SCSU up to nine commitments

[scstatealum]

"By THOMAS GRANT JR.,T&D Senior Sports Writer | Friday, February 01, 2008
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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."

[Professor]

Sounds like a nice class coming up. I hope that we atleast contacted the kid from NC

[scstatealum]

I am sure they did professor

[scstatealum]

"SCSU football gains commitments
By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer | Saturday, February 02, 2008
2 comment(s) | Default | Large

Add another Shrine Bowl selection and a promising quarterback to the list of high school seniors expected to sign Wednesday with South Carolina State.

Defensive lineman Sam Hammond of Union County was the latest prospect to give a verbal commitment. The 6-3, 300-pound 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.

Also committing to SCSU were quarterback Ronald Holiday Jr. (6-3, 230) of Douglass High School in Atlanta, Ga. and running back Chris Merrill (5-9, 180) of Hillcrest, who rushed for 1,287 yards and 11 TDs this season.

This increases to 12 the number of players who have committed to SCSU during the past week. The Bulldogs are holding one more recruiting visit this weekend with a small group which includes kicker Blake Erickson (5-10, 165), a second-team All-State Class 4-A punter out of J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Fla."

[Pitbull]

   :yes:        

[K2]

One thing Buddy Pough does well is recruit. I just hope the bulldog nation gives him at least two years to develop the young talent he has brought in.

[scstatealum]

he has more than 2 years....he is signed thru 2011, and we aint looking to get rid of him.....