What to Watch For: Upstate Football Showcase

A few weeks back, nearly 300 mostly upstate football players participated in the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Spartanburg. On Wednesday, 10 teams' worth of players will return, this time in full pads.   The Upstate Football Showcase will feature Spartanburg, Gaffney, Woodruff, JL Mann, Chapman, Dorman, Union County, Broome, Boiling Springs and Chesnee. The teams will go two at a time, not breaching the 50-yard line in order to satisfy the SCHSL's offseason rules against joint practices.   During each session, there will be players ready to show off their skills for what looks to be nearly 40 college football scouts.   2 p.m. - Spartanburg/Gaffney   Top players: Spartanburg - K [player_tooltip player_id='816752' first='Will' last='Love'] DB [player_tooltip player_id='1639706' first='Christian' last='Davis'] QB [player_tooltip player_id='1592374' first='Trey' last='Burke'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] Gaffney - OL [player_tooltip player_id='691267' first='CJ' last='Brooks'] QB [player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] OL [player_tooltip player_id='212409' first='Scottland' last='Dover'] LB [player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyon' last='Ratchford']    Recruiting watch: Spartanburg defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1732598' first='Brooks' last='Vaughn'] won't be the biggest player on the field during this one, but he's got rare speed in the secondary after initially coming through the ranks as a quarterback.   Keep an eye on … : Recent Gaffney incomer [player_tooltip player_id='1295076' first='Josiah' last='Hill'] has NCAA Division-I interest as both a linebacker and a tailback. He rushed for more than 40 touchdowns over the last two seasons at Kings Mountain (NC) and while he's joining a loaded Indians' offense, it's easy to see why he make the Inidans that much better.   3:10 p.m. - Woodruff/JL Mann   Top players: Woodruff - LB [player_tooltip player_id='1592408' first='Shaun' last='Graybill'] LB [player_tooltip player_id='1592621' first='Jordan' last='Hood'] TE [player_tooltip player_id='1395078' first='Kam' last='Taylor'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='1036753' first='Aiden' last='Gibson'] JL Mann - QB Mcleod Darnell QB Trip Bryant WR Dre Huff LB [player_tooltip player_id='1271256' first='Major' last='Workman']   Recruiting watch: Mann receiver Camden Robinson isn't a burner, necessarily, but what he can do on the outside with his size is something the staff is going to rely on heavily while it continues to develop both quarterbacks. If he's targeted early and often in this setting or any other, colleges will take notice.   Keep an eye on … : Woodruff already has two established linebackers in Graybill and Hood. And folding 5-foot-10, 220-pound Paul Davis into the mix only makes this unit more dangerous. We'll be interested to see how he works in along the two prior starters.   4:20 p.m. - Chapman/Dorman   Top players: Chapman - QB Bryson Cothran RB [player_tooltip player_id='1732619' first='Justin' last='Dawkins'] WR [player_tooltip player_id='1732636' first='Nazar' last='Ackbar'] ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1615119' first='Teagan' last='Cantrell'] Dorman - LB [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] DL [player_tooltip player_id='1639739' first='Christian' last='Waring'] OL [player_tooltip player_id='402504' first='Parker' last='McMillen']    Recruiting watch: Chapman defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1732638' first='Khamari' last='Turner'] has the type of size that stands out no matter what field he's on. He received his first offer (Gardner-Webb) at the end of January. It won't be his last.   Keep an eye on… : This will be the first real public action for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='340230' first='Meek' last='Slydell'] since he moved in from North Carolina. Slydell is a battle-tested three-year starter. If he lights it up, it could be a huge positive for the Cavs.    5:30 p.m. - Union County/Broome   Top players: Union County - OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1592645' first='Jaylon' last='Davis'] DB [player_tooltip player_id='1467820' first='Noah' last='Tucker'] DB [player_tooltip player_id='1615123' first='King' last='Henderson'] QB Qa Brannon Broome - RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1592026' first='Tyqwon' last='Booker'] QB [player_tooltip player_id='1592321' first='Jameson' last='Dearybury'] WR [player_tooltip player_id='1639803' first='Tre' last='Suber'] DB Asher Littlejohn   Recruiting watch: Between Tucker, Henderson and fellow 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1615120' first='Keyshawn' last='Kershaw'] Union County has given plenty of reason for colleges to pay attention to its defensive backfield. The three players are still very raw but all three of them are also ahead of the curve.   Keep an eye on … : The great thing about these showcases is no one is too worried about being too vanilla to help future opponents. Suber, [player_tooltip player_id='1453176' first='Brayden' last='Simpson'] and Reece Waugerman give Dearybury every opportunity to light it up, and this could be the start of an even stronger passing game for the Centurions this fall.   6:40 p.m. - Boiling Springs/Chesnee   Top players: Boiling Springs - DL [player_tooltip player_id='1036731' first='Dennis' last='Glenn Jr'] LB DB [player_tooltip player_id='473009' first='Jeremiah' last='Favorite'] LB [player_tooltip player_id='1592395' first='TJ' last='Collins'] ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1592400' first='Grayson' last='Crowe'] Chesnee - QB Evan Lawter (pictured) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1732649' first='Braylon' last='Blanton'] ATH Kale Thrift DL Kai Copeland   Recruiting watch: Over the past few months, Favorite and Glenn have taken a grip on their respective classes and positions in terms of offers. If the old habit continues, expect a few others to gain some traction while some of the colleges pursuing them are looking at everythign else happening around them. Teammate and 6-foot-2 receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1466577' first='Deion' last='Suber'] could be someone recruiters fall in love with on Wednesday.   Keep an eye on… : Lawter was still relatively green last fall when he took over the starting job, but if recent months are any indication, he's busted up the learning curve. It doesn't hurt that he's got another offseason of work with his receivers, including senior [player_tooltip player_id='1732649' first='Braylon' last='Blanton']. Lawter can flat out spin it.

A few weeks back, nearly 300 mostly upstate football players participated in the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Spartanburg. On Wednesday, 10 teams' worth of players will return, this time in full pads.