Plenty of talent in the backyard
Feb. 28, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. – When the spring evaluation period opens in April, college recruiters from across the country will begin flocking to the South Carolina state capital.
Columbia and its surrounding area has several notable 2018 recruits, to go along with a handful of others who are still flying under the radar.
Derek White, head coach at Ben Lippen School — the reigning SCISA 3A state champions — believes he has several 2018 prospects who could potentially play at the Power 5 level.
Three-star Bryce Thompson, a Virginia Tech commitment, carries the highest profile. the 6-foot, 180-pound athlete visited South Carolina over the weekend to watch practice and attend the junior day.
“He does a little bit of everything. He understands the game really well. I think he can play receiver, I think he can play DB and maybe be another level guy after college,” White said. “I think his height, weight, explosion, ball skills, translate to the NFL. Everybody in the country is jumping on the wagon of Bryce Thompson now.
“He’s committed to Virginia Tech. South Carolina is making him a priority. We’ve got Florida State, Michigan – North Carolina State has offered him. Everybody is calling and saying they want to come see him in the spring.”
In the winter, 3-star quarterback Trad Beatty transferred over from Chapin (S.C.) High School.
“He’s got a really strong arm. He’s a very high-intelligent kid. He understands the game. Has a great attitude, always wants to learn and get better,” White said. “The first day he walked in the door, he wanted to know what we were doing and start learning the offense, preparing himself.”
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are expressing interest.
“I think his upside is tremendous. I think he’s going to be a late-bloomer. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a lot of offers, but quarterbacks are a funny thing, and he’s only 16-years-old, so there’s no telling what that frame’s going to do,” White said. “He’s got every tool you want out of a quarterback. He’s a great leader in the short time he’s been here. He wants to get better and out-work people.”
Linebacker Kyle Wright (6-0, 210) lists offers from East Carolina and Colorado State. On Tuesday, he rode over to South Carolina for spring practice.
“Kyle is the best human being you’ll ever meet. Highest-character kid I’ve probably ever been around. He’s a great kid,” White said. “His body is changing. I think he could be a running back at the next level, but I think the way he’s growing and the way his body and the skillset he presents, being so explosive, I think he’s going to be a linebacker at the next level.
“This was his first year playing linebacker. We had to catch him up a lot, trying to teach him the game. I think he’s going to really show out this spring and turn a lot of heads.”
Then there’s Justin Keitt, a 6-foot-8, 333-pound offensive tackle who practiced with the team for two weeks before he was shut down last preseason with a leg injury.
“Our offensive line coach Scott Jones raved up and down how good he’s going to be,” White said. “Best he’s ever seen, and this is coming from a guy who’s coached a couple of NFL-type guys.”
South Carolina, Virginia Tech, N.C. State and Georgia are among the schools expressing interest.
“His upside is through the roof,” White said. “You don’t find 6-8, 333 that can run. He actually can bend. Somebody asked him to do an air-squat one day – a college coach who walked through the door – (Keitt) did and (the coach) said, ‘We should offer you right now.’ But he’s got no film.”
The prospects on South Carolina
Thompson
“I had a meeting with (defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson) and coach (Will) Muschamp after (Saturday’s practice) with my mom. They were just telling us they’re really interested in me and they want me to stay in Columbia, because I’ll be a big part of building the program. Stuff like that. I’m going to be focused in on the nickel position, punt return, kickoff, special teams like that.”
Beatty
“(Quarterbacks) coach (Kurt) Roper and I have built a pretty good relationship ever since he came over with the new staff last year, so we’ve been talking a lot. I’ve sat in on some quarterback meetings at Carolina, been to a lot of spring practices over the last year. The thing for him is I’m an in-state guy, so he sees me a lot. We’ve built a good relationship. We talk pretty regularly.”
Wright
“I got to watch them (practice) out there (Tuesday). They looked great. I got to watch them do 7-on-7, a whole bunch of special teams. The special teams look real phenomenal right now.”
“I got to talk to (linebackers) coach (Coleman) Hutzler, (running backs) coach (Bobby) Bentley and T-Rob. They all said they liked my size and they wanted me to come back during the spring and in the summer for camps, to see what I can do.”
Keitt
“I just kind of like the legacy. Ever since I was a kid, I kind of wanted to play for USC, so going there was maybe the next step to something I want. It’s great to see the atmosphere of what could possibly happen.
