CCC: Speed Demons With Shot at Top MPH

Bigger, faster, stronger isn't simply a coachspeak catch phrase used to motivate players during the offseason.    It's a reality of the game.   Players are constantly evolving into the types of athletes that even 20 years ago would have seemed absurd to consider commonplace. Now? Size and speed are everywhere.    For the Carolinas Coaches Combines, either metric will help set someone above the fold. And when it comes to the latter, a player's ability to hit a top miles per hour figure could mean the world for his recruiting.   When it comes to this year's four pack of events in the Palmetto State, there are already a number of speed demons we could see going after this series' top mark of 2025. We've broken them down one by one, illuminating what most of them done in a Catapult One GPS vest before.   So, will one of these 16 set the high-water mark? Or will it be a newcomer making the biggest impact?    We'll find out starting later this month.    [player_tooltip player_id='1179928' first='Bryce' last='Allen'] DB, Sumter   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.55 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: Allen's 40 time at the Woodland combine last spring wasn't all that impressive (4.77). However, he hit several high miles-per-hour marks both during that sprint and others during the event. You don't luck into his top mark, meaning he's a threat to do so again.   [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] DB, Dorman   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 21.93 mph (4.14.24)   Comments: There is little doubt that Anderson is even more of a physical precense than he was during the Spartanburg combine a year ago. What's more, he's a rhythm producer when it comes to his speed. There will be less start-stop at a combine, which feeds into his strength.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] DB, Ridge View   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.68 mph (3.24.24)   Comments: Let's put it this way - during a game last fall when Best wasn't asked to do much, he casually flirted with a 20 mph speed without much effort. In deed, his “average” is already strong. When he pushes, Best has next-level speeds in a vest.   Dreylyn Brown RB, Silver Bluff   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.25 mph (3.16.25)   Comments: Brown has kind of slipped under the radar a bit the last 16 months. But speed doesn't stay on the shelf for long. He's still just a sophomore and could see a nice spike in his speed as he continues to grow in and around the weight room.   [player_tooltip player_id='816754' first='Tyree' last='Cauthen'] DB, Myrtle Beach   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.07 mph (12.8.23)   Comments: Cauthen was a sophomore when he hit 22+ at the now-defunct Joanne Langfitt Showcase. He then backed it up at last year's Carolinas Coaches Combines and again in a game last fall when he ran one of the fastest in-game times of the 2024 season (21.85 mph).   [player_tooltip player_id='402496' first='Kemori' last='Deweese'] WR, Summerville   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.11 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: The Green Wave didn't get much of an opportunity to let Deweese fly during the 2024 season, as he missed all but a handful of games. But the 5-foot-11, 160-pound receiver can motor in space. He's a threat during trhe 40, sure, but also in the open competition.   [player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt'] WR, Gray Collegiate    Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.55 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: There's a reason Gantt (pictured) has a full shelf full of awards from the Carolinas Coaches Combines. He hit 21.62 mph as a freshman and then 22.14 and 22.55 as a sophomore. It's elevated him above his limited height as he progresses through his final high school offseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172364' first='Mah'ky' last='Green'] RB, Cross   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.10 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: Green wasn't exactly sitting idle the last two years while playing behind an older tailback. Cross got him on the field in multiple positions to keep him engaged. Now, he gets to be the workhorse of the Trojans' offense and has two years to show what he can do. It starts at this year's combine.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth'] WR, Mountain View Prep   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.75 mph (4.14.24)   Comments: Hainsworth ran a 4.52 40 (laser) last year at the Spartanburg session. According to coach Grey Ramsey, he's since bested that time by a considerable amount. It's entirely believable given that 22.75 mph he also has, presumably during one stretch of his 40 at last year's event.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271241' first='Chanin' last='Harris'] WR, Byrnes   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 23.26 mph (4.14.24)   Comments: Harris has a very real chance at going after the moniker of fastest football player in the state at this year's combines. He lit it up a year ago en route to his 4.41 40 time. His acceleration scores are quite a bit higher than most high schoolers, especially those with two years of ball left.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] WR, Ridge View    Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.12 mph (3.24.24)   Comments: Jackson's build from a year ago to now makes him look like a drastically different person. He's developed himself from good high school receiver to major college prospect. Part of that is the increase in his power. His acceleration rate is better than it was last spring.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395064' first='Messiah' last='McFadden'] WR/LB, Blackville-Hilda    Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.43 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: At 6-foot-4 and 170 or so pounds, Jackson has a super long stride that allows him to cover distance quickly. More importantly, he doesn't require long to get up to his top speeds. That's a perfect recipe for hitting some elite speeds that can turn some heads.   [player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill'] RB, Mountain View Prep   Top Verified Catapult Speed: N/A   Comments: McGill is the only player here who has never registered a verified Catapult time, but anyone who has watched him play or train knows he can fly. He had eight runs of 40 yards or more as a junior at MVP and 11 such runs as a sophomore and freshman at Broome. He also recently bested Hainsworth in a head-to-head race, which isn't easy to do.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036774' first='Amare' last='Patterson'] WR, Beaufort   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.28 mph (3.16.24)   Comments: Patterson is a little bit of a TBD as he's still working his way back from an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 season. But he's been participating in events for more than a month and won't be subject to any real contact. His wheels may very well be just fine.   [player_tooltip player_id='1149055' first='Nasir' last='Waldrop'] WR, Powdersville   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 22.50 mph (4.13.24)   Comments: Waldrop is anoter one of those players that opponents don't expect much of; that's the joy of being verified at 5-foot-4.25 and 146 pounds last year. Yet, his mph and 40 time (4.54) are the lasting impression more folks should remember.   [player_tooltip player_id='402486' first='Carnell' last='Warren'] WR, Bluffton   Top Verified Catapult Speed: 20.66 mph (4.1.23)   Comments: It's been nearly two years since Warren first topped 20 miles per hour. He's significantly faster now, especially in pure, straight-line speed. He's grown into his frame and watching him in person and in film shows his movement is much more fluid than it was when he was a freshman.

Bigger, faster, stronger isn't simply a coachspeak catch phrase used to motivate players during the offseason.