TEC Bowl Preview: 10 Game-Changing Defensive Players To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 76h edition of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl will bring 88 of the best seniors in South Carolina to Myrtle Beach's Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North leads the all-time series 41-32-2 and is coming off last year's 22-14 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet, each year is a full-blooded reset from the last, meaning nothing is written in stone. What that means is the 88 players each have a chance to make some serious waves one more time in a high school uniform.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 10 defensive standouts who fit the mold and can jump fluidly into a successful track despite the all-star game limitations.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NORTH TEAM</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340387' first='Camden' last='Durant']</strong> LB, McCormick - Touchstone Energy Bowl fans probably remember Durant's cousin and former teammate A'Chean Durant playing in this game a year ago. This member of the family stands to have an even bigger impact. [player_tooltip player_id='340387' first='Camden' last='Durant'] is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound middle linebacker has every tool in his bag to face off against the talented South tailback corps.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jae Harris</strong> DL, Abbeville - Harris has been among the most impactful players to fly under the radar over the course of the last two seasons. Some of that is that he's playing both tackle and end, not to mention playing at a small Class 2A program. Just the same, Harris is strong as all get up and there's a chance his 6-foot, 285-pound frame is going to let him take some folks by surprise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141041' first='Jadyn' last='Simpkins']</strong> DB, Midland Valley - Simpkins has great start-stop-start speed, something that will be a meaningful asset in the quickly thrown together schemes and three days of prep work. Simpkins is great once the ball goes in the air from his spot at corner, and he's equally adept at supporting in run defense or can slide into a safety spot if necessary.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord']</strong> DB, Gray Collegiate - One way or another, Offord (pictured) is going to make his presence felt in this game. He'll be used some at receiver, where he has hauled in more than 80 receptions for 1,000 yards the last two seasons. But while quarterbacks at the Class 2A level just avoid him, the combination of he and Simpkins in the same defensive backfield will make that impossible. He's going to get chances for a big defensive play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142651' first='Caron' last='Foster']</strong> DL, Gaffney - The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive end is pretty good about getting after the quarterback, as he put up 13 sacks over the course of the last two years. But he's just as proficient against the run. Foster recorded 34.5 tackles for loss for Gaffney over that same span, including a staggering 23 in 13 games this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SOUTH TEAM</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340390' first='James' last='Brockington']</strong> DL, Kingstree - A late addition to the South roster, Brockington was always on the staff's radar. Over the last two seasons, the Blazers' 6-foot-3, 290-pound tackle has piled up 44 tackles for loss, 98.5 total tackles, seven sacks and forced a number of turnovers. He's got a quick first two steps and then the strength to make them count.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208337' first='Jeremiah' last='Curry']</strong> LB, Bluffton - Curry has a great motor and brings a fearlessness to the position. It's why he recorded 152 solo tackles over the course of his last two seasons of high school ball (182 total). While turnovers can be big momentum shifters, the South squad will certainly look to Curry's sure-first tackling ability to slow things down.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142485' first='Jamie' last='Downing']</strong> LB, Bamberg-Ehrhardt - If Downing wasn't 5-foot-9, you would have heard his name in a lot more recruiting circles. But his production value doesn't stop at a lack of height. He's maybe the biggest reason the Red Raiders made the Class A Lower State championship game and can make every play the position requires to be effective on the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142508' first='Isaiah' last='McClary']</strong> DB, Irmo - There aren't many holes to McClary's game, and the recent University of South Carolina commit can be effective as either a corner or a safety. He broke up 20 passes to go along with five interceptions as a senior, with two of those interceptions coming in the playoffs. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder will have every chance to repeat the act.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448977' first='Seneca' last='Moore']</strong> LB, Crestwood - For all the transfers around the state last offseason, Moore can lay claim to being one of the most effective. In once season at Crestwood, the multi-faceted linebacker put up 27 tackles for loss to go along with nine sacks, 12 quarterback pressures and six forced fumbles. He's a big-play machine every time he steps foot on a field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->