Feb. 28, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. – When the spring evaluation period opens in April, college recruiters from across the country will begin flocking to the South Carolina state capital.
Columbia and its surrounding area has several notable 2018 recruits, to go along with a handful of others who are still flying under the radar.
Derek White, head coach at Ben Lippen School — the reigning SCISA 3A state champions — believes he has several 2018 prospects who could potentially play at the Power 5 level.
Three-star Bryce Thompson, a Virginia Tech commitment, carries the highest profile. the 6-foot, 180-pound athlete visited South Carolina over the weekend to watch practice and attend the junior day.
“He does a little bit of everything. He understands the game really well. I think he can play receiver, I think he can play DB and maybe be another level guy after college,” White said. “I think his height, weight, explosion, ball skills, translate to the NFL. Everybody in the country is jumping on the wagon of Bryce Thompson now.
“He’s committed to Virginia Tech. South Carolina is making him a priority. We’ve got Florida State, Michigan – North Carolina State has offered him. Everybody is calling and saying they want to come see him in the spring.”
In the winter, 3-star quarterback Trad Beatty transferred over from Chapin (S.C.) High School.
“He’s got a really strong arm. He’s a very high-intelligent kid. He understands the game. Has a great attitude, always wants to learn and get better,” White said. “The first day he walked in the door, he wanted to know what we were doing and start learning the offense, preparing himself.”
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are expressing interest.
“I think his upside is tremendous. I think he’s going to be a late-bloomer. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a lot of offers, but quarterbacks are a funny thing, and he’s only 16-years-old, so there’s no telling what that frame’s going to do,” White said. “He’s got every tool you want out of a quarterback. He’s a great leader in the short time he’s been here. He wants to get better and out-work people.”
Linebacker Kyle Wright (6-0, 210) lists offers from East Carolina and Colorado State. On Tuesday, he rode over to South Carolina for spring practice.
“Kyle is the best human being you’ll ever meet. Highest-character kid I’ve probably ever been around. He’s a great kid,” White said. “His body is changing. I think he could be a running back at the next level, but I think the way he’s growing and the way his body and the skillset he presents, being so explosive, I think he’s going to be a linebacker at the next level.
“This was his first year playing linebacker. We had to catch him up a lot, trying to teach him the game. I think he’s going to really show out this spring and turn a lot of heads.”
Then there’s Justin Keitt, a 6-foot-8, 333-pound offensive tackle who practiced with the team for two weeks before he was shut down last preseason with a leg injury.
“Our offensive line coach Scott Jones raved up and down how good he’s going to be,” White said. “Best he’s ever seen, and this is coming from a guy who’s coached a couple of NFL-type guys.”
South Carolina, Virginia Tech, N.C. State and Georgia are among the schools expressing interest.
“His upside is through the roof,” White said. “You don’t find 6-8, 333 that can run. He actually can bend. Somebody asked him to do an air-squat one day – a college coach who walked through the door – (Keitt) did and (the coach) said, ‘We should offer you right now.’ But he’s got no film.”
The prospects on South Carolina
Thompson
“I had a meeting with (defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson) and coach (Will) Muschamp after (Saturday’s practice) with my mom. They were just telling us they’re really interested in me and they want me to stay in Columbia, because I’ll be a big part of building the program. Stuff like that. I’m going to be focused in on the nickel position, punt return, kickoff, special teams like that.”
Beatty
“(Quarterbacks) coach (Kurt) Roper and I have built a pretty good relationship ever since he came over with the new staff last year, so we’ve been talking a lot. I’ve sat in on some quarterback meetings at Carolina, been to a lot of spring practices over the last year. The thing for him is I’m an in-state guy, so he sees me a lot. We’ve built a good relationship. We talk pretty regularly.”
Wright
“I got to watch them (practice) out there (Tuesday). They looked great. I got to watch them do 7-on-7, a whole bunch of special teams. The special teams look real phenomenal right now.”
“I got to talk to (linebackers) coach (Coleman) Hutzler, (running backs) coach (Bobby) Bentley and T-Rob. They all said they liked my size and they wanted me to come back during the spring and in the summer for camps, to see what I can do.”
Keitt
“I just kind of like the legacy. Ever since I was a kid, I kind of wanted to play for USC, so going there was maybe the next step to something I want. It’s great to see the atmosphere of what could possibly happen.