Palmetto Combine East: 2024 MVP, Award Winners And More

Ian Guerin April 16, 2023 @ 12:24 PM

Potential 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.   FLORENCE | [player_tooltip player_id='139297' first='Jyron' last='Waiters'] had a solid junior season.   The Wilson receiver put up 701 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air and put up just shy of another 500 on returns. Since the season ended, Waiters has hit another gear - something that continued Sunday at the Palmetto Combine Series East rising seniors session at West Florence.   “I try to push myself to the level of everyone else,” Waiters said. “I try to be different. Just working, working, working to get to where I want to be.”   Waiters (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) put up solid numbers during the combine portion of the morning, recording a combine-best 39.8-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad jump, a pro shuttle of 4.38 and a 4.47 40-yard dash. Then, during individual sessions, he stood out among not only the receivers, but the 125 players in attendance.   Waiters was named the MVP, as voted upon by the coaches and organizers.   And while two of his Wilson teammates in particular also excelled, Waiters' successful spring notched another benchmark, something he attributes to some late-season 2022 motivation.   “To see us leave in the first round of the playoffs, that really hurt,” Waiters said. “It pushed me to do what [it takes] to get to where [last year's seniors] wanted to be, to win a state championship. It takes a lot of work to be there. So I push myself every day thinking about them.”   It's already paid off in the form of a handful of scholarship offers and plenty more interest the last few months.   And on Sunday, he proved that his dedication was worth it.   AROUND THE PCS EAST   The PCS staff and coaches used a variety of assessment protocols to hand out some hardware to a bunch of other players in attendance on Sunday.   Fastest 40: [player_tooltip player_id='340388' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] South Aiken, 4.37 - An absolute blazer who ran for north of 2,000 yards last season, the Thorobreds' quarterback drew a crowd for his 40s and then put on a show. His first attempt chimed in at a 4.49, and that was despite slipping on the artificial turf while trying to get going.   Pro Shuttle: [player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel'] Hartsville, 4.15 - McDaniel aggravated a quad injury and missed the second half Sunday as a precaution, but not before putting up the best pro shuttle time very early in the day.   Broad Jump: Ralph Boston Wilson, 9 feet, 9 inches - Boston actually finished second to Waiters (they spread the wealth with the awards), but at 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, his combine presence topped off with his broad jump.   Top Defensive Line: [player_tooltip player_id='996900' first='Kito' last='Douglas'] Wilson - The 6-foot-5, 229-pounder dominated the one-on-one sessions against many of the top offensive linemen.   Top Offensive Line: [player_tooltip player_id='1142708' first='Ryan' last='McFarland'] Lexington - At 6-foot and 235 pounds, McFarland was certainly on the bottom end of the spectrum in the size category at the position. However, he was extremely active and exhibited the footwork necessary to keep up.   Top Defensive Skill: [player_tooltip player_id='91351' first='Jayden' last='Fuller'] Aiken - Fuller yet again exhibited some flexibility - participating in drills with both linebackers and defensive linemen - and he more than held his own in every spot.   Top Offensive Skill: [player_tooltip player_id='440461' first='Harrison' last='Collins'] Blythewood - The 6-foot-3, 224-pound quarterback was arguably the most accurate signal caller Sunday despite playing amid most of the top-ranked players at the position in class.

Potential 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.