Class A’s Best Two-Way Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Specialization isn't for everyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And it's not always a possibility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along every edge of South Carolina and all spots in between are schools who either have the types of athletes who are talented enough to play offense and defense or simply need the two-way guys to increase the team's chances of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Or a combination of the two.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first stop in this five-part series is a look at the Class A standouts who are not only asked but expected to stay on the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605527' first='Jaquel' last='Holman']</strong> RB/LB, Blackville-Hilda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How's this for a stat: Every six carries Holman had last year, he scored a touchdown. He had 152 carries. That's not too shabby for a player who the year prior at his previous school was restricted to defense. Flash forward back to 2023, and Holman (pictured) put up 1,610 yards, and 26 scores while averaging 10.5 yards per carry. Did we mention that Holman the linebacker put up 76 tackles, nine tackles for loss, a pick and a sack for the Hawks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey']</strong> WR/DB, Cross</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ramsey is an athletic freak who would do a lot more on offense if not for such a strong rushing attack combined with a whole bunch of lopsided scores. He played a hand in the latter twice over. First off, he 20 passes for 376 yards (18.8 ypc) and a team-high six touchdowns. Second, he's a dynamic safety who puts his 6-foot-5 frame to prey on unprepared opponents. He finished his sophomore season with 36 total tackles and four interceptions despite missing a couple games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360178' first='Keivonte' last='Bates']</strong> RB/DB, CA Johnson&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After becoming a defensive starter at corner as a sophomore (and registering 38 tackles and seven tackles for loss), CA Johnson added tailback to his duties last fall. He upped his tackle figure and even picked off three passes. Meanwhile, he rushed for 602 yard and six touchdowns. He had six carries of 20 or more yards, including a pair of 70-plus yarders. With [player_tooltip player_id='1142538' first='Caleb' last='Pearson'] (2,250 yards of offense from last season) graduating, Bates' steps into more game reps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402516' first='Zyon' last='Guiles']</strong> OL/DL, Carvers Bay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One day, Guiles is going to be focusing just on his spot at left tackle and be able to concentrate on that alone. At Carvers Bay, that's not the case. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound lineman pitches in regularly on defense, playing upwards of 100 snaps (or more) while manning both lines. He chews up a ton of space and he's active in both spots. Especially in bigger games, he's less and less likely to come off the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253894' first='Zoom' last='Jackson']</strong> WR/DB, Lamar&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Proof positive of what pure and unmatched speed can do on a football field, Jackson did a little bit of everything last year for the Silver Foxes. He recorded 33 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups on defense while putting his foot on the gas even more on offense. There, he caught 20 passes for 448 yards and nine touchdowns, carried the ball 35 times for 174 yards and two scores and even stepped in at quarterback in four games, throwing for 354 yards while completing 58.6 percent of his passes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172343' first='Klyn' last='Gordon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036773' first='Lamar' last='Singleton']</strong> ATH, Baptist Hill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baptist Hill has a whole bunch of reason to be optimistic for the next three seasons, and Gordon and Singleton are pretty high up on the list. Here are their individual stat lines from their freshman seasons. Singleton - 60 tackles, one interception; 14 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns rushing; six receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Gordon - 60 tackles, four interceptions; 20 receptions for 329 yards and five touchdowns. That's a ton of production from two 14 years olds.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013065' first='Amir' last='Rogers']</strong> LB/RB, Latta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rogers didn't have to be a star last year. More's going to be asked of him this time around after he averaged more than seven yards per carry and also put up four tackles for loss and three sacks at linebacker. His introduction to the offense-defense double up instilled more than enough confidence in the coaching staff to put more on his plate after the departure of several of the team's most influential players.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267345' first='Brandon' last='Nance']</strong> RB/DB, Dixie&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nance is super fun to watch play because he doesn't have a choice but to keep his motor going full blast. At 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, whether he's running the ball for another 100 yards in a game or playing corner, he's got to take advantage of every inch and pound. Oddly enough, he's figured out how to more than hold his own. Don't be surprised if he ends up on an all-state team or two before his next two seasons are done. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->