It was only a formality last year when South Carolina "Mr. Football" quarterback Malcolm Long of Gaffney signed with South Carolina State.

This year, SCSU coaches and fans enter today's National Signing Day with one lingering question.

Where will "Superman" land?

All-State running back Lennel Elmore of Allendale-Fairfax High School will provide the answer at 2 p.m. today when he announces whether he'll sign with SCSU or defending two-time Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State.

While A-F head football coach Wayne Farmer told the T&D late Tuesday that his Shrine Bowl running back was leaning towards SCSU, Elmore has remained mum on the matter. The Bulldogs and Mountaineers emerged as finalists for the services of Elmore, who along with Bamberg-Ehrhardt rival and ESPNU number-one overall draft prospect defensive lineman Daquan Bowers and fellow Elite 11 member Donte Rumph of Calhoun County were the only Class A players selected to this year's victorious South Carolina Sandlapper Shrine Bowl team.

Over the past two seasons, the 5-10, 165-pound Elmore was among the state's most prolific offensive weapons with over 4,500 total yards and over 40 touchdowns as a running back and kick returner. Elmore helped the Tigers post back-to-back 10-plus victory seasons for the first time in school history and the track and field team to the Class A championship last May.

Even without Elmore, SCSU is expected to pick at least 13 newcomers from a class which includes several players with All-State and All-Star credentials.

- Defensive lineman Sam Hammond (6-3, 300 pounds) of Union County. The Shrine Bowl participant played on both sides of the football for the Yellow Jackets this past season, tallying 46 tackles and seven quarterback hurries on defense and 22 pancake blocks and an 86 percent grade in six games on the offensive line.

- Defensive back Derek Belin (6-0, 180 lbs.) of Wilson High School. An Associated Press All-State selection and Shrine Bowl participant, Belin tallied 87 tackles and had four interceptions for the eventual Class 3-A champion Tigers.

- Linebacker C.J. Missick (5-10, 200 lbs.) of Stratford. The defensive MVP of the North-South All-Star Classic, he tallied 167 tackles this past season.

- Offensive lineman Larry Patterson (6-5, 260) of A.C. Flora. He posted 43 knockdown blocks and 27 pancake blocks for the Falcons in grading out 85 percent this past season.

- Defensive back Yari King (5-9, 170) of Irmo. He had five interceptions this past season.

- Defensive end Ronell Ferguson (6-2, 240) of Lincoln County High School in Lincolnton, Ga. Named to the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State Team.

- Defensive end Arnett James (6-3, 240) of Pee Dee Academy. Participated in the Oasis All-Star Shrine Classic, SCISAA's version of the Shrine Bowl.

- Running back Gary Grace (5-11, 225) of Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, Gla. He rushed for over 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in earning an first-team All-North Fulton selection.

- Defensive back Marquel Goodman (6-2, 175) of Dreher. He wfinished with 735 all-purpose yards, 72 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

- Running back Chris Merrill (5-9, 180) of Hillcrest. He rushed for 1,287 yards and 11 TDs this season.

- Place-kicker Blake Erickson (5-10, 165) of J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Fla. He was a second-team All-State Class 4-A punter and participated in the fourth annual Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Classic.

- Quarterback Ronald Holiday Jr. (6-3, 230) of Douglass High School in Atlanta, Ga.

- Lineman Justin Garrick (6-4, 280) of Lower Richland

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant can be contacted via e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Check out his blog, Following the Bulldogs, at www.thetandd.com.

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