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by Thomas Grant, Orangeburg
Times & Democrat senior sports writer
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The best college
football players in South Carolina once again have a place of honor.
In August, the Orangeburg Touchdown Club announced
a plan to revive an old tradition from years past. Selecting from the
Palmetto State's 13 colleges and universities which complete in
Division I, Division I-AA, Division II and NAIA, an All-State College
Football Team would be established in order to recognize those players
at each position.
Based on the recommendations and nominations
provided by the sports information directors at each of the schools, a
ballot was first distributed for voting to in-state journalists and
national college football observers. A total of 15 journalists, as
well as The Orangeburg Touchdown Club members, whose tally counted as
one bloc, participated in the voting and a final tally was completed
on Dec. 4.
The end result of the voting was a 25-man team with
widespread representation from throughout the state. Both Clemson and
the University of South Carolina each had six selections, followed by
four each for South Carolina State and Coastal Carolina, three from
Furman University and a player each from Wofford and Newberry.
Among the All-State team members were two
conference rookies of the year (USC wide receiver Sidney Rice and
Clemson running back James Davis), a pair of national award finalists
and former T&D Region high school standouts (Clemson cornerback
Tye Hill of Woodland and Furman linebacker William Freeman of Swansea)
and a co-defensive player of the year (Wofford's Katon Bethany).
This talented collection of All-State players will
gather together in Orangeburg on Jan. 19 for the Orangeburg Touchdown
Club's annual year-end banquet at The Cinema at Orangeburg Mall.
Clemson University head football coach Tommy Bowden is the guest
speaker at the event, which will also honor the top high school
players in The T&D Region.
OFFENSE
- Quarterback
- Ingle Martin, Senior, 6-3, 224 lbs.
(Furman)
The University of Florida transfer and second-team All-Southern
Conference passer has ranked among the top Division I-AA
quarterbacks during his two seasons with the Paladins. Not only
is the Nashville, Tenn. native the school's career passing
leader with 5,313 yards, he also owns the single-season record
for passing yards and touchdowns thrown, both established last
season. In addition to his passing talents, Martin is a
first-team All-SoCon punter who has averaged 43.1 yards per game
this season.
- Running Backs
- DeShawn Baker, Junior, 6-1, 220 lbs.
(South Carolina State)
After starting out slowly following preseason surgery for a torn
meniscus, Baker finished the regular-season as the second
Bulldog to rush for over 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons.
In just nine games, the Charlotte, N.C. native was the
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's third-leading rusher with
1,037 yards on 205 carries and 10 touchdowns. Baker also had six
receptions for 171 yards in earning second-team All-MEAC honors
for the second straight year.
- James Davis, Freshman, 5-11, 210 lbs.
(Clemson)
Highly touted out of Douglass High School in Atlanta, Ga., where
he rushed for 7,339 career yards and 80 touchdowns, Davis made
an immediate impact for the Tigers. He was a two-time National
Freshman of the Week honor who, despite having to wear a cast
during the final four games to protect a broken wrist, finished
with 729 yards and eight touchdowns and had 17 catches for 131
yards. Davis became the fifth Tiger in school history and first
since 1995 to receive the award.
- Wide Receivers
- Tymere Zimmerman, Redshirt Junior, 6-3,
208 lbs. (Newberry)
In just three seasons, the Bennettsville native, who was briefly
enrolled at South Carolina State, is already considered arguably
the best Indians' receiver ever. Already the all-time leader in
touchdown receptions and near the top in receiving yards,
Zimmerman led the South Atlantic Conference with 59 catches for
609 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games this season. He was
named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region second-team and
played forward the previous two seasons for the Indians'
basketball team.
- Chansi Stuckey, Redshirt Junior, 6-0,
180 lbs. (Clemson)
The school record-holder for most receptions (11) in the annual
Spring Game, Stuckey continued his strong play during the fall
with a conference-leading 62 catches for 761 yards and four
touchdowns. The first-team All-ACC selection out of Warner
Robins, Ga. had three 100-yard receiving games, including a
156-yard effort on 11 catches and two touchdowns against
then-16th-ranked Florida State. Stuckey also had 221 kick return
yards and a touchdown.
- Sidney Rice, Redshirt Freshman, 6-4, 191
lbs. (USC)
An acrobatic, 30-yard touchdown catch in the endzone during the
Garnet and Black Spring Game was only a prelude for the
spectacular play exhibited by the Gaffney native. The
Southeastern Conference and Rivals.com National Freshman of the
Year and SI.Com honorable mention All-American, Rice set a
school record with touchdown catches in eight consecutive games
and 12 touchdown catches overall. He also led the conference
with 952 yards, including 112 yards each in wins over Tennessee
and Florida, and needs just two more touchdown catches to tie
the national record for a freshman.
- Jerome Simpson, Sophomore, 6-3, 185 lbs.
(Coastal Carolina)
A year after winning Big South Freshman of the Year honors, the
Reidsville, N.C. native avoided the "sophomore jinx"
by setting school records with 53 catches for 527 yards and nine
touchdowns to earn second-team honors. He also set a school
record with 10 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns, one of
which was a highlight-reel, one-handed grab in the closing
seconds of a 31-27 victory over defending Division I-AA national
champion James Madison. Simpson also had a game-winning
reception in a one-point win over South Carolina State and is
already the career leader in receptions (59), receiving yards
(946) and receiving touchdowns for the Chanticleers.
- Offensive Linemen
- Clyde Reed, Junior, 6-6, 305 lbs. (South
Carolina State)
Following a solid first full season of action, the tackle out of
Georgetown anchored an offensive line which enabled the Bulldogs
to lead the league in total offense (395.4 yards per game) and
passing efficiency and second in sacks allowed (35). Reed's
efforts also helped running back DeShawn Baker reach the
1,000-yard plateau for the second straight year and quarterback
Clevelend McCoy break a 20-year school-record for completion
percentage.
- Patrick Covington, Senior, 6-3, 283 lbs.
(Furman)
Rated the nation's sixth top offensive guard by The Sports
Network, the Charlotte, N.C. native is a major catalyst for a
Paladin offense which ranks among the nation leaders in total
and rushing offense and points scored per game. As a team,
Furman allowed the third-lowest number of sacks in the Southern
Conference and the play upfront by Covington helped quarterback
Ingle Martin rank second in total yards with 2,904 yards.
- Dustin Fry, Redshirt Junior, 6-2, 320
lbs. (Clemson)
A three-year letterman, the Summerville native is considered the
team's strongest player after bench-pressing 485 pounds during
the team's winter strength meet. This season, Fry made the
seamless transition from backup to first-team starting center
and is blocking upfront helped the revamped Tigers' offense rank
second in total offense with 4,250 yards and 32 touchdowns and
first in red-zone offense.
- Na'Shan Goddard, Redshirt Senior, 6-5,
304 lbs. (USC)
A four-year letterman for the Gamecocks and co-winner of the
team's Outstanding Offensive Lineman award during the spring,
the former Freshman All-American by The Sporting News continued
his strong play during the regular season. Among the team
leaders in knockdowns, Goddard was among the most consistent
performers upfront during the Gamecocks' second-half surge and
lived up to his preseason All-SEC selection.
DEFENSE
- Linebackers
- William Freeman, 6-3, 235 lbs. Senior,
(Furman)
One of the most decorated players in Paladin history, the
Swansea native, preseason All-American and 2004 winner of the
Harry Carson National Defensive Player of the Year award is
finishing off his senior campaign in strong fashion. He's
amassed a career high in tackles, tackles for loss and pass
breakups and was named Southern Conference Player of the Week on
two occasions. Freeman also posted a single-game career-high in
tackles (17) against Georgia Southern and had a game-deciding
blocked field goal in a regular-season victory over Appalachian
State.
- Anthony Waters, Redshirt Junior, 6-3,
235 lbs. (Clemson)
The Lake View native has played in 34 of 35 games in three
seasons for the Tigers. This past season, Waters led the team in
tackles (102) and was second in pass break ups (8). In the 10
games Waters played in this season, he was the leading tackler
in five of the games and helped the Tigers rank fourth in the
ACC in points allowed (18.3 points per game) and fifth in Red
Zone Defense.
- Maurice Simpkins, Senior, 6-0, 225 lbs.
