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As we head into the 2019 football season, I want to take a look
at who I believe are the most dominating players in the Midlands area. Obviously,
this is subjective to my evaluations so simply my opinion.
In referencing a dominant player, I mean that player can take
over a game and, perhaps, is nearly impossible to stop.
Here are the five most dominating players in Midlands’ history
followed by the five most dominating players in the Midlands for 2019.
Trying to narrow the “all-time” to five players was a task and
probably a list that will be disputed. I understand that, because there are players
I left off the “five” list that could easily be inserted. Some of the
playmakers from the great Dreher teams, Lower Richland teams, Irmo and Spring
Valley teams, Swansea and Batesburg-Leesville teams, and even as far back as
the Olympia and Epworth teams were on the list that I narrowed to five.
5 MOST DOMINATING MIDLANDS PLAYERS EVER
1. Demetrius Summers, RB, Lexington – Dominated opponents every year, but in
2000 he scored 44 touchdowns and rushed for 2,708 yards. He is still among the
leaders in the national records book for career rushing and career touchdowns.
Could single-handedly take control of a game.
2. Freddie Solomon, QB, Sumter – Solomon played quarterback on the 1970 Sumter team. He
rushed for 1,969 yards and scored 28 touchdowns on 208 carries, averaging 9.5
yards per carry. He passed for 10 touchdowns and scored 182 points in helping
lead the Gamecocks to a 10-2 record. Prior to his senior year at Sumter, he
played end and guard for Lincoln High.
3. Roger Woolbright, QB, Chapin – Rushed for 13 scores and passed for 13
scores his senior year to lead Chapin to a state championship over
Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Was all-state DB and QB his senior year and led the Midlands
in scoring his junior and senior year.
4. Shaq Roland, WR, Lexington – Roland was one of the most exciting players in the state
during his junior and senior campaigns. He was lethal with the ball in his
hands and did it from the Wildcat position, wide receiver and on special teams.
5. Quincy Wicker, RB, Fairfield Central – Dominated opponents in the Griffins’
unbeaten 1997 season, rushing for 2,063 yards.
2019 MOST DOMINATING MIDLANDS PLAYERS TO WATCH
1. JALIN HYATT, WR, DUTCH FORK – Hyatt is not only the best wide receiver in the state, I
feel he is the best overall player in the state. He is dominating at his
position, forcing defenses to run zone or man over and is absolutely lethal
with the ball in his hands with his 4.3 speed. He is committed to Tennessee.
2. JORDAN BURCH, DE, HAMMOND – Burch is considered by many to be the top
prospect in the state. He has length, power and speed and is unblockable in the
SCISA ranks. He also lines up in the offensive backfield and give Hammond a
freight train against opponents.
3. TYSHAWN WANNAMAKER, OL, CALHOUN COUNTY – Wannamaker is a beast in the trenches
and is an immovable object for defenders trying to get into the Saints’
backfield. He is committed to South Carolina.
4. TY OLENCHUK, QB, DUTCH FORK – Olenchuk spins a good ball but he is on this list
because he can strike anywhere. There are those who will tell you it is because
the weapons he has at his disposal, but he is always on target and is athletic
enough to extend plays and move chains with his legs. He is unbeaten at a
starter for the Silver Foxes. He is committed to Clemson for baseball.
5. BRADEN WALKER, RB, RIVER BLUFF – Walker is on this list for one reason:
I haven’t seen him held in check since being a starter at RB. He was the Gators’
quarterback as a sophomore, but his natural position is running the football.
This team’s success drops several notches when he is not in the game.
