Palmetto Football Plus Positional Rankings: Offensive Line

 1. Brandon Shell, Goose Creek               6’7”  300         Committed to South Carolina

My Take: Shell without a doubt is the best offensive linemen from the state of South Carolina in the past two years. Shell has the lineage as well, his great uncle is Raiders legend Art Shell. There is no comparing Brandon Shell’s footwork which is second to none. Shell is quite the player on the hardwood as well which is uncommon for a offensive linemen. Coach Steve Spurrier and Shawn Elliot got a major prize when Shell committed on November 1, 2010. He chose the Gamecocks over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami (FL), and Tennessee. He was recruited to South Carolina by Coach Steve Spurrier, Jr. and Coach Shawn Elliot.

2. Stephen Grommer, Spartanburg          6’5”  285         Committed to Maryland

My Take: Stephen Grommer is a very underrated player in the class of 2011. He has a very strong frame that stand to gain a little more muscle. He can play either the guard or tackle positions at the next level. His brother, Josef, is also an offensive tackle at Wofford. Grommer hasn’t spoke publicly about his commitment to Maryland since Ralph Friedgen was terminated at Maryland. Grommer has offers on the table from East Carolina and North Carolina State. 

3. Shaq Anthony, Wren                            6’4”  260         Committed to Clemson

My Take: Shaq Anthony showed very good leadership qualities at Shrine Bowl practices and also during the game. With Clemson’s depth at left tackle Anthony could have a path to seeing some playing time very early. Anthony needs to hit the weight room and gain some more weight if he really wants to be a premier player at the next level. Anthony committed to Clemson on December 13^th, 2009. Anthony also had offers from Georgia and South Carolina.

4. Ryan Norton, Mauldin                           6’4”  275         Committed to Clemson

My take: Norton projects to be a center at the next level. Norton did not have a very good Shrine Bowl, could be due to the weather because his practice snaps were good but he had a few bad snaps with a bad long snap. Norton gets to the next level on blocks and he has great footwork. He was a three year starter at Mauldin High School in South Carolina’s Region II-AAAA, which is one of the hardest regions in the state. Norton committed to Clemson and Coach Andre Powell on May 28^th, 2010. He also had offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. 

5. Jason Rexroad, Myrtle Beach              6’4”  270         Committed to Middle Tennessee

My Take: Rexroad is an outstanding offensive linemen who was a big pickup for Coach Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee. Rexroad will need to work on his muscle at the next level. His footwork is excellent as was shown by playing in Myrtle Beach’s wide open spread offense. Rexroad committed to Middle Tennessee on July 28^th, 2010. He also had an offer from Florida International.

Palmetto Football Plus Positional Rankings: Receivers

Wide Receivers

 

1.  Charone Peake, Dorman                         6’3”  190               Committed to Clemson

My Take: Peake is probably the best athlete to come from South Carolina at the wide receiver position since A.J. Green. He stacks up to all the comparables, too. He has a tall frame that could use maybe 10 or 15 more pounds of muscle, nothing that a college weightlifting program couldn’t fix. Peake did not really impress at the Shrine Bowl, however, which has led many to believe there is a nagging injury somewhere. Peake has many offers but committed to Clemson and Wide Receivers coach Jeff Scott on June 16^th, 2010.

2.  Shamier Jeffery, Calhoun County        6’2”  187          Committed to South Carolina

My take: If you listen to people on message boards and Gamecock fans all around, this is the second coming of Shamier’s brother, Alshon. I however did not see as much as everyone else did. His route running is nowhere near where his brother’s was at the time, which is to be understood with a guy who has played quarterback in high school. Jeffery is still a freak of an athlete that Steve Spurrier can mold into a playmaker more likely than not. Jeffery had offers from Auburn, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina State and Tennessee, but made his pledge to South Carolina on November 29, 2010.

