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note about selection process:
A lot of questions and criticisms have come to me regarding the list and how it was selected so I thought I would share some insight.
First of all, it is not the subjective opinion of one person, being me. Forming this list I had input from coaches, former and current, from the midlands from every decade from the 1960s to current.
There are no objective parameters in the process so, yes, it is subjective but subjective agreement between myself and these coaches. Our main thing was we wanted players on the list that were “impact” players on outcomes of the games in which they played. That doesn’t mean they were always all-state. We did not use all star games as a criteria because, as we all agreed, that selection process is somewhat flawed and not indicative of players who necessarily were “impacts” on game outcomes for their teams. We also did not consider post-high school career or accomplishments. Many of these guys did play at the next level, however, because they WERE great players. Some did not because they lacked either measurables or grades. Again, our criteria was subjective to the way they performed. A prime example is DE Clyde Dibble of Swansea (1981). Clyde was not viewed as a superstar. But Clyde was a sack of hell in that defense. He didn’t have big stats Because teams ran AWAY from him. Watch Swansea film and you’ll see a guy who wrecked backfields every single play. He was not blockable. THAT is the type of players we wanted on this list.
We are still remembering guys that we left off and discussing them so this list will change over the next four weeks.
I hope that makes some sense and if you feel we missed someone, e-mail me at scvarsity@sc.rr.com and we will look at them. But keep in mind it takes more than being all region to make this list. As many a great players there are on this list, there are many very good players that didn’t make it.
THE LIST
A few years ago, while working as a columnist for The State Newspaper, I publsihed a list of the 150 Greatest Players in SC History. It was a difficult task and, as a work in progress, re-released it with more than 300 names on it a couple of years ago here at SCVarsity.com.
Well, I’ve been working on a similar list focused just on the Midlands area. This is not an easy list to do. It requires a lot of research, a lot of hours of talking to people – old coaches, old referees, and old fans. And if you notice someone missing that perhaps should be here, don’t worry. I am still working on this list as I feel it is an ongoing project. I’m still finding some guys from the 1930s and before that need to be added.
The Defensive Backs position is a tough one to pick because prior to the evolution of the offense to the spread, most of these guys were run support and there just isn’t a lot of stats and/or articles on them out there. So I have to rely on either players I’ve seen with my own eyes, or from talking to coahes and other players from over the years. This is one position that I can say I have seen every single one of these players, as they were all but one, playing during the SCVarsity years. One, Thad Rowe from 1970 was one I watched as a kid as my older siblings went to Brookland-Cayce so I frequented their games in the late 60s and early 70s.
| POS | LAST NAME | FIRST NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
| DB | Ecton | Lane | Dutch Fork | 2015 |
| DB | Emmanwan | Nick | Irmo | 2022 |
| DB | Freeman | Artruro | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 1994 |
| DB | Gray | Gary | Richland Northeast | 2007 |
| DB | Jennings | Tim | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 2002 |
| DB | Phillips | Freddie | Pelion | 2015 |
| DB | Rowe | Thad | Brookland-Cayce | 1970 |
| DB | Smith | Cam | Westwood | 2019 |
| DB | Tyler | Tremaine | Edisto | 2002 |
The defensive ends is a talented group, with several of these guys who made it to the league. But I don’t think there is any doubt that the top dog iin this particular group is Jim Stuckey from Airport (1976). Stuckey went on to star at Clemson and with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.
| DE | Boon | Justus | Sumter | 2020 |
| DE | Burch | Jordan | Hammond | 2020 |
| DE | Capps | Aaron | Lugoff-Elgin | 1997 |
| DE | Dibble | Clyde | Swansea | 1981 |
| DE | Elliot | Sean | Camden | 1992 |
| DE | Holliday | Vonnie | Camden | 1994 |
| DE | McDaniel | Anthony | Keenan | 2003 |
| DE | Perry | Jonathan | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 1989 |
| DE | Stuckey | Jimmy | Airport | 1976 |
| DE | Sumpter | James | Camden | 1981 |
The defensive line group has some strong guys in it. Some of which went on to star at the collegiate level and beyone.
| DL | Huggins | Albert | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 2015 |
| DL | Huntley | Alex | Hammond | 2020 |
| DL | Irby | Trey | Dutch Fork | 2020 |
| DL | Patterson | Adam | Richland Northeast | 2006 |
| DL | Pinckney | Cleveland | Sumter | 1997 |
| DL | Seawright | Jones | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 2000 |
| DL | Seymour | Richard | Lower Richland | 1997 |
| DL | Staley | Damian | Ridge View | 2018 |
| DL | Wideman | Dexter | Saluda | 2014 |
The specialist/kickers is still a work in progress. The three on this liset definitely deserve to be there and two of these guys are still in the SC High School records book.
| K | Leopard | Eddie | Brookland-Cayce | 1977 |
| K | Morton | Reed | Irmo | 1993 |
| K | Simpson | Marty | Spring Valley | 1991 |
The Linebacker group from the Midlands is very strong and continues to be. it is, however, another position that has changed over the years with the demand of thsee guys to work pass coverage, as well. I had the pleasure of playing with a couple of the old school guys at Lexington, Greg Jennings and Tom Lux, who were both Shrine Bowlers.
