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NEESES -- There's an old saying about the early bird catching the worm.
In rising senior defensive lineman William Brimfield's case, his early "fishing" netted him a Division I-A college football scholarship. This past weekend, Brimfield gave a verbal commitment to sign next February with the University of North Carolina.
At 6-5, 287-pounds, Brimfield has started all three seasons with the Trojans and had 72 tackles, 10 1/2 sacks and three fumble recoveries last season at defensive tackle. He also played tight end and had 27 receptions for 250 yards and two TDs.
Brimfield also plays basketball for H-K-T, winning a state title in 2005 and averaging nine points and 7.5 rebounds this past season, and qualified for the S.C. Track and Field championships in the shotput and discus throw.
Even with nine months remaining before Brimfield signs a letter of intent, he insists his decision is final. Brimfield believes the Tar Heels are the perfect fit for him and not just because they wear the same powder blue and white colors as H-K-T.
"I liked North Carolina and I was really looking forward to being in the North Carolina area," Brimfield said. "And in doing some research on North Carolina, I felt like it was the school for me as far as the position I play, academic-wise and everything else. They have a beautiful campus and I felt like in order to have a complete and safe senior year, it was best to commit to UNC and let my senior year go by without any distractions as far as other schools coming in and doing this and doing that, trying to offer me this and that. I felt like it was the right choice. It was the right thing to do."
Watching the likes of defensive linemen Julius Peppers
and Ryan Sims get drafted high in the NFL and seeing a local graduate in former Orangeburg-Wilkinson and current New York Giant defensive tackle Jonas Seawright find success in Chapel Hill also influenced Brimfield's early decision.
Although he's coming from one of the smallest Class A schools in South Carolina, Brimfield said the coaching staff is pleased with the level he's at physically and skill-wise compared with players from larger programs.
"My defensive line coach (and director of high school relations Ken Browning) feels like I'm up to par coming from a small school," he said. "I'm where he wants me to be right now."
Brimfield's focus at this moment is Trojan football where he looks to finish his career with a winning season for new head coach and former South Carolina State safety standout Jermaine Derricott.
O-W's Rob Fields signs with Catawba
While UNC waits on Brimfield, fellow Tar Heel state institution Catawba College has signed Orangeburg-Wilkinson All-State shooting guard Rob Fields.
A three-year starter and team captain, Fields led the Bruins in scoring the past two seasons. This season, he was named the MVP of the Orangeburg County Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament as he averaged 19.6 points per game in leading O-W to the tournament title.
Fields capped his career by playing in the Carolinas Classic, where he played for a North team on which O-W boys' basketball coach Alex Barron was an assistant. In addition to earning team MVP honors, Fields was ranked in the Top 25 percent of his senior class and made the National Honor Society.
In signing with the alma mater of former South Carolina State head coach Cy Alexander, Fields reunites with former Bruin and rising senior Ahmad Murphy. This past season, Murphy started in 28 games and averaged 5.1 points and had 33 steals and 17 blocks for the 22-8 Indians who finished ninth in the final NCAA Division II South Atlantic rankings.
T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.