23 Cameron White OL/DL 5'9" 210 Soph. 30 Scott Blackmon WR/LB 5'10" 195 Fr. 31 Jeremy Bentley WR/DB/K 5'6" 140 Fr. 41 Da'Shawn Johnson TE 5'11" 185 Fr. 51 Artez Blackmon OL/DL 5'10" 235 Sr. 54 Jamie Craig OL/DL 5'10" 225 Sr. 56 Anthony Cunningham OL/DL 6'4" 255 Soph. 61 Justin Montgomery OL/DL 5'11" 220 Jr. 62 Zaveon Beaty OL/DL 5'10" 285 Fr. 67 Dustin Smith OL/DL 6'1" 245 Jr. 68 Colton Shroyer OL/DL 5'10" 270 Fr. 71 Cody Spires OL/DL 6'0" 235 Sr. 73 Josh Hill OL/DL 5'9" 200 Fr. 75 Nathaniel Rowles OL/DL 6'2" 275 Fr. 83 Dakota Hinson WR/DB 5'5" 115 Fr. 86 Nathaniel Hall WR/LB/K 6'2" 235 Soph. 88 Jordan Roberts WR/DB 5'4" 105 Soph. Great Falls 2017 Schedule 8-25 at Whitmire 9-1 Blackville-Hilda 9-8 at Ware Shoals 9-15 Off week 9-22 North Central 9-29 at Timmonsville 10-6 at Andrew Jackson 10-13 at McBee 10-20 Lamar 10-27 at Lewisville Talford Stands Tall for the Devils To fans and opponents, Kelton Talford stands out because of his size (6-foot-4 and still growing). He stands out to his coaches too, but for different reasons. “Obviously, he is tall, but it’s more than that. He has a great attitude and is a guy that works very hard,” said Great Falls Football Coach Scotty Steen. “Kelton Talford is a tremendous athlete and has amazing work ethic,” said Jimmy Duncan, head basketball coach for the Red Devils. “This young man’s potential is extremely high due to his skill set, size, work ethic and being humble and hungry.” In an era when specialization becomes more and more common in athletics, there aren’t as many three-sport athletes as there used to be. There certainly aren’t many players who not only play three sports but start in all three as a freshman, but Talford did just that. He said keeping busy just comes naturally to him. “I’m always moving and always working out. Whatever season it is, I just work very hard on that sport. I like to be active. I’ve always got to be doing something,” Talford said. Talford’s first sport was actually baseball. He picked that up as an eight-year-old and started playing on a travel team. When he got to middle school, though, he says he “laid off baseball a little” (though he does play for the Great Falls team) and started to focus more on basketball. He found that the game came easy to him because of his agility and it’s only gotten easier as he’s gotten taller. Basketball is the sport he hopes to play at the college level. “Most bigs I play against aren’t as fast as me. I can get down the court very fast,” he said. He still likes baseball and really enjoys football, but admits that he’s most comfortable and at home on the court. “I like having my teammates around me and I like constantly moving. Just being on the court and shooting the ball is something I really enjoy,” he said. Of course the same things that make Talford a standout in basketball also make him a formidable football player. As a wide receiver, with his height, long arms and jumping ability, he’s a nearly impossible cover. In a scrimmage against the Carolina Crusaders, he went up and plucked a touchdown pass out of the air almost as effortlessly as he would a rebound. As a safety, his quickness and length made him almost as apt to come down with a throw as the receiver he’s covering. He had an impressive leaping interception in his team’s jamboree match-up with Franklin Christian. All the latent physical ability is obvious, but as his coaches explain there are intangibles present in Talford that can’t be taught. Part of the reason he can adapt from one sport, to the next, to the next so easily is because of his intellect. “I think my IQ is a strength in football. I know where I’m supposed to be and how to avoid taking a lot of direct hits,” Talford said. Part of what makes Talford so good is that he wants to be good. There’s an internal drive to excel present in him. “Our basketball program preaches competition in everything we do and our players rise to those high expectations,” Duncan said. That translates to football, of course. Talford doesn’t shy away from setting high goals, then striving to reach them. He wants to score at least 10 touchdowns this season for Great Falls and help the team back into the post-season after a rare year in 2016 that saw them miss the playoffs. He has the talent to do that, but he also has the dependability teammates and coaches want. That was evident over the summer in something that had nothing to do with his high school teams. Talford had committed to play for an AAU team out of York County. Once other squads (the kinds that have shoe companies as sponsors) got a look at him on the court, they actively tried to lure him to play for them. He passed, opting to follow through and honor his pledge to play the season with his team. It’s just one more example of Talford standing tall. Ross ready to be "the man" again Going from a high school player who never left the field and physically dominated everyone lined up in front of him to a college player fighting to earn playing time was initially difficult to deal with for Great Falls graduate and current Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Tyquan Ross. “It was a hard adjustment, no doubt,” he said. “I was used to being the man, but it’s OK now.” It would be hard to find any other instance in which Ross (an academic junior but athletic sophomore after redshirting his first year) has had a hard adjustment, with every other aspect of school life having fallen into place very quickly. A sociology major, Ross is on pace to graduate early, having only three semester left to complete his course work. He loves the Myrtle Beach area in general and is already making plans to live there after graduation and start a family. Initially, though, getting used to being off the field more than on was a challenge. In high school, Ross (who is listed at six feet tall and 295 pounds) started on the offensive line and defensive line for the Red Devils and was on every special team. As a senior, he graded out at 90 percent on the offensive line and totaled 57 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery as a defensive tackle. Even those numbers, impressive as they are, don’t give a true picture of his impact as a prep player. Ross holds the Great Falls school record in the bench press (420 pounds) and with his compact frame and low center of gravity, he soaked up near-constant double teams, freeing up teammates to make plays. When he arrived at Coastal, he was already one of the strongest players on the team (and remains so, with his last max out topping 470 pounds), but he soon found that brute strength alone wasn’t enough to secure playing time. “The pace is way faster in college. You’ve got to be able to adjust on the fly and think on the go. There’s a lot of things you’ve got to read and react to,” he said. On top of that, he discovered what all college players do, that where he was always one of the best players on the field in high school, he’s now competing against and with players who also were. Just being the biggest, strongest or fastest isn’t always quite enough to excel, or even to get on the field. “I learned how important technique was. In high school, we were just out there playing ball. Here, everybody is just as good as you, so it’s the little things that set you apart,” Ross said. Ross happens to play for one of the more unique coaches in college football in Joe Moglia, a coach turned billionaire businessman, turned coach. He said his new coach’s style is a little different than that of his high school head coach, former Great Falls head man Ken Schofield. “Coach Moglia comes at things from more of a business aspect. Schofield was more of a hands-on coach. I learned a lot from both,” he said. Current Great Falls Coach Scotty Steen was an assistant during Ross’s four years in high school. He has no doubt Ross will work himself into the rotation at Coastal Carolina. “Ty Ross always goes 100 percent on every snap in every game and practice,” he said. “He has a work ethic and a dedication to getting better. He was a lot of fun to coach. He is a humble person who is very unselfish with his time.” After redshirting as a freshman, Ross finally got on the field for two games last season. “It felt good to finally get my feet wet,” Ross said. That little taste has him hungry for more. Ross isn’t a big “me” person, so his goals are more about the team. He wants to have the best season he can have but wants to do whatever is best for his team. “I just want to contribute and help us win the Sun Belt (Conference) and help us get to a bowl game,” Ross said. Ross already has plans for life after college mapped out. He’d like to start off working for the Myrtle Beach Police Department, then the FBI. “My long-term goal is to be the United States Secretary of Defense,” Ross said. So just like in college, he’ll work his way up, then be “the man” again. Lewisville Lions Embrace High Expectations Last season, the Lewisville Lions broke an 11-year playoff win drought, advanced to the Class A upperstate semifinals and went 10-3, with the only losses coming to McBee (twice) and Lamar. So what does the team need to do to take the next step? “It’s sounds obvious, but we need to beat McBee and Lamar,” said Coach Will Mitchell. Expectations are high in Richburg this year, partly because of last year’s success, partly because of a big senior class but also because of the abundance of college-level talent present on Lewisville’s roster. Mitchell said his team is embracing its number two pre-season ranking and all the hype. “At a school like Lewisville, with the tradition here, the expectations are always going to be high,” he said. Offense As the team has since Mitchell arrived in 2012, Lewisville will operate from a spread on offense that seeks to run and throw effectively. Additionally, the Lions will retain the single-wing package it used (with great effectiveness) last year. “We like to spread the ball and throw, but we feel like the single-wing component in there allows us to have a physical presence,” Mitchell said. The team lost the school’s all-time leading passer in Trey Keels, who is now playing at Presbyterian College. Senior