CCC Spartanburg: DBs, LBs Include Some Lock-Down Players

SPARTANBURG | Going up against some of the top receivers in the state is no small task. The defensive backs and linebackers at the Carolinas Coaches Combine in Spartanburg were more than up to the task.   While they all turned in good combine numbers, where these guys really stood out was in drills and in competition, reacting to the ball, closing on routes, and providing tight coverage across the board.   Here's a look at some 2027 DBs and LBs who increased their stock at the combine.   DEFENSIVE BACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1665369' first='Djay' last='Leak'] Boiling Springs - Leak looked really, really good in competition, breaking up a couple of tough passes and nearly snagging an athletic interception. He made life tough for a bunch of good receivers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816894' first='Myles' last='Brooks'] Rock Hill - Brooks used his speed to his advantage, flying through drills and breaking on the ball well both there and in competition.   [player_tooltip player_id='2131765' first='Artavious' last='Gwynn'] Gaffney - Gwynn kind of flew all over the field during drills and looked really good in coverage against some bigger receivers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1667977' first='Aidyn' last='Wiggins'] Byrnes - Some of the things that Wiggins is really good at, including physical play, weren't able to be showcased at the combine. Instead, he dazzled with his speed and explosiveness, with a 4.51 40 and a 4.37 pro shuttle.   [player_tooltip player_id='1809702' first='Amari' last='Dogan'] South Pointe - Dogan's a tall DB at over 6-feet with a tremendous wingspan, and his 4.15 pro shuttle opened some eyes and will keep him in a bunch of plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='1471344' first='Jamarion' last='Williams'] TL Hanna - Williams has great reach, ran a good pro shuttle, and had explosive jumps in both the vertical and broad. He was sharp in drills, and looked great in competition.   [player_tooltip player_id='1403282' first='Amari' last='Fisher'] Blythewood - Fisher was a tough matchup for receivers in drills, doing a good job of using his body to his advantage to defend.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823279' first='Jayson' last='Garrett'] Woodmont - Garrett's capable of being a nightmare matchup - long arms, a fast pro-shuttle, and an incredible vertical leap give him the ability to be a shutdown guy on the outside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1719852' first='Kelyn' last='Durham'] Eastside - Durham looked great in coverage, with enough strength to press and enough quickness to recover. He made several impressive downfield plays in competition.   LINEBACKERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey'] Gaffney - Bailey won the Defensive Combo award in Session I, and his numbers were great across the board. He ran a 4.77 40, a 4.55 shuttle, and put up 20 reps at 185 pounds on the bench, all at 6-feet and 233 pounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821177' first='Julian' last='Renrick'] Greenville - Renrick is a menace, using speed and power to control the middle of the field as well as rush the passer. He ran a great 40 as well as a great 20-yard split, and turned in a 4.4 second pro shuttle.   [player_tooltip player_id='1666952' first='Josh' last='Lyons'] St. Joseph - Lyons showed off some real quickness in the combine portion, thanks to his fast-twitch performance. He topped 30 inches in the vertical leap, had a broad jump of 9 feet, 4 inches. He also had a 4.67 40 and a 4.42 shuttle.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172362' first='Angel' last='Gomez'] Wade Hampton - Gomez has been the guy who makes it go on defense for the Generals during his entire career. His combine numbers showed a little bit of why, as he ran a good pro shuttle and had a broad jump on the high end of the scale.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822132' first='Eric' last='Gaffney'] Chapman - Gaffney has a great wingspan for a LB, and ran a 4.7 40. He used both those attributes to his advantage during competition to provide solid coverage.   [player_tooltip player_id='1809307' first='Shaun' last='Carvalho'] JL Mann - Carvalho (pictured) did something at the combine that won't show in any of his numbers, or an LB drills. That's because he walked down to DL competition and rushed the passer, showing his versatility by winning some big matchups on that end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821280' first='Jayden' last='Wertz'] Powdersville - Wertz is a strong guy, and a thumper on the field. At the combine, he showed he can be just as good in coverage, making some good breaks and several good plays   [player_tooltip player_id='1820573' first='Ty' last='DuBose'] Belton-Honea Path - DuBose was one of the key cogs in the Bears' defensive machine last season, and it's easy to see why. He's more than solid in coverage, and his blazing 4.25 pro shuttle make it obvious why he's able to get to so many plays. On top of that, he won both the broad jump and vertical leap categories in Session II.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825123' first='D'Angelo' last='Ruff'] Whitmire - Ruff is one of a bunch of small-school guys who were really impressive at the combine. He plays both ways for the Wolverines, and he showed off his coverage skills along with his 4.89 speed.

SPARTANBURG | Going up against some of the top receivers in the state is no small task. The defensive backs and linebackers at the Carolinas Coaches Combine in Spartanburg were more than up to the task.