Defenders Set To Shine at CCC Invite Only

In addition to coming with an actual golden ticket, admission to the Carolinas Coaches Combines Invite Only event is very much like that coveted Willy Wonka prize.   It gives you a chance.   A chance to compete against some of the best competition in the state. A chance to impress coaches. A chance to draw even more attention to what you can do on the field.   The players who earned defensive invitations this year include guys you might not have heard of, guys you hear about all the time, and a whole bunch of guys in-between.   Here's a look at some of the defenders we're expecting a lot at Fort Mill.   DEFENSIVE BACKS   [player_tooltip player_id='1667977' first='Aidyn' last='Wiggins'] Byrnes - Wiggins is fast, and he'll have the opportunity to show that in drills. The biggest upside of his game, though, is the physical nature he brings to his position.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172351' first='PJ' last='Chancellor'] Daniel - Chancellor is a DB who's fast and talented enough to play WR for the Lions as well. He brings a receiver's mentality to anything in the air, he closes on the ball well, and he's a sure hitter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816894' first='Myles' last='Brooks'] Rock Hill - Brooks earned his invite in part through a quick 40, a really good pro shuttle, and some fantastic coverage reps. Those facts will all hold up against top-flight competition.   [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] Oceanside Collegiate - Kelly-Murray does a lot of things well, and DB is just one of them. It might've been his ticket in, but his explosive ability is what attracts everybody's attention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819190' first='Jayven' last='McClain'] Westwood - McClain's a tall guy with a good wingspan, and it will be interesting to see how much that size helps him.   [player_tooltip player_id='651361' first='Jakayden' last='Pendergrass'] James Island - Pendergrass' stock got a huge bump when he won Top Defensive Combo at the Woodland CCC site. He's a guy who not only looks the part, but plays like it, too.   DEFENSIVE LINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1036731' first='Dennis' last='Glenn'] Boiling Springs - Glenn has been on this trajectory since his freshman season. He's a big, strong player who demands double teams and makes his teammates better. In one-on-one drills and competition? He's a hard one to stop.   [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] Dutch Fork - Wuerth is highly regarded as among the very best DL in the state. He can rush the passer, stop the run, and set the edge. He's likely to show up and reinforce every single positive opinion.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811027' first='Luke' last='Penland'] JL Mann - Penland won Best DL in Session II at Spartanburg, which is quite the honor when you look at the rest of the field that was included. He's got great technique, and is capable of winning one-on-one with both speed and power.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823343' first='Malik' last='Darby'] Northwestern - Darby is a constant presence in opponents' backfields, and his fast-twitch performance is a lot of the reason why. He's particularly good using speed and leverage to his advantage, and he ran really well at the Spartanburg combine.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172344' first='Ray' last='Harris'] South Aiken - Harris is startlingly quick for a 280-pound human being, and he backs that up with plenty of power. He'll be a guy who's a lot of fun to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1581470' first='George' last='Handley'] Carolina Forest - Handley's on the shorter, lighter end for a DL...right up until you realize you're looking at a high-caliber wrestler and a menace in the weight room, where he bench-presses 330 pounds and squats 500. Handley will leave the Invite Only with much higher stock.   LINEBACKERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1664543' first='Jacobi' last='Saunders'] Bluffton - Saunders is a tackle machine who always seems to find a way to be around the ball and who plays even faster than he tests. It'll be really interesting to watch him in drills.   [player_tooltip player_id='253148' first='YaKaden' last='Sherrard'] Greenville - Greenville is loaded with high-caliber defensive guys, and Sherrard (pictured) sometimes doesn't get as much attention. That's a mistake. He's explosive, he's got a great burst to the ball, and he did well both in drills and in coverage at Spartanburg.   [player_tooltip player_id='1678174' first='Javonte' last='Hill'] Irmo - Hill runs well and has freakish reach for his height, both of which allow him to swallow up plays. He's also really, really physical, something you only get to see flashes of in drills.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036769' first='Maleek' last='Dukes'] Kingstree - Dukes is a big guy who looks right at home outside, and he's got great range. There doesn't seem to be a play he's out of. His size helps him defend the pass in drills, but he's another guy who needs full-contact to really show you what he's about. Still, he'll likely look plenty good in a combine setting.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820739' first='Cross' last='George'] Lexington - George had fantastic numbers across the board at Spartanburg, but really looked good in the 40 and the pro shuttle. In drills, he'll show great lateral movement and closing ability.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis'] Wilson - Davis is an insanely versatile guy who can bring pressure off the edge, drop into coverage, line up to stop the run, and just generally do a lot of things well. He'll have an opportunity to showcase a lot of different things in drills.   SPECIALISTS   [player_tooltip player_id='1821579' first='Travis' last='Vattelana'] Atlantic Collegiate - Vattelana was the Top Specialist from Session II at Woodland, and earned his invite with a powerful, accurate leg.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820447' first='Noah' last='Hardy'] Fort Mill - Hardy just hammered the ball at Spartanburg. He knocked in a 55-yarder, was perfect from six other distances (including 52 yards), and blasted kickoffs for 61 and 69 yards. It's easy to see why he was a touchback machine last season.

In addition to coming with an actual golden ticket, admission to the Carolinas Coaches Combines Invite Only event is very much like that coveted Willy Wonka prize.