Rhett Cox, a three-year starter on defense, will fill the vacancy under center. Mitchell said Cox doesn’t have quite the experience as a passer that Keels had (though he had a good summer on the 7-on-7 circuit) but is more of a threat to run. When the team goes to its single-wing look, Johnny Courtney or Quentin Sanders will play quarterback. Gone from the receiving corps this year is Mike Hill, the school’s all-time leading receiver (who is now at Iowa Western). When healthy, though, Mitchell says that wide receiver is his deepest position. “There’s a tradition of guys stepping in here,” Mitchell said. “When Mike Hill was a freshman, people asked who was going to replace (former runner and receiver) Malcolm Means.” Among Cox’s targets this year will be Courtney, a senior slot receiver, who brings tremendous speed to the position. He scored twice on the ground in 2016, snagged six receiving touchdowns and returned three punts for scores. Teams should beware that he does a lot more than catch screen passes. “I just try to use my speed and locate the ball in the air,” he said of his tendency to get open deep. Seniors Chase Yoder and Mikial Fourney have been big-time contributors on defense in the past and both will also get reps at receiver this year, as will fellow senior Nick Rachels. There is depth with sophomores Brayden Lee, Jadon Scott and Demetric Hardin (who started for Lewisville’s state runner-up basketball team last year as a freshman). Senior Josh Belk, the highly-touted defensive lineman who has already committed to Clemson, will see some time at H-back. Despite weighing over 300 pounds, he looked comfortable running routes in 7-on-7s this summer and has good hands. Sophomore Chriss Flynn will see action there as well. Three-sport star Quentin Sanders (who sports an offer from Marshall) ran for 1,100 yards last season as a junior. Mitchell plans to “sprinkle him in” at essentially every offensive skill position this year. He has added about 15 pounds of muscle since last year. Senior Corey Wright has good size and runs with power and Mitchell said Ka’Mari Davis and junior Martez Moore will also get their share of touches. Up front, Mitchell has an experienced group. Junior Wesley Williamson started last year at guard, but is moving over to center. Senior Ja’Qayvious Simpson was an all-state pick last year and returns to his spot at guard, with senior D.J. McCullough playing the other guard spot. Senior Dorian Kirkpatrick is a returning starter at left tackle. The only unsettled position is right tackle where Jaylen McFadden, Belk and possibly others will all get snaps. Depth comes in the form three sophomores, Ryan Graddy, B.J. Saxton and Quinton Wallace. Defense For the second straight year. Lewisville will operate from a Bears 46 look on defense. “Right now, that’s what best fits our personnel,” Mitchell said. Belk will start at defensive tackle. Mitchell says he’s a key even when not making plays himself because of the double-teams he attracts, freeing up others. He’s been hampered by injuries each of the past two years, but is ready to finish his career in style. “I’ve just been working to stay healthy so we can go out on top,” he said. Nathan Kelly could be following in Belk’s footsteps to national prominence. Only a freshman, he’s secured a starting spot at end and is a candidate for the U.S. National team. He can also slide inside. Wallace, Flynn and Simpson will all see action at the other end spot. Outside linebacker Jene Thompson and Daryl Manning (both playing in college) and their 30 sacks will be tough to replace, but Wright, senior Tyrus McCullough and junior Jeffrey Mayes all have the talent to produce big numbers. Senior middle (or box) backer Jaylen McFadden is not only the leading returning tackler, Mitchell said he’s an emotional leader on the squad. Carlito McGraw, a senior, filled in at linebacker when injuries struck last year and now steps into a starting role inside next to McFadden. Graddy is the top back-up. At corner will be Yoder (seven picks last year) and Davis. Sanders, Hardin and Scott will all play there too. Brayden Lee, a sophomore transfer from South Pointe, and sophomore Ja’Shawn Jason, will split time at rover. Safety will be ably handled by the physical and rangy Fourney, a starter since his first game as a freshman. Fourney (who Mitchell calls “an eraser”) has an offer from Liberty. Mitchell is still auditioning kickers (three members of the soccer team are on the roster) but Cox will be the punter, while Sanders and Courtney handle most of the return duties. Bottom Line The region schedule hasn’t gotten easier and the out-of-region slate still has the team playing up against some bigger schools. Lewisville doesn’t have great depth, but in terms of athleticism, Mitchell says “we’re there” and he thinks this is his most talented team, top-to-bottom. To make this the kind of season he’s hoping for, he said intangibles, like on-field communication, need to improve…and the Lions need to beat McBee and Lamar. Lewisville Lions Roster 1 Quentin Sanders Sr. 2 