Class 3A Contenders? Hard To Argue With These Teams
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Class 3A has spent the last two seasons doing what it could do to break up the Daniel dominance. The Lions haven’t lost a game while a now-former quarterback put up video game numbers and everyone else was playing for…
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Continue ReadingClass 3A has spent the last two seasons doing what it could do to break up the Daniel dominance.
The Lions haven’t lost a game while a now-former quarterback put up video game numbers and everyone else was playing for second-best. Is it time for the tide to turn?
The five talent-rich programs – including Daniel – are the likely front-runners to haul in the final win of the 2022 season. The other four have been close, and we’re about to see a year-long battle for position and then ultimate bragging rights.
BEAUFORT (Last year: 12-3)
Beaufort has one of the state’s most recruited defensive linemen in Eamon Smalls Eamon Smalls 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL Beaufort | 2023 TX , a tight end star in the making in Michael Dennison Michael Dennison 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Beaufort | 2023 State SC , a budding tailback in Caleb Ulmer and a defensive back in Daryl DePass who has verbally committed to Charlotte but who will have some others clearly still pursuing him. Frankly, the Eagles are the new big kids on the block after dropping down from Class 4A and will want to prove it.
CAMDEN (Last year: 11-3)
Frankly, Camden likely has the best defensive line in the entire class when weighing the merits of Xzavier McLeod Xzavier McLeod 6'5" | 320 lbs | DL Camden | 2023 State SC , David Copley David Copley 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Camden | 2023 State SC and Grayson White Grayson White 6'0" | 240 lbs | QB Camden | 2024 State SC . That will cure a lot of ills, as opposing offenses find themselves going one-dimensional even when they’re not trailing by a large margin. Running against this group is tough going, and coach Brian Rimpf – a former NFL offensive lineman – understands everything begins up front.
DANIEL (Last year: 14-0)
Daniel has won back-to-back titles for a reason, and it wasn’t all about Trent Pearman Trent Pearman 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Daniel | 2022 State SC . The two-time Gatorade Player of the Year will be moving on to the college ranks. But arguably the best one-two receiver punch in South Carolina in Eli Merck Eli Merck 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR DW Daniel | 2023 State SC and Jaylen Brown-Wallace Jaylen Brown-Wallace 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Daniel | 2023 State SC return, as does stud offensive lineman Bryce Smith Bryce Smith 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL Daniel | 2023 State SC and top-30 overall player in defensive back Misun Kelley Misun Kelley 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB DW Daniel | 2023 State SC . This group is highly experienced, and all it knows is winning.
DILLON (Last year: 9-1)
All Dillon has done since the start of the 2008 season is win all but two region games and made 12 state championship game appearances. Yeah, they’re automatically a contender until proven otherwise. The likes of offensive linemen Josiah Thompson Josiah Thompson 6'7" | 290 lbs | OL Dillon | 2024 State SC and Carlos Miller Carlos Miller 6'2" | 275 lbs | OL Dillon | 2025 State SC , upcoming tailback Jamarion Fling and a handful of former role players about to jump into prime spots means the Wildcats should again make a deep run.
GILBERT (Last year: 9-3)
The only thing preventing the Indians from averaging double-digit victories over the past three years has been the loss of regular-season contests due to the pandemic. But a group that won at least eight games during the last two seasons is bringing back a nice group, including Chance Jennings Chance Jennings 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Gilbert | 2023 State SC , Blake Cooke Blake Cooke 6'3" | 235 lbs | OL Gilbert | 2023 State SC , Alias Graham-Woodberry Alias Graham-Woodberry 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2023 State SC , Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Gilbert | 2023 State SC and Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC .