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.

Honoring the 2010 High School Football Champions - Class 4A Division II

 

(Photo Courtesy of Andy Burriss at the Rock Hill Herald)

Northwestern Trojans

Going into the 2010 season the storied Northwestern Trojans football program had won state titles, but they had never gone undefeated in doing so. Their last state title was won in 2003 with a 2-0 victory over Gaffney, no we aren't talking baseball that was a football score.

This Northwestern football team was headed into its third straight appearance in the AAAA Division II State Championship -- they lost the previous two. In 2008 the Trojans lost in the Championship to bitter rival South Pointe, 35-14. Likewise in 2009 they lost to lower state foe Berkeley 33-24. But led back by Gatorade National Player of the Year and Tennessee commit Justin Worley the Trojans were on pace to right the previous years' wrongs. In total Worley passed for a mind-boggling 5,315 yards with 64 touchdowns along the way.

Unlike the previous two years the Northwestern Trojans lit up the scoreboards while dominating their competition. Powered by the Worley-guided no huddle offense, Northwestern averaged 41.3 points per game. They proceeded to beat rival, South Pointe, 42-20 in a nationally televised Saturday showcase that pitted Worley against the nation's consensus number one prospect in Jadaveon Clowney. They also defeated region foes Clover, Gaffney and Rock Hill by a combined score of 126-49. It wasn't just the offense that powered the Trojans, however.

Their defense led by highly recruited linemen Roderick Byers and Gerald Dixon was able to get stops when they were needed. The defense only allowed 17 points per game and only 14.8 during the Trojans region stretch.

To get to Columbia the Trojans beat James Island 45-14 and won shootouts over Ashley Ridge and Goose Creek, 49-35 and 41-34 respectively. In Columbia they would encounter annual power Greenwood and work to dismantle them 42-10. Powered by a ball hawking defense and Worley's 263 yard and five touchdown passing effort the Trojans righted the last two seasons wrong. Northwestern Head Coach Jimmy Wallace praised his team and his extraordinary quarterback for the efforts of the 2010 season.

"He's (Worley) been a special player, but all of our kids are special. That's why winning on our third try and going undefeated is tremendous."