Carolinas Combine Series Breakdown – York 2025s
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
Brady Ambrose Brady Ambrose 6'4" | 230 lbs | TE Catawba Ridge | 2025 State SC 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.
Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC 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 – Khalen Bostick Khalen Bostick 5'11" Chapin | 2025 SC – with him probably won’t hurt.
Josh Benson Josh Benson 6'7" | 300 lbs | OL Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC 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.
Avery Alexander Avery Alexander 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Lancaster | 2025 State SC 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 Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC last fall and only tallied about a quarter of the rushing yards that quarterback AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC 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?
Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC 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).
Landon Stone Landon Stone 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2025 State SC 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.
Fred Reese Fred Reese 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB South Pointe | 2025 State SC 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.
Finley Polk Finley Polk 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2025 State SC 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.
Malik Clark Malik Clark 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Rock Hill | 2025 State SC 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.