 3.  Antonio Cannon, Daniel   6’3” 175               Committed to Kentucky

My take: In my opinion, Cannon is going to be the sleeper of the 2011 wide receiver class if not the sleeper of the entire 2011 class. Cannon has all the tools and a prototype D-I receiver frame. His hands are above average and he’s got a lot of speed to boot.  Cannon chose Kentucky over an offer from North Carolina State, he committed to the Wildcats and Coach Tee Martin on May 24^th, 2010.

4.  Hakeem Flowers, Wade Hampton  6’2”  176               Considering UCLA, Michigan, Oregon, LSU and Georgia Tech

My take: Flowers is an explosive playmaker with a national reputation. He’s going to make some offensive coach look very smart sooner rather than later. He has a entire list of offers from out of state, high profile programs. He has shrunk his list down to UCLA, Michigan, Oregon, LSU and Georgia Tech. Flowers will pledge on National Signing Day (February 3^rd, 2011)

5. Donte Sumpter, Myrtle Beach         6’0”  170               Committed to East Carolina

My take: Sumpter was a key cog in machine that was the 2010 Myrtle Beach Seahawk offense. He was the main target of quarterbacks Everett Golson and Mitchell Campbell. Sumpter committed to East Carolina on May 20, 2010.

6. Stanton Seckinger, Porter-Gaud     6’5” 200                Committed to Clemson

My take: Seckinger reminds me of current Clemson tight end Brandon Ford, who came into the Clemson program as an oversized wide receiver. I think Seckinger puts on some more weight and becomes a tight end or is back up plan if one of Clemson’s Receiver commits does not qualify. The only red flag I have with Seckinger is that he played against very poor competition at Charleston’s Porter Gaud school. Seckinger committed to Clemson and Coach Dan Brooks on November 16^th.

Tight Ends

1. Jerell Adams, Scott’s Branch         6’5”  220               Considering South Carolina, Clemson and Arkansas

My take: It is not clearly defined what role Adams will have for the team he pledges to but one thing is for sure whoever lands him will be getting a football player. Adams played quarterback and defensive end for the Class A Division II Champion Scott’s Branch Eagles. Adams can contribute on the offense as a dynamic tight end or on defense as an outstanding pass rusher.  Jerell Adams has offers from South Carolina, Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Illinois, Arkansas, Michigan, North Carolina State, and Notre Dame.

2. Marcus Bullard, Spring Valley       6’3”  200               Offers from Wake Forest and Furman

My take: Like Adams, Bullard is also a two way star. Bullard played outside linebacker for the Vikings of Spring Valley, but I think his spot in college will come at Tight End. He needs to gain some muscle to be able to handle blocks in the trenches. If he goes to an FCS school I believe he will be a standout in their program by his junior year. Bullard currently has offers from Wake Forest and Furman and interest from Auburn, Clemson, Maryland, South Carolina and Vanderbilt but don’t expect any of them to offer.

 3. Craig Weick, James F. Byrnes   6’6”  195               Considering Coastal Carolina and Liberty

My take: Weick could become a real playmaker for either Coastal or Liberty. He has a frame that can become an NFL body; he also has great hands to compliment average speed. His only two offers from FCS schools are from Coastal Carolina and Liberty.

4. Alex Glover, Wando               6’3”  225               Committed to The Citadel

My take: Glover has the potential to excel in The Citadel’s offense. Glover is a great blocker and an average receiver at best. But anything the Citadel can get right now I’m sure they will take.

Martavis Bryant: Coming Back Stronger

Bryant in action at TL Hanna High School in 2009

It’s going to take more than a military school to hold Martavis Bryant back from his dreams.  The standout wide receiver from Anderson’s T.L. Hanna High School just had to take a longer road to get to his dream. Ranked by Rivals.com as the 10^th best Wide Receiver recruit in the entire United States, Bryant was considered by many as the best recruit from Clemson’s 2010 recruiting class. He chose to sign with Clemson over offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and UCLA. But, Bryant fell just a half of a credit short of qualifying at Clemson University. No one was more disappointed about that than Bryant and his mother.

