Why Raheim Jeter Should Win Mr. Football 2022
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Imagine having the pressure of everyone knowing your name, and what you could do with a football, before taking a varsity snap. Now imagine living up to that pressure. Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg…
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Continue ReadingImagine having the pressure of everyone knowing your name, and what you could do with a football, before taking a varsity snap.
Now imagine living up to that pressure.
Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC did. He continues to. And that’s why he’s a perfect candidate to win South Carolina’s Mr. Football award.
Jeter’s path to becoming a finalist hasn’t been a straight one, nor has it been easy. He’s transferred schools. He’s committed to a college, backed off, and committed to another. He’s been injured, he’s bounced back, and in a freak occurrence, he’s been shot in a road-rage situation gone bad.
And he’s done nothing but persevere. As a sophomore, he threw for more than 1,100 yards and helped the Vikings weather the Covid season. As a junior, he missed some time, then bounced back to lead the Vikings to the 5A Upper State championship game.
This year, he’s been outstanding. Playing a non-region schedule that included two Southeastern powerhouses and South Carolina goliath Dutch Fork, the Vikings struggled early. But Jeter is playing well down the stretch, with an overtime setback against Gaffney the only blemish on Spartanburg’s region record. He’s thrown for 1,884 yards and 15 TDs with a 70 percent completion rate. He’s got almost 300 yards rushing, and has added 10 scores on the ground.
One of his best games came in a loss, but one that proved Dutch Fork might be mortal. Jeter was a magnificent 20-of-24 for 242 yards and three TDs.
Then there was a wild, 42-41 Week 10 victory over Dorman, where Jeter’s numbers were a little more pedestrian. But he ran for three TDs and threw two more, including a got-to-have-it prayer that proved to be the game winner. Just take a look.
Spartanburg head coach Mark Hodge said everything you can see Jeter do makes him a perfect Mr. Football candidate on the field.
“He’s obviously got great talent,” Hodge said. “He’s got a big arm. He can make all the throws. He’s a big body that’s hard to tackle, and that helps him in the run game. But he’s got a calmness and a confidence about him that helps him lead and helps him drive others. He’s also a verbal leader, with the intelligence to run our offense and a calming presence to get guys where they need to be.”
What’s just as important, Hodge said, is what people can’t see. It’s the way Jeter has responded to some of the struggles he’s faced.
“It drives his leadership ability,” Hodge said. “The way he handles adversity. He’s had his character questioned a couple of times when he’s done nothing wrong. He’s learned how to drown out negativity and how to stay positive and how to focus on the right voices. At his age, that’s a huge thing.
As the Vikings enter the playoffs, those are all things that can help push them back toward another date in the Upper State final, and maybe beyond. They’re also why Jeter would make an outstanding Mr. Football.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a seven-part series breaking down the finalists for South Carolina’s Mr. Football award for this fall. Our scouts have seen these players this season and have in some cases tracked them from prior to their varsity playing days. The 2022 Mr. Football Award will be announced and presented at halftime of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on December 10.
2022 Mr. Football Finalists
Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC RB, Dutch Fork
Bryson James RB, Clinton
Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC QB, Spartanburg
Xzavier McLeod Xzavier McLeod 6'5" | 320 lbs | DL Camden | 2023 State SC DL, Camden
Jonah Norris Jonah Norris 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 State SC RB, Lexington
LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC QB, South Florence
Tyler J Smith Tyler J Smith 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Barnwell | 2023 State SC RB, Barnwell