Tyrus McCullough Sr. 3 Mikial Fourney Sr. 4 Rhett Cox Sr. 5 Martez Moore Jr. 7 Carlito McGraw Sr. 9 Corey Wright Sr. 10 Johnny Courtney Sr. 11 Chase Yoder Sr. 14 Chriss Flynn Soph. 15 Ka'Mari Davis Sr. 20 Jeffrey Mayes Jr. 21 Jadon Scott Soph. 24 Demetric Hardin Soph. 30 Ja'Shawn Jason Jr. 33 Brayden Lee Soph. 34 Nathan Kelly Fr. 42 Zy'Lik Dunifer Soph. 50 Ja'Qayvious Simpson Sr. 51 Jaylen McFadden Sr. 55 Dorian Kirkpatrick Sr. 60 William McBrayer Fr. 64 Wesley Williamson Jr. 66 Brian Saxton Soph. 70 D.J. McCullough Sr. 75 Ryan Graddy Soph. 76 Quinton Wallace Soph. 80 Nick Rachels Sr. 85 Nick Hastings Soph. 90 Josh Belk Sr. Lewisville 2017 Schedule 8-18 Andrew Jackson 8-25 at Blacksburg 9-1 at Buford 9-8 Whitmire 9-15 Eau Claire 9-22 at C.A. Johnson 9-29 McBee 10-6 at Lamar 10-13 Off week 10-20 at Timmonsville 10-27 Great Falls Belk turns recruiter for Clemson Once he made a firm commitment to play for the Clemson Tigers, the recruiting texts, calls, letters and tweets all stopped for Lewisville’s Josh Belk. At least the incoming ones did. Belk, one of the top-ranked defensive line prospects in the country, has gone from the recruited to the recruiter and is reaching out to other players in an effort to make his class the best in the country and lay the foundation for another national championship for the Tigers. Belk’s rise to national prominence began before he’d ever actually made an impact on the football field. He didn’t really play football in middle school, but came out as a freshman largely because so many of his friends played the sport. He got into a few games that year just working to find his way like most inexperienced players, but Lions Coach Will Mitchell saw enough to know he potentially had something special on his hands. “Just athletically, he can do things most guys his size can’t do,” Mitchell said. Anyone who doubts that claim need only have watched the 6-foot-4, 320 pounder out-jump defenders for rebounds on the basketball court or run patterns as a wide receiver this summer in 7-on-7 action. “I caught a two-point conversion,” Belk noted. “And a couple of balls for first downs.” At a camp after his freshman year, a college coach, impressed after seeing Belk blow through a set of drills, offered him some advice. The difference in him being All-State and All-American was about 20 pounds. Belk took that to heart, eliminated soda and bread from his diet and got under 300 pounds at one point. He’s dealt with injuries, though none are the type that indicates he is injury prone. He was on the receiving end of a chop-block in a scrimmage prior to his sophomore season that cost him multiple games, then after a dominant six-game stretch to start last season, he turned his ankle stepping in a hole as he jogged off the practice field. He actually avoided what could have been much more than a knee or ankle injury recently, though. Belk was driving home one night on a back road when he hit a small patch of rocks and rolled his truck. Miraculously, Belk’s only injury was a busted lip and a minor cut on his leg. “I just sat there for about 10 minutes, shocked,” Belk said. “I had to walk about two miles to get help. I was just saying ‘thank you, God’ over-and-over.” He’s come through it all, though and his latent skills alone garnered him a pair of SEC offers before he played a snap as sophomore. Once it became apparent that his talent more than translated to the field, he shot up recruiting rankings. He probably could have used a full-time secretary to keep up with the sheer volume of recruiting calls and mail he received. Mitchell said he once got almost 50 pieces of mail over a four-day period delivered to the school. At least one college had every member of its coaching staff send Belk a hand-written letter. Lewisville became a must-stop location for coaches out on the recruiting trail. Had he chosen too, Belk could have stretched out the process and made his commitment on TV on National Signing Day. Instead, he shut down his recruiting process early this year, announced his intention to graduate early and committed to Clemson. “It was always Clemson with me. There’s just something about it. It’s such a family atmosphere and everybody is always so positive. Coaches, players, fans, everybody. You can’t be there and be in a bad mood,” Belk said. Belk said the national championship Clemson won not long before his commitment actually didn’t play into his decision. He felt at home there, made an immediate strong bond with Todd Bates (Clemson’s new defensive line coach), is impressed by the number of early graduates the football team produces and likes the team’s history of sending defensive linemen on to the NFL. Specifically, Belk is looking forward to playing with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, a freshman All-American last season. Lining up next to him after watching him this season “will be cool,” said Belk, who thinks playing with the best will push him to be the best. “Everything there is a fit for me,” Belk said. Now, Belk is trying to convince others players that it is a