“It was hurtful to me because my Mom was sitting in the living room and the coach came in and told me about it,” Bryant recalled, “I didn’t really like the situation but I had to do what I had to do for my mom.”

Bryant would instead have to spend what would have been his freshman year in college at a prep school. The school that Bryant was referred to by Clemson Offensive Line Coach Brad Scott was Hargrave Military Academy which is located in the town of Chatham, Virginia. Many football players have had to suit up for Hargrave Military including Charles Grant, a NFL Defensive End, and first round NFL draft pick Brandon Albert. Bryant, however, didn’t have much information about Hargrave.

“I didn’t really know anything about the school,” Bryant admitted. “They told me I would have to cut my hair and everything. Once I got there I didn’t like it. I had to get used to a lot of things that I wasn’t used to.”

Among those things Bryant had to get used to was being up early and having to adhere to Hargrave’s schedule rather than his own. Bryant received advice about Hargrave specifically from a leader within Clemson’s program.

“I talked to DeAndre McDaniel who went to this school and he told me a little bit about it,” Bryant says. “He told me not to let the military stuff get to me and I would be alright.”

Even with the advice from McDaniel, Bryant says Hargrave got the best of him sometimes and made him wish to be at Clemson. Even though the year at Hargrave seemed tough and unbearable, Bryant’s loyalty to Clemson never wavered.

“I was going to stay true to Clemson, Coach Scott and Coach Swinney because they stayed true to me all throughout my recruiting.”

Bryant was joined by fellow 2010 Clemson signee Corey Crawford. Bryant cites this friendship with his hall resident as one of the reasons he was able to work through the semester at Hargrave. He also thinks this has made him tougher and given him a reason to work harder.

“I have to make it this time,” Bryant adds. “I can’t do anything like this anymore.”

After the semester at Hargrave Bryant has an optimistic viewpoint of Clemson’s 2011 season. Bryant sees big horizons ahead for the 2011 Clemson Tigers football team and specifically its 2011 recruiting class.

“With the amount of talent we have coming in 2011, we should win an ACC Championship this year.”

Palmetto Plus Positional Recruiting: Ranking the Quarterbacks

 1.  Justin Worley, Northwestern              6’4” 193         Committed to Tennessee

My Take: There’s no denying that the Gatorade National Player of the Year can produce numbers in a high octane pass happy offense, but what I think will hinder him at the next level is taking snaps from under center and not from the shotgun. Overall Worley is still the best quarterback in the state of South Carolina, you don’t need two looks at his numbers to prove that. Plus he has all of the measurables you look for when recruiting a quarterback. Height? Yes. Arm? Yes. Vision? Maybe. Worley had all the records but he wanted a ring and he got it this year by defeating Greenwood. Look for him to wait his turn at Tennessee before he takes the reigns in Neyland Stadium, remember they still have rising Sophomore Matt Bray. Surprisingly Worley didn’t receive an offer from Clemson or Carolina, chose Tennessee over Florida State, Florida, LSU, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Stanford.

 2. Everett Golson, Myrtle Beach            6’0” 170       Committed to Notre Dame

My Take: Golson pulled a switcharoo from his North Carolina commitment to play football and basketball in South Bend. I think Golson could thrive in any system that gets him in space much like the Myrtle Beach offense. Don’t sleep on his arm however he threw 20 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions. Like Worley, Golson also led his team to a state championship in 2010. Golson received offers from South Carolina and Clemson but never really considered the two. Golson was considered a lock for Chapel Hill until recently. He chose the Golden Domers over offers from South Carolina, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Stanford, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, East Carolina and Duke.

  

3. Tony McNeal, Chester                           6’1” 190      Committed to Clemson

My Take: McNeal is labeled as a pro-style quarterback by major recruiting services but folks better not sleep on his wheels. McNeal has a very accurate arm and vision to see the field as a pro style signal caller. McNeal was recruited hard by Clemson Wide Receivers coach Jeff Scott and committed to the program on January 1^st, 2010. Clemson was the only program to offer McNeal with interest coming from Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina State and South Carolina.