SCHSL Championship Weekend Full Of Under The Radar Players
Five games. Five titles up for grabs. A whole bunch of players who are positioned to help their teams. Across South Carolina’s squads playing for state championships this weekend, here are the names you need to know that may have…
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Continue ReadingFive games. Five titles up for grabs.
A whole bunch of players who are positioned to help their teams.
Across South Carolina’s squads playing for state championships this weekend, here are the names you need to know that may have flown somewhat under the radar among rosters loaded with star-studded talent.
THOMAS BEAUFORD, QB, ABBEVILLE
When you’re surrounded by this many talented running backs in a run-first scheme, it’s possibly the only way a quarterback is overlooked. Beauford’s steady play has been the glue that holds it all together this fall, adding 13 touchdowns of his own along the way.
KY’HEIM BETHEA, LB, MARION
Bethea is tuned up and ready for a game in which he may be asked to do even more. The active linebacker is going to face plenty of chances for tackles against Abbeville’s high-powered run game, and we’d be shocked if he doesn’t end up in the double digits.
BRAXTON DIMERY, RB/DB, LAKE VIEW
At 6-foot-2, Dimery is the Gators’ top target on the outside – 238 yards and four touchdowns worth of receptions. But in the secondary, Dimery is a match-up nightmare. He’s got 40 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and has blocked two punts.
JORDAN GRAYDEN, RB, DANIEL
The senior tailback’s modest 324 rushing yards in 2020 don’t pop off the page, necessarily, but what he’s done with his touches the last few weeks certainly does. In the last four games, Grayden has put up five touchdowns on the ground, including two in the Upper State finals.
JARVIS GREEN, RB, DUTCH FORK
If Green stays on his current path, everyone is going to know his name soon enough. The 5-foot-11 sophomore has reached the end zone 11 times this year and scored a touchdown in every game this season until the Lower State finals win against Sumter.
MICHAEL KENNEDY, DT, SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN
OK, so maybe it’s a little harder for a 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle to fly under the radar. Yet, there are so many high-quality pieces flying around on this defense that Kennedy’s production (41 tackle, 14 TFL, 7.5 sacks) is oft-forgotten.
CHANDLER MCCALL, DB, NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
Amid a whole bunch of Chiefs on that side of the ball who are as steady as can be, McCall is the guy who can flip a game. The safety has got a team-leading four interceptions to go along with his 36 tackles. He also has a blocked punt, a pick-six and a kickoff return for a score.
XZAVIER MCLEOD, DT, CAMDEN
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound sophomore is going to blow up on the recruiting trail, but there will be plenty of time for that down the line. This year, he’s already racked up 43 tackles, 14 quarterback hurries, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.
KABRAIL MORRISON, RB, T.L. HANNA
While J.J. Hudson has gotten more of the workload than any other Yellow Jacket this season, you could make an argument that Morrison’s contributions the last three games have been bigger. The junior made the most of his 20 carries in November, rushing for eight touchdowns.
ERIQ RICE, WR, A.C. FLORA
At some point on Saturday, the Falcons will actually throw the ball, and Rice, a 6-foot-2 receiver, is the primary target. His 20 receptions, 555 yards and seven touchdowns are all twice what the next-best receiver on this team has put up this season.