SCSU up to nine commitments
By THOMAS GRANT JR.,T&D Senior Sports WriterFriday, February 01, 20081 comment(s) | Default | Large
As National Signing Day draws closer, the list of verbal commitments gained by South Carolina State continues to grow.
Currently, a total of nine high school seniors have indicated their intentions to sign with the Bulldogs this Wednesday. Joining Carvers Bay defensive tackle Dyrell Porcha (6-3, 260) on the list Thursday was Shrine Bowl and Associated Press All-State defensive back Derek Belin of Class 3-A champion Wilson. A 6-0, 180-pound senior, Belin tallied 87 tackles and had three interceptions for the 12-3 Tigers.
For the fourth time in five years, SCSU will apparently sign an MVP from the North-South All-Star Classic. Linebacker C.J. Missick, a 5-10, 200-pound senior out of Stratford, had 167 tackles this past season and earned defensive MVP honors for the South with four solo tackles and an interception.
Also committing with the Bulldogs were defensive ends Ronell Ferguson (6-2, 240) of Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton, Ga. who was named to the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State Team, and Pee Dee Academy's Arnett James (6-3, 240), who participated in the Oasis All-Star Shrine Classic, SCISAA's version of the Shrine Bowl.
Another out-of-state commitment came from running back Gary Grace of Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, Ga. The 5-11, 225-pound senior rushed for over 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in earning an first-team All-North Fulton selection.
Commitments from the Midlands include linemen Larry Patterson (6-5, 260) of A.C. Flora, who had 43 knockdown blocks and 27 pancake blocks for the Falcons in grading out 85 percent this past season and Justin Garrick (6-4, 280) of Lower Richland and defensive backs Yari King (5-9, 170), who had five interceptions for Irmo and Marquel Goodman (6-2, 175), who finished with 735 all-purpose yards, 72 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for Dreher.
With five days remaining, SCSU is still awaiting decisions from highly-touted recruits running backs Lennel Elmore of Allendale-Fairfax and Martin Ward of Mount Zion High School and quarterback A.J. Blue (6-2, 205) of North Gaston High School in Dallas, N.C.
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.
Chris' Cloths wrote on Feb 1, 2008 2:29 AM:
Gasoline is supposed to hit 4 bucks a gallon thus summeer. You want your family to see you play and win a MEAC championship. You and Will Ford in our backfield-they won't be able to stop us. You would be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. SC State would make you and your family extremely happy. Oh yeah, we got way more honeys than USC and Clemson combined. Get Up for the Bulldogs-Everybody Get Up!!! "