perfect fit for them too. He has reached out to guys who are considering Clemson, but remain uncommitted. “The defense is pretty much taken care of, but we need a few more guys on offense,” Belk said. He and a few other Clemson commits have started a Twitter group where they reach out to undecided players like offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and wide receiver Justin Ross. “We just talk to them about coming in together, starting young and building chemistry,” Belk said. Just like Dabo Swinney, Belk wants Clemson to have as talented a roster as possible and is doing what he can to help. “What they’ve got started, we want to keep that going and win another championship,” he said. But, first things first. Belk will be at Lewisville for four months. Before he and the rest of the 2018 class he’s helping build try to win a championship at Clemson, he’s going to try to win one with the Lions. McFadden making his own name The McFadden name is a famous one where Lewisville football is concerned. Michael “Boot” McFadden was a feared starting linebacker on a pair of state champion winners for the Lions and Wesley McFadden is widely considered one of the best running backs to ever tote a ball in the history of the South Carolina prep football. A new generation has come along, one that more than upholds the family tradition. Jaylen McFadden is the starting middle linebacker (and sometime offensive lineman) for the 2017 incarnation of the Lions. His stats from last season (over 110 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss), provide a partial glimpse into what kind of player he is. To get the full picture, though, one has to watch McFadden when he isn’t between the lines and under the lights on Friday nights. On the practice field, in the weight room and on the sidelines he is every bit as ferocious and full-energy as he is during games. Even when he’s on the sidelines, he can’t stay still, prowling back and forth, shouting encouragement to teammates and barking at the opposition. “My teammates always know I’ve got their backs and I know they’ve got mine. That’s a great feeling. I’ve always had a passion for the game,” McFadden said. Lewisville Coach Will Mitchell said he knew fairly early that he had something special in McFadden. “Obviously he’s an outstanding football player, but it’s more than that with Mike. He plays with a fire that’s contagious,” Mitchell said. McFadden started playing football as soon as he was old enough to take part in an organized league, following in the footsteps of his dad (Michael) and uncle (Wesley). He stood out even at a young age, mostly because his approach to football was the same then as it is now. “I’ve always given 100 percent effort day in and day out,” he said. As he has gotten older, he’s learned that part of giving that 100 percent includes studying game plans and knowing what the opposition’s tendencies are. He does that and it shows, as he often appears to know where plays are going before the ball is even snapped. It’s not uncommon for him to edge toward a particular gap and meet a running back there…a battle offensive players rarely win against the 240-pounder. “That’s half instinct and half preparing yourself. I just try to do my part,” he said. McFadden has proven that you can stand out and be a seamless part of unit at the same time. He says that isn’t really hard, since he and many of his teammates have played together since they were six. That builds trust and chemistry and a sense among teammates that “everything is handled” so no one tries do anyone else’s job. That McFadden has made himself noticed the past few seasons is quite an accomplishment in itself. Last year, he played with two linebackers (Jene Thompson and Daryl Manning) that each racked up double-digit sacks and are currently on college rosters. His current teammates include a defensive lineman who has already committed to Clemson (Josh Belk), a safety with a Division I offer (MIkial Fourney) and a sometime corner with a pair of major offers (Quentin Sanders). He’s as productive as anybody but he hasn’t garnered quite as much attention from college recruiters. He thinks he knows why. “It’s because of my height mostly. I’m only about 5-foot-10,” he said. McFadden believes that his height, combined with his build also creates the mistaken impression to some that he’s slow. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, many college coaches just won’t let themselves believe that a guy his size has foot speed. “They think I’m slow. In 7-on-7 in the summer, they’ll try to pick on me…until I intercept a pass. It happens all the time,” McFadden said. Mitchell thinks that if McFadden has the kind of senior season he is expecting him to, it will be impossible for anyone to ignore him. McFadden isn’t going to worry about that for now, though. With the talent his team has on hand, he’s ready to do his part to help build on last year’s 10-3 record. He knows with McBee and Lamar in his team’s region (the two played for the upperstate title last season) the sledding will be tough, but he’s confident Lewisville is ready for any battle. “I’ve just got a feeling we’re going to win it all in football and basketball,” he said. Winning state titles is nothing new for someone named McFadden at Lewisville. Doing so just carries on a family tradition. Jaylen is proud of his family name but he wants to show he isn’t just living in the shadow of it. “I want to leave my own mark. I’m trying to make my own name.” The Art of the Sale Chester Coach Victor Floyd says there is one universal truth about high school football players. “Most kids just want to play some more,” he said. “All kids want to be recruited. They want to play just a little bit longer.” Floyd has helped a lot of goys stay on the field, using an extensive network of connections to get as many of his players scholarships as possible. When he goes to coaching clinics and conventions, he generally does so with a briefcase full of highlight tapes to hand out. When Chester played for state in 2007, seven of his eight seniors that season earned scholarships. He is the kind of coach who sees helping players to the next level as being part of his job. “If you put in the time and work in our program, I’ll put in time and work for you,” Floyd said. That doesn’t mean every player will be running down the hill at Clemson or walking out of the smoke at Williams-Brice Stadium. Some players go the Division I route, but many more end up at FCS schools, Division II, Division III, junior colleges or NAIA institutions. Where a player goes isn’t as important, though, as what they make of their opportunity. It’s about continuing to play and getting a free education. Lewisville Coach Will Mitchell said he’s never really had a player with unrealistic expectations about where he might end up. “You get that with parents sometimes, but kids kind of know what kind of player they are. It’s about having really good communication with them,” he said. Both have had experience coaching national-recruited players. Mitchell has one now in Josh Belk, who is committed to Clemson. Really, the interest in Belk started before he’d really made any impact on the field. Belk only got into three games as a freshman, but before his sophomore year, South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, Clemson and Ohio State were all pushing hard for the big defensive tackle based on his camp work. Mitchell said he wasn’t surprised because recruiting often has less to do with production and more to do with potential.
“They look for certain things. Flexibility is one. There are a lot of big guys, but can they move? Can they bend? Josh can do those things, which is rare at his size. He’s such a good athlete,” Mitchell said. Floyd said recruiting has changed a lot in the last 20 years, in good ways and bad. With the Internet and websites like Hudl, players can get their highlights seen by college coaches across the country. The rise of recruiting services and rankings have made a difference too, but not always for the best. “College coaches rely on graduate assistants and recruiting ratings a lot more than they do high school coaches. They still keep you in the process but we’re not as involved as we used to be,” Floyd said. Floyd said camps are a big part of recruiting now. They have merits, but Floyd thinks colleges rely too much on what a player does in a t-shirt and shorts. Just being big, strong and fast doesn’t make you a great player, just like being an inch too short or a tenth-of-a-second too slow in the 40 doesn’t make you a bad one. “They set themselves up for a lot of busts that way,” Floyd said. Both men wish coaches trusted their own instincts more. Colleges rarely want to be the first to take a chance and offer a guy who isn’t rated highly by recruiting services, for fear of how bad they’ll look if they player doesn’t pan out. Mitchell said making sure a player has the necessary grads and tests scores is important, since not having them makes players a no-go from the get-go. He said it’s also important for him, as a high school coach, to be honest with college coaches. He doesn’t want to oversell a guy, because if he doesn’t pan out, his opinion won’t be valued as much in the future. “But at the same time, if they trust you, they are more willing to take a guy who might be borderline. They know your word is good,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said having one super high profile player is also a benefit to others in the program. It’s a “rising tide raises all boats” theory. Over 50 colleges came through Lewisville in the last year because of Belk. In the process, they saw that Lewisville didn’t have just one talented player. Lions Mikial Fourney and Quentin Sanders now also sport D-1 offers (from Liberty and Marshall respectively). He thinks the Internet has done the same thing. More guys get seen and fewer fall through the cracks. That means more opportunities for more athletes to play just a little bit longer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Media Staff
_______________________ Archives
August 2020
Categories |