2022 Preview: South Florence Bruins
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The end of the 2021 season was a tough pill to swallow for South Florence. The Bruins believe it was proper medicine to take for what could be a highlight-reel 2022. After losing the final three games of the season…
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Continue ReadingThe end of the 2021 season was a tough pill to swallow for South Florence.
The Bruins believe it was proper medicine to take for what could be a highlight-reel 2022.
After losing the final three games of the season – including ultra-meaningful region contests against Myrtle Beach and West Florence and then a playoff opener at eventual Lower State champ Beaufort – South is tuned back up and ready to start off this fall like it did a season ago. Maybe the biggest reason for the positive vibes is due to the return of of quarterback LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC .
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Syracuse commit missed a little more than half of last season after suffering a shoulder/chest injury. In the months since, he’s more than returned to form. He’s squatting north of 500 pounds and his arm strength is even better than it was a year ago.
“I do not like to be this type of guy, but after our fourth or fifth spring practice, I called [South Carolina coach] Shane Beamer and told him ‘You need to get out here,’” South Florence coach Drew Marlowe said. “… He’s the best I’ve seen. I’ve begged them to come down here and look at him. It’s an absolute shame that he’s going to leave the state.”
As good as Sellers can be – he threw for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns while running for 248 and six more in four games last year – the sheer amount of talent around him is what makes the Bruins such a scary team.
South Florence returns nine of its 11 starters on offense. Talented right guard Nate McGee has made the move to center, and linemen Justin Joe (6-foot-1, 280 pounds) and Hunter McClary (6-foot-4, 265 pounds) will be back.
At the skill spots is where the pizazz of this offense should be reflected again. That’s because receivers Jabray Johnson (17 receptions, 580 yards, eight touchdowns), Juan Fargas and Jayden Sellers, LaNorris’ younger brother, give South three speedy receivers to complement new starting tailback Shikeem Shilow and H-Backs/tight ends Rodney Lesane, Landon Matthews and Thomas Smith.
Speed might be the name of the game on offense, but the defense, well, that’s where South can really set itself apart.
Free safety Quincy Rhodes Quincy Rhodes 5'11" | 155 lbs | DB South Florence | 2024 State SC will return to that side of the ball after intercepting four passes and recovering a fumble in limited duty last year while taking over at quarterback after Sellers’ injury. Middle linebacker Trokel Prew Trokel Prew 5'8" | 185 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC (61 total tackles, 11 TFL, five sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and outside linebacker Jaylin William Davis Jaylin William Davis 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC (60.5 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception) pair up to give Region VI-4A two of its best at the position. And defensive linemen Chantwan Harkless Chantwan Harkless 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL South Florence | 2024 State SC (12 tackles, three sacks in eight games) and Richard Hobbs (19.5 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery) can more than hold their own in the run game.
None of them are huge, necessarily, but that’s not what Marlowe is going for. Everything is built about getting the fastest players on the field.
“Our speed has improved on defense,” Marlowe said. “And I think that’s probably the No. 1 reason we’re going to be better. This game has moved to you better be able to run.”