| LB | Bouleware | Peter | Spring Valley | 1993 |
| LB | Brunson | TJ | Richalnd Northeast | 2016 |
| LB | Davis | David | Lower Richalnd | 1987 |
| LB | Davis | Stephen | Dutch Fork | 2015 |
| LB | Flowers | Lethon | Spring Valley | 1991 |
| LB | Fry | Jay | Hammond | 1980 |
| LB | Jeffrey | Demario | Columbia | 2009 |
| LB | Jennings | Gregg | Lexington | 1978 |
| LB | Langford | Charles | Lexington | 1977 |
| LB | Lux | Tom | Lexington | 1979 |
| LB | Mack | Barnel | Swansea | 1981 |
| LB | McDaniel | Ed | Batesburg-Leesville | 1987 |
| LB | Miller | Christian | Spring Valley | 2014 |
| LB | Newell | Will | Irmo | 2005 |
| LB | Petrey | John | Swansea | 1979 |
| LB | Rumph | Sam | Booker T Washington | 1973 |
| LB | Smith | Ian | Swansea | 1995 |
| LB | Strowder | Steve | AC Flora | 1985 |
| LB | Tindal | Channing | Spring Valley | 2018 |
| LB | Wyndham | Taylor | Swansea | 2008 |
The offensive line position may be the most difficult to select on a list like this because unless you’ve seen them, you have to rely soley on the impression they made on the coaches and fellow players.
| OL | Austin | Thomas | Camden | 2005 |
| OL | Barron | Alex | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 2000 |
| OL | Bates | Chad | Spring Valley | 1993 |
| OL | Caldwell | Cecil | Newberry | 1996 |
| OL | Cloy | Mason | Spring Valley | 2007 |
| OL | Dozier | Dakota | Brookland-Cayce | 2009 |
| OL | Freeman | Dalton | Pelion | 2009 |
| OL | Fryer | CJ | Irmo | 1999 |
| OL | Fryer | Mark | Irmo | 1985 |
| OL | Hall | Les | Spring Valley | 1988 |
| OL | Harris | Ike | Lower Richalnd | 1986 |
| OL | Harrison | John | Lower Richalnd | 1992 |
| OL | Hart | Leon | Spring Valley | 2004 |
| OL | James | Stanley | Columbia | 1974 |
| OL | Lewis | John | Batesburg-Leesville | 1982 |
| OL | Manos | Hank | Chapin | 2017 |
| OL | Riley | Marshall | Swansea | 1994 |
| OL | Smoake | Tommy | Airport | 1978 |
| OL | Singleton | Jared | Lugof-Elgin | 2009 |
| Ol | Wilkes | Del | Irmo | 1980 |
The Quarterback position is the deepest and usually is on a list like this. They are easy to assess and evaluate and their accomplishments are easily found. This is very strong group of quarterbacks and it’s missing seveal yet to be added from more recent years. There is little doubt that Sumter’s Freddie Solomon is the top guy on this list.
| QB | Andrews | Jones | Richalnd Northeast | 1983 |
| QB | Bailey | Logan | Chapin | 2016 |
| QB | Bass | Earle | Airport | 1971 |
| QB | Bell | Noah | Saluda | 2020 |
| QB | Brunson | Terrance | Calhoun County | 2018 |
| QB | Cuningham | Todd | Irmo | 1998 |
| QB | Dantzler | Woodrow | Orangeburg-Wilkinson | 1998 |
| QB | Derrick | Ray | AC Flora | 1977 |
| QB | Earle | Kenyon | Airport | 1989 |
| QB | Green | Billiy | Irmo | 1980 |
| QB | Helms | Hunter | Gray Collegiate | 2020 |
| QB | Hesse | Ray | Saluda | 1962 |
| QB | Hipp | Jeff | Brookland-Cayce | 1975 |
| QB | Hunter | Will | Lexington | 2014 |
| Qb | Jackson | Kit | Swansea | 1964 |
| QB | Jenkins | Corey | Dreher | 1999 |
| QB | Kimrey | Erik | Dutch Fork | 1998 |
| QB | McCollum | Eric | Camden | 2007 |
| QB | Mitchell | Allen | Batesburg-Leesville | 1981 |
| QB | Mounce | Richard | Blythewood | 2008 |
| QB | Myers | Stanley | Swansea | 1994 |
| QB | Olenchuk | Ty | Dutch Fork | 2020 |
| QB | Peggler | Jimmy | Spring Valley | 1976 |
| QB | Raines | Levi | Airport | 2001 |
| QB | Richardson | Walley | Sumter | 1993 |
| QB | Skipper | JImmy | Brookland-Cayce | 1982 |
| QB | Smith | Avion | White Knoll | 2020 |
| QB | Smith | Dequandre | Spring Valley | 2022 |
| QB | Smith | Jay | Lugoff-Elgin | 1997 |
| QB | Solomon | Freddie | Sumter | 1971 |
| QB | Spence | Jimmy | Lexington | 1977 |
| QB | Stepp | Josh | Pelion | 2002 |
| QB | Tillman | Brandon | River Bluff | 2016 |
| QB | Werts | Yafari | Newberry | 2016 |
| QB | Williams | Rodney | Irmo | 1985 |
| QB | Wise | Dewayne | Chapin | 1997 |
| QB | Woolbright | Marty | Chapin | 1970 |
| QB | Woolbright | Roger | Chapin | 1974 |
| QB/DB | Kinard | Terry | Sumter | 1978 |
The running backs is an easy list to fing the good ones and a difficult list to narrorw down. All of these guys were very good and some were very special. Demetris Summers is easily the best on this list, while the newest player, KZ Adams of Gray Collegiate runs a close second.
