Carolinas Combine Series Breakdown - York 2025s

The Carolinas Combine Series was initially supposed to have three sites in South Carolina. Then, interest shot through the roof and three sites became four.   The addition was at York, where a number of 2025s from the Midlands to the edge of the Upstate to the Catawba River Region will all be competing against some of the best of the best. There are some excellent position battles already shaping up, not to mention some fun storylines that not all that long ago we wouldn't have seen during this part of the calendar.   Year three of this series is shaping up to be a good one.    [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] TE, Catawba Ridge    Ambrose and his Copperheads teammates had a rough go of it in 2023, losing all but one game and missing out on the playoffs. He's now one of the leaders of this team expected to start turning things around. It could very well begin at York, where Ambrose can spur some positive momentum with his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame and an expectation that he might be the best tight end in the session.   [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] QB, Chapin   Albro has excellent touch when he needs it and the ability to let ‘er rip when that's called for. He was a completion away from posting a 3,000-yard season as a junior and only isn't a more sought-after recruit because he's 5-foot-10. But production counts for something and we saw Albro already have a pretty good session during last December's Joanne Langfitt Challenge. The fact that he's bringing his favorite target - [player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick'] - with him probably won't hurt.   [player_tooltip player_id='1012842' first='Josh' last='Benson'] OL, Dutch Fork    Benson is a large human being. As in a verified 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds (taken during Langiftt). That's only part of the story. His development is the other. He went from perceived project to starting left tackle to state champion in a matter of months. Benson is obviously part of a special team and program, but his personal rise in such a short time period tells us we could be in for something special over the next few months, too.     [player_tooltip player_id='1158006' first='Avery' last='Alexander'] DB, Lancaster   While Lancaster was a nice three-week story during the playoffs last fall, none of it happens if the Bruins don't have a fair amount of talent. Alexander is right on up there with the best of them on this Lancaster squad, too. He can do some damage at receiver, but he's a potentially special defensive back at either safety or corner and a dynamic return man. Alexander's skills in any of those spots translate well to a combine setting.    Anton Jones RB, Irmo   We'll excuse you if you haven't heard Jones's name much before. Yes, he played behind current Oklahoma State tailback and 2,000-yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] last fall and only tallied about a quarter of the rushing yards that quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] did, either. But Jones needed only 18 carries to pile up 256 yards. That's an average of 14.2 yards per carry. Think he might have the ability to open a few eyes?   [player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier'] WR, River Bluff    We'll readily admit that we go back and forth on Collier all the time. Is he a tight end/H-Back? Or is he more receiver. We can only credit how River Bluff uses him for that. Because as much as Collier exudes dominance as a receiver, his ability to take abbreviated end-arounds on carries and short pitches and turn them into successful gains is highly effective. It's why he had nearly as many rushing touchdowns (four) last season as he did receiver (five).   [player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone'] RB, Clover    Stone was one of the state's most productive tailbacks last year, rushing for more than 2,200 yards. He was also arguably the biggest workhorse, tallying more carries than any other back in the Class of 2025. Clearly he can handle the load of a combine. He chimed in at 6-foot, 197 pounds during Langfitt while also topping 21 miles per hour at one point. It contributed to PRZ boosting him 25 spots in the class rankings and why we're excited to see what's next.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012611' first='Fred' last='Reese'] DB, South Pointe   Reese is the safety equivalent of Stone. He finished last season with 116 tackles, four interceptions, 17 pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. He also blocked a couple punts. You can see where we're going with this. Reese has elite ball skills. And while it won't translate to a combine, he's just as effective as a tackler. Getting him in a vest could ignite his recruiting and get a much bigger conversation going heading into the 2024 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'] QB, Northwestern   A slight injury prevented Polk from showing his stuff during Langfitt, but his 6,200 career passing yards didn't pop out of nowhere. Polk has shown during games that he can change arm angles, throw on the run and escape pressure in the pocket. The combine will simulate some of that (without hits, of course) and allow him to finally get on the same stage as some of the other top talent in the state all on one field.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark'] WR, Rock Hill    Clark's star is clearly rising, and we don't think it's anywhere near its peak. One of the ways Clark (pictured) helps himself is to show up to York and put on the clinic we know he's capable of. He is a near-pristine route runner who also possesses the ability to freelance when necessary. That latter part is important because he won't be matched up with either his quarterback from the 2023 season or the 2024 one during the throwing-catching portions of the event.

The Carolinas Combine Series was initially supposed to have three sites in South Carolina. Then, interest shot through the roof and three sites became four.