Shrine Bowl Combine: The Top 7 Defensive Players

Chris Dearing July 16, 2023 @ 08:32 AM

South Carolina coaches held a Shrine Bowl Combine Saturday morning at Brookland-Cayce High School. It was an opportunity to showcase the top senior players in competitive situations. The only measurables done was the weight of each player but they were able to compete in 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 situations. PrepRedZone staff were on hand to evaluate the talent as well. Here are the top seven defensive standouts from the morning workout.      [player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] S, Dutch Fork – Jones might have been a player that raised his stock more than anyone. He showed great coverage skills in 1-on-1 situations and once they moved to the 7-on-7 portion of the morning, he always seemed to make the correct read. His 6'2” frame allows him to play the jump ball well. He had 76 total tackles with one interception for the Silver Foxes last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='448978' first='Bennie' last='Littlejohn'] LB, Spartanburg – It was evident from the beginning that Littlejohn is a leader both vocally and in production. He makes sure other players are in the correct position and showed an ability to cover backs out of the backfield with ease. He's athletic and packs a punch in his 5'9”, 220-pound frame.   [player_tooltip player_id='208354' first='Chantwan' last='Harkless'] DE, South Florence – The coaches raved about the performance of Harkless. His quick first step gave the offensive linemen issues in nearly every drill. He is 6'3” and can chase a ball-carrier down from behind if necessary. He's also strong enough to move inside and play if necessary.   [player_tooltip player_id='996874' first='Jaevion' last='Harris'] NG, Abbeville – Another player the coaches couldn't stop talking about. Harris is a stout 6'1”, 285 pounds but is athletic enough to play multiple positions on defense. He's hard to move and is another player that has a high motor. He had a monster junior season and could be even better this year.   Jacari Bennett DE, JL Mann – Much like Harkless, Bennett is quick and makes it difficult for opposing offensive linemen to block him. He's 6'3” and has a basketball background. He might play some at outside linebacker for JL Mann this season, but he can be a big-time pass rusher on the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='911089' first='Jaiden' last='Kimble'] LB, White Knoll – Once Kimble made the switch to full-time defense last season, he was a tackling machine for the Timberwolves. He hasn't missed a beat this summer either. He ran the fastest time at the Palmetto Combine Series North and he's continued that momentum the full summer. He showed that same quickness in coverage and will only see his recruiting stock continue to improve.   [player_tooltip player_id='267449' first='Debo' last='Hall'] S, York – Hall showed his athleticism in both 1-on-1 coverage as well as the 7-on-7 portion of the event. He wasn't shy about lining up against the best wide receivers in attendance. He covered guys in the slot as well as outside receivers. He had three interceptions last year to go along with 56 total tackles.

South Carolina coaches held a Shrine Bowl Combine Saturday morning at Brookland-Cayce High School. It was an opportunity to showcase the top senior players in competitive situations. The only measurables done was the weight of each player but they were able to compete in 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 situations. PrepRedZone staff were on hand to evaluate the talent as well. Here are the top seven defensive standouts from the morning workout.