Potential Breakout Stars At Palmetto Combine South
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Continue ReadingPotential New Subscribers: Take advantage of our 40% off special by using the coupon code Guerin40 at checkout. In addition to our 365-day-a-year football approach, Prep Red Zone South Carolina is the official media partner of the 2023 Palmetto Combine Series, meaning subscribers will get first-hand information on many of the 1,200 athletes in attendance at all four sites.
Three top-15 players in the Class of 2024 have all been invited to participate in the Palmetto Combine Series event in Summerville on April 1.
James Island’s Wushi Ravenel Wushi Ravenel 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR James Island | 2024 State SC , Lucy Beckham’s Bryce Rothwell Bryce Rothwell 6'4" | 245 lbs | TE Lucy Beckham | 2024 State SC and Philip Simmons’ Troy Stevenson Troy Stevenson 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Philip Simmons | 2024 State SC will all be viewed by everyone on site when they go through their drills.
But who are some others who might just jump off the turf at John McKissick Stadium? We’ve got some good ideas.
These nine players might just have the type of combine that elevates their personal stock while kickstarting their 2023 seasons.
James Brockington James Brockington 6'3" | 295 lbs | DL Kingstree | 2024 State SC DL, Kingstree
Brockington was dealing with a bit of an injury during the Joanne Langfitt Junior Showcase back in December, so he wasn’t able to show off just how much of a weight room junkie he really is. But coach Brian Smith contends his 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle is back up to form. Brockington is physically impressive both in look and production. And he’s itching to show what he can do.
Jeremiah Curry Jeremiah Curry 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Bluffton | 2024 State SC LB, Bluffton
The 6-foot, 205-pounder put up 92 tackles last season. Here’s the crazy part: His numbers might just skyrocket in 2023. Curry missed some time early on in his junior season and then showed he was only going to keep getting better as the season progressed. We don’t believe that upward trend is over.
Derrick Salley Derrick Salley 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Ashley Ridge | 2024 State SC WR, Ashley Ridge
Ashley Ridge didn’t throw a ton last fall. In fact, of the 96 completions, 31 of them were hauled in by Salley. His 460 yards and four touchdowns last season also led the way, and it’s not hard to see why. At 6-foot-3 (barefoot) and 202 pounds, Salley (pictured) is a matchup nightmare. What Salley also does well is combines. His size allowed him to stand out at the Joanne Langfitt Junior Showcase in December. He should in Summerville, too.
Davion Malloy Davion Malloy 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Goose Creek | 2024 State SC WR, Goose Creek
Ready for a blazer? Look no further than Malloy. Goose Creek’s 2024 receiver is 6-foot, 180 pounds and has already been clocked several times south of 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. In a Catapult vest, Malloy is going to impress even more. He caught 60 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He’s as good as advertised, and his name is going to start climbing some recruiting charts very soon.
Amor Scott Amor Scott 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB James Island | 2025 State SC RB, James Island
The kid known as “Tank” is an easy 210 these days. He’s frequently running the stadium this offseason in a weighted vest to keep him there. You think weight- and pad-free drills are going to scare him off? Scott is a low-to-the-ground runner who uses his size much like Mike Tolbert did – both as a fullback and in a traditional tailback. Scott has two seasons left on the high school scene, and this probably won’t be the only combine we hear him tearing up before it’s said and done.
Brandon Pontoon Brandon Pontoon 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Wagener-Salley | 2024 State SC OL/DL, Wagener-Salley
Wagener-Salley’s big lineman is an extremely patient player. He often lets plays come to him because it’s the right thing to do in that moment. But a deep dive on him shows that he’s anything but slow. Pontoon has excellent footwork and a quick burst that could translate easily to the drills the linemen will be performing. Also, don’t be surprised if his 40 time is in the top 10 percent of the big men.
Terry Grant Terry Grant 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB West Ashley | 2024 State SC LB, West Ashley
Terry might have been the most productive player on a West Ashley defense that allowed a measly 15 points per game in 2022. He averaged 10 tackles per game and showed an explosiveness off the snap. Grant is 6-foot and 200 pounds, so that quick-twitch ability stands out even more in a combine setting when his all focus will be on him during his drills.
Christian Zachary WR/DB, Calhoun County
Much like Salley, Zachary knows how to put his height to good use. He’s 6-foot-3 and has an even wider wingspan. And while he’s going to be running with the receivers during the Palmetto Combine, he also has the reactive qualities developed during his time at defensive back. Simply, Zachary is a playmaker when he’s the field.
Lavon White Lavon White 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Andrews | 2024 State SC RB, Andrews
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound back carried the ball 121 times in 2022. In all of those carries, he was stopped for a loss a total of three times (for eight yards). He’s just shifty and strong enough to prevent those negative carries from coming to fruition. While no one will be trying to tackle him at Summerville, he’ll be on the larger end of the spectrum of running backs at that site.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Members of the Prep Red Zone team will be on site for each of the four Palmetto Combine Series events in April, covering all the players and storylines. This year’s series will be held April 1 at Summerville, April 2 at York, April 15 at Westside and April 16 at West Florence. Prep Red Zone staff members were not responsible for the nomination or selection of participants in this year’s event.