Picking a preseason Elite 11 team is serious business.

It’s a statement: These guys are the guys that are worth the price of admission. They are guys that you want to see play at least once this season.

Over the past two seasons, The T&D’s Elite 11 team has had an outstanding track record. In 2007, all seven of the team’s seniors signed college scholarships.

That group was led by all-everything Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, who is now a Clemson star. Also on the list was Denmark-Olar wide receiver Willie Carter, who emerged as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year at Howard University last season.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt quarterback Chris Presley signed with Coastal Carolina, Calhoun County’s Donte Rumph signed with Kentucky as did Swansea’s Taylor Wyndham. Allendale-Fairfax’s Akiem Smart signed with Winston-Salem State, and Allendale-Fairfax star Lennel Elmore signed on with South Carolina State and appears poised to have a big redshirt freshman season this year.

Pelion offensive lineman Dalton Freeman signed with Clemson and is fighting for playing time, and Orangeburg-Wilkinson linebacker Sterling Lucas is in the rotation at linebacker for North Carolina State.

Last season, Elite 11 selection David Sims emerged as The T&D Region’s best high school football player and eventually signed with Georgia Tech. His teammate, Alshon Jeffery, became an Under Armour All-American and signed with the University of South Carolina, where he is already making waves as a freshman.

Edisto quarterback/defensive back Kamrie Connell signed with North Greenville and Orangeburg-Wilkinson offensive lineman Thomas Hart signed with S.C. State.

The 2008 Elite 11 also featured Calhoun County offensive lineman Eric Mack, an Under Armour All-American this year, who has committed to the University of South Carolina.

Breaking into the 2009 T&D Elite 11 was no easy task. Five of the team’s eight seniors have committed to play for a college team in 2010. A sixth, Denmark-Olar’s Kendrick Frazier, is mulling offers from several ACC and SEC schools.

Being named to the Elite 11 certainly does not guarantee success, but being recognized as one of the best players in the region as strong as the area covered by The T&D certainly indicates that a player has an outstanding chance to move on to the next level.

That being said, while the track record of the Elite 11 has been outstanding over the past two seasons, there are still players that emerge over the course of a season. With that in mind, we gave you the best in today’s 2009 Prep Football Edition, so we will give you the rest. Here are a few other players to keep an eye on this season.

Elite 11: Best of the Rest

-- Carl Anthony Williams -- Bamberg-Ehrhardt -- The 5-10, 185-pounder has blazing speed. He returned an interception 90-plus yards for a score in the Willie Jeffries Classic and followed that up with a 98-yard kickoff return and a 27-yard touchdown reception against Edisto in Week Zero.

-- Demetrius Williams -- Bamberg-Ehrhardt -- The 5-9, 175-pound tailback emerged in the Red Raiders backfield last season. Friday, he began 2009 with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown in his team’s victory over Edisto.

-- Javonta Middleton -- Bamberg-Ehrhardt -- Middleton (5-10, 215) has an offer from North Carolina A&T and has interest from several other schools.

-- Randon Sandifer -- Bamberg-Ehrhardt -- Sandifer (6-0, 180) gives B-E a passing threat this year. He doubles as one of the best kickers in the region.

-- Nkosi Hallman -- Bethune-Bowman -- Hallman (6-3, 185) has interest from several small schools, according to Mohawks head coach Glynn Darby. A wide receiver/safety, Hallman has decent speed and strong hands.

-- Josh Matthews -- Bethune-Bowman -- Matthews (6-4, 315) may be larger than listed. He’s a big player who can move well for his size.

-- Trevelle Stephens -- Bethune-Bowman -- Stephens (6-1, 280) may be Bethune-Bowman’s best all-around lineman.

-- Bryan Love -- Calhoun Academy -- A speedster, Love (5-9, 160) rushed for 748 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.

-- Brandon Thomas -- Calhoun County -- Thomas (5-11, 175) will play quarterback for the Saints, but his athleticism has him on several college recruiting boards as a wide receiver.

-- Darrien Williams -- Calhoun County -- Williams (6-1, 205) may be the player not in the Elite 11 that came the closest to being in the group. An undersized defensive end, Williams has a lightning-quick first step and was a T&D All-Area first team selection last season after collecting 13 sacks.

-- Javontae Brown -- Calhoun County -- Brown (6-1, 260) is a top 100 prospect in the Class of 2012, according to Maxpreps.com.

-- Dante Stewart -- Calhoun County -- Stewart (5-9 1/2, 175) is a solid defensive back, but he could make his most noise at tailback this year. Whispers out of St. Matthews are that Stewart could rush for 2,000 yards.

-- Derrick Jenkins -- Edisto -- Jenkins rushed for 618 yards and four touchdowns on 74 carries last season. Cougars head coach Andy Palmer feels like his player is ready for a breakout season.

-- Montaurus Gleaton -- Hunter-Kinard-Tyler -- Gleaton was a T&D All-Area selection two seasons ago. Not the biggest quarterback in the world, he is a solid passer who will put up great numbers in the Trojans’ fast-paced offense.

-- Tyshawn Washington -- Lake Marion -- Washington had 95 tackles for Lake Marion last season.

-- Walker Smith -- Orangeburg Prep -- Smith had 155 tackles for OPS last season.

-- Raheem Howell -- Orangeburg-Wilkinson -- Howell is a talented receiver who caught 40 passes for the Bruins a year ago.

-- Nagui Wright -- Woodland -- Wright has good speed and great athleticism. He will play tailback, defensive back and wide receiver for Woodland and could play at any one of those positions in college.

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

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