BAMBERG -- Justin Henderson got the news that he would be playing in the Shrine Bowl just after noon Thursday.

The fact that his selection continues a tradition of star Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive linemen -- he follows in the footsteps of former Shrine Bowlers Da’Quan Bowers, Ricky Sapp and Matt Raysor -- was not lost on him.

“It’s been a dream my whole entire life to get to go and play in the Shrine Bowl,” Henderson said. “Watching Ricky (Sapp), Da’Quan (Bowers) and Matt Raysor ... I always saw myself doing that, and to hear the news today was just a dream come true.”

Henderson’s selection may have come as a surprise to some, but the 6-3, 230-pound Kentucky commitment said he felt good about his chances after taking part in the Shrine Bowl combine over the summer.

“I had a real good combine, and as far as film wise, I thought I had some good film,” he said. “My stats were not as high as people thought they might be, but I have been playing a three-technique for the team. So, it might be a surprise to some, but not to me. I thought I was one of the best defensive lineman in the state.”

Henderson is among a trio of T&D Region stars selected to play for the South Carolina Sandlappers in the game which is scheduled to be played at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College December 19 at 1 p.m. Joining Henderson in the game is his teammate, offensive lineman A.J. Cann, an Under Armour All-American, as well as Calhoun County defensive end/linebacker Brandon Golson, who has 20 sacks on the season.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt was one of just four schools to land two players -- the maximum allowed -- on the Shrine Bowl team.

“It’s an honor just to say that we have two 1-A players from our school in the game,” Bamberg-Ehrhardt head coach Kevin Crosby said. “It’s very rare that happens, but we do have some great players here in Bamberg. It’s great for them to be recognized and to go to a bowl game like the Shrine Bowl. They worked hard and they deserve it.”

Golson, an Offense-Defense All-American who has committed to South Carolina, makes the team after recording 38 sacks in his career. The speedster from St. Matthews began playing football just last season and played only six games, recording 18 sacks, before a head-on collision with a drunken driver cost him the remainder of his season. Golson also plays wide receiver and returns punts and kicks for the Saints.

“The linebackers coach called me last week,” Calhoun County head coach Walt Wilson said. “I kind of knew Golson would make it. They loved him, and I think they are thinking of playing him a little on offense too.”

The South Carolina team will be coached by Johnsonville’s Lewis Lineberger. Thursday, Lineberger talked about the selections on a video posted on GoUpstate.com.

“We wanted to do what suits our talent the best, and we feel like we can do a variety of things with the quarterbacks, the running backs, the receivers we have,” Lineberger said. “I think we have a lot of speed, and we want to take advantage of that speed, but we also have the ability to run and throw the football.

“Defensively, we tried to build it around speed,” he added. “We are not as big as we would like to be. North Carolina is usually a lot bigger, but, hopefully we can make up with speed and quickness.”

Lineberger said the selection process was difficult.

“It’s extremely tough,” he said. “You want to give every player a fair chance. I would like to say our coaching staff has done a tremendous job. We were present at every combine the Shrine Bowl had for those. We met a bunch of times over the summer and spring and ever since it was announced in February, but the last Thursday in August, form that time on, we met every Thursday and watched film. We made a bunch of phone calls and we watched film on our own.”

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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