| RB | Abrams | Amir | Newberry | 2018 |
| RB | Adams | KZ | Gray Collegiate | 2022 |
| RB | Bagwell | Mitch | Brookland-Cayce | 1981 |
| RB | Billie | Tremane | Dreher | 2004 |
| RB | Brown | Marcus | Camden | 2002 |
| RB | Carroll | Slade | Lexington | 2016 |
| RB | Carter | Casper | Brookland-Cayce | 1972 |
| RB | Carter | Mario | irmo | 2007 |
| RB | Clark | Edward | Lexington | 1978 |
| RB | Clark | Travis | Lexington | 1983 |
| RB | Colburn | Matt | Dutch Fork | 2015 |
| RB | Gasparato | Mike | Dutch Fork | 2000 |
| RB | Green | Mustafa | Irmo | 2010 |
| RB | Hipp | IM | Chapin | 1976 |
| RB | Hoff | Ron | Dutch Fork | 2020 |
| RB | Jackson | Jamaica | Sumter | 2000 |
| RB | Johnson | Devonta | Batesburg-Leesville | 2002 |
| RB | Jones | Kevin | Airport | 1985 |
| RB | Keisler | Jeff | Gilbert | 1980 |
| RB | Keith | Dekayus | Batesburg-Leesville | 2004 |
| RB | Lythes | Otis | Swansea | |
| RB | McDowell | Roderick | Sumter | 2009 |
| RB | Middlebrooks | Tommy | Lower Richalnd | 1971 |
| RB | Miller | Kevin | Lexington | 2012 |
| RB | Montbomery | Marvin | Hillcrest (Dalzell) | 1984 |
| RB | Murphy | Maurice | Lugoff-Elgin | 1997 |
| RB | Olson | Aram | Irmo | 2006 |
| RB | Reeves | Percy | Irmo | 1977 |
| RB | Scott | Sherman | Batesburg-Leesville | 1997 |
| RB | Stokes | CJ | Hammond | 2022 |
| RB | Summers | Demetris | Lexington | 2002 |
| RB | Thompson | Bryce | Dutch Fork | 2018 |
| RB | Varn | Todd | Airport | 1988 |
| RB | Walker | Braden | River Bluff | 2020 |
| RB | Walker | Quincy | Fairfield-Central | 1998 |
| RB | Witherspoon | Derrick | Sumter | 1990 |
The Tioght Ends group is not a big group but a solid group. I had the pleasure of playing against three of these guys and seeing them up close.
| TE | Corley | Chris | Irmo | 1981 |
| TE | Rietkovich | Ty | Airport | 1980 |
| TE | Scott | Willie | Newberry | 1978 |
| TE/OL | Campbell | Wyatt | Lugoff-Elgin | 2017 |
the Wide Receiver position is one that will grow on this list. It’s a position that has gone from being a secondary role player in the offense to being the feature of the spread /passing offenses we see now.
| WR | Ben | Charles | Calhoun County | 2002 |
| WR | Bouleware | Michael | Spring Valley | 2000 |
| WR | Bethea | Ryan | RNE | 1985 |
| WR | Bright | Manny | Gilbert | 2020 |
| WR | Brown | James | Airport | 1984 |
| WR | Burnett | Bruce | Airport | 1971 |
| WR | Burnette | Kirk | Airport | 1983 |
| WR | Currie | Airise | Richalnd Northeast | 2001 |
| WR | Dillison | OD | Gray Collegiate | 2020 |
| WR | Engram | Bobby | Camden | 1992 |
| WR | Gladney | Casey | Columbia | 2012 |
| WR | Grant | Kelvin | Camden | 2002 |
| WR | Hyatt | Jalin | Dutch Fork | 2020 |
| WR | Jefferey | Alshon | Calhoun County | 2008 |
| WR | Quick | Brian | Ridge View | 2007 |
| WR | King | Brandon | Ridgeview | 2007 |
| WR | Roland | Shaq | Lexington | 2011 |
| WR | Short | Zavier | Chapin | 2022 |
| WR | Spence | David | Lexington | 1971 |
| WR | Stepp | Justin | Pelion | 2002 |
| WR | Staley | Duce | Airport | 1994 |
| WR | Williams | Antonio | Dutch Fork | 2022 |
