West Columbia (SC) Each season, week one brings the release of my rankings for the upcoming recruiting cycles. I never do rankings for the freshman class because, quite simply, we haven’t seen these kids at the varsity level until now and there is not enough film to work with. I have, however, been able to see some of the guys in the off season workouts fighting for positions and, now, one week of varsity and can tell you there are three that have caught my early.
I told you a couple of weeks ago that Fairfield Central was starting a freshman at quarterback and he had looked good in 7 on 7 and preseason scrimmages. But Friday night, he made a statement against Carvers Bay, passing for 315 yards and 5 touchdowns. Cam McMillon is 6’2, 190 and has all of the tools already. I’ve got to do a lot more evaluation on things like field vision and decision making but the raw skills and fundamentals are there. For those of you who have been SC High School football fans for a while, think Malcolm Long of Gaffney, because this kid is a carbon copy of Long.
Heathwood Hall went with a freshman quarrterback this week, as well, with Patrick Belk (5’9,170). He threw for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now, right now he has no where near the size to be considered a high level prospect at the quarterback position, so we will just have to see how he develops and where else he plays on the field, as he is a very good athlete.
Dreher high school has a young man at wide receiver who has a chance to be a very good prospect. Kaleb Berry (6’2, 170) is a barely 15 year old athlete who already has a skill set that most coaches would love to have in their players. He’s fast, he’s got height, he’s got hands and can go up and high point a football. He’s elusive after the catch and I honestly think that if this kid develops and matures with the skills he has, he’s got a chance to be a Power Five prospect. He reminds me of Michael Hamlin (Lamar HS 2003) who went on to Clemson as a safety.
