Palmetto Combine South: 2024 Small-School Standouts

Ian Guerin April 1, 2023 @ 10:36 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.   DORCHESTER | [player_tooltip player_id='315319' first='Tamari' last='Daniels'] was the walking embodiment of the kid from the tiny school trying to exceed expectations at the Palmetto Combine Series South event at Woodland.   Daniels, a rising senior at Class A Blackville-HIlda, had high hopes for his own production just the same.   “I think I might have had the fastest time in the 40-yard dash and the pro shuttle, too. I can't wait to see,” Daniels said near the end of the combine session Saturday morning. “I think it means I could compete with these guys as a 1A student-athlete.”   Check, check and check.   Daniels (pictured, during his broad jump), was verified at all of 5-foot-6 and 129.1 pounds. Yet, he blew the doors off the pro shuttle by running a 4.1, some .15 of a second better than the next fastest time. He also tied for the fastest time in the 40 at a 4.45, a time that came despite running in extremely windy conditions that were anything but favorable to the times put up during the kickoff event of the Palmetto Combine.   Daniels was aware the award for the pro shuttle (PCS staff elected to spread the wealth by giving the fastest 40 time to Ashley Ridge's Nik Jefferson).    He wasn't, however, the only small-school player to show out against players from schools with  upwards of five-six times the student body.   PRO SHUTTLE   Philip Simmons tailback Isaac Schimpf was a good example of the small-school players who might not be as accustomed to combine events getting his feet under him. After running a 4.56 in the pro shuttle in his first attempt, he worked through his form and cut it down to a 4.38 in his second run.   Woodland receiver Tyrell Sampson did the same, going from a 5.0 to a 4.34. Andrews receiver Aarin Moore (5.16 to 4.5), Andrews tailback Levon White (4.86 to 4.44), Battery Creek receiver Naquan Gordon (4.75 to 4.54), Calhoun County defensive back Marquez Davenport (5.03 to 4.53) also all squeezed in a much better attempt into their second run through.   40-YARD DASH   Like we said, Saturday was anything but a great day for the 40. The winds swirled throughout the morning, and it was never really at anyone's back.   Still, three players of the eight players who ran a verified 4.6 flat or better came from Class 2A or 1A programs:   [player_tooltip player_id='315319' first='Tamari' last='Daniels'] Blackville-Hilda - 4.45   Maquez Davenport Calhoun County - 4.58   Tyree Edwards Woodland - 4.6   SPECIALISTS   Bishop England punter/kicker [player_tooltip player_id='340391' first='Cavan' last='Craig'] proved yet again why he's one of the specialists ranked in our system. Craig (5-foot-8, 196) took home the top honor among all those who participated Saturday. The program for those players consisted of a ladder kicking set (starting at 35 yard field goals, working way up to 55 yards, then back down to 35), kickoffs with measurable hang times and five punts.   He wasn't alone in standing out.   Calhoun County's Theron Cokley (5-foot-11, 149.8 pounds) participated in some of the full combine events and chalked up a respectable 4.73 40-yard time.

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.