(Coastal Carolina)
Since transferring from Catawba College three years ago, the
former Batesburg-Leesville standout started in all 33 games he
played as a Chanticleer. With 91 tackles, 10 going for losses,
three sacks and two interceptions this season, Simpkins earned
All-Big South Conference first-team honors for the third
consecutive year.
- Defensive Linemen
- Chris Tucker, Redshirt Senior, 6-1, 288
lbs. (USC)
The Decatur, Ga. native came on strong late at defensive tackle
in his senior year, collecting more tackles (21) this season
than he had the in previous three seasons combined. His best
game took place Nov. 12 against Florida where he intercepted a
Chris Leak pass and returned it 48 yards to set up a touchdown
for the Gamecocks and had a key sack late in the 30-22 upset
victory. The effort earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
honors.
- Matthew Briggman, Senior, 6-3, 260 lbs.
(SCSU)
A four-year starter for the Bulldogs and high school teammate of
Furman linebacker William Bennett, the Swansea native was among
the leaders in tackles for defensive lineman. Briggman was tied
for second on the team in sacks (2.5) and had 23 tackles, 7.5
going for losses.
- Charles Bennett, Redshirt Senior, 6-4,
255 lbs. (Clemson)
A preseason All-ACC selection who was coached in high school by
Bamberg-Ehrhardt head coach Ron Duncan, the Camden native was
second on the team in quarterback pressures (16) to go with 45
tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the Tigers
at the defensive end position.
- Katon Bethany, Senior, 6-2, 285 lbs.
(Wofford)
The Milton, Wisc. native was the Southern Conference's
Co-Defensive Player of the Year after he tallied 64 tackles, 15
going for losses and 6.5 sacks, four coming against VMI. Bethany
was also just the second Terrier in school history to be named
to the ESPN The Magazine's Academic first-team All-American
honors.
- Cornerbacks
- Tye Hill, Redshirt Senior, 5-10, 180
lbs. (Clemson)
Having fully made the transition from running back prospect out
of Woodland High School to All-ACC first-team defensive back,
the St. George native has made himself into a first-round draft
pick. One of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award given to
the nation's top defensive back, Hill has collected three
interceptions and seven pass breakups this season and helped the
Tigers hold both Florida State and the University of South
Carolina without an offensive touchdown. His 40 pass deflections
rank seventh all-time at Clemson and he set a school-record for
a cornerback with five tackles for losses.
- Ko Simpson, Sophomore, 6-1, 202 lbs.
(USC)
Last year's SEC Freshman of the Year took his game to another
level for the bowl-bound Gamecocks. A first-team all-conference
selection, the Rock Hill free safety led the team in tackles
(94) and pass breakups (9)) and led all SEC defensive backs by
averaging 8.5 tackles per game. Earlier in the season, Simpson
had 13 tackles and a 19-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown
against Kentucky to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week
honors.
- Jonathan Joseph, 5-11, 187 lbs. (USC)
A year after having his 2004 season curtailed by a broken foot,
the junior college transfer and Rock Hill native came back with
a vengeance this season. Considered the fastest player on the
Gamecocks, his four interceptions led the team, including a
42-yard pick returned for a touchdown against Georgia. Joseph
was also fifth on the team in total tackles (50).
- Quinton Teal, Senior, 6-1, 187 lbs.
(Coastal Carolina)
A first-team All-Conference selection last season, the
Bennettsville native led the Big South in interceptions (five)
for the second straight year and is the Chanticleers' all-time
interception leader (13). Starting all 11 games at safety, Teal
recorded 66 tackles, 38 solo, and posted his single-game
career-high in tackles (11) against both South Carolina State
and Appalachian State.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Placekicker
- Josh Hoke, Junior, 6-3, 195 lbs.
(Coastal Carolina)
The two-time All-Big South first-team selection and National
Football Weekly Gazette National Special Teams of the Week
winner was a perfect 38-38 in field goals and 14-22 in field
goals in tying for the conference-lead in points (80) this
season. A native of Statesville, N.C., Hoke nailed three field
goals of 45 or more yards, two of which occurred in the same
game against Delaware State and one which was a school-record
from 49 yards. In addition to his on-field exploits, Hoke became
the first Chanticleer football player to be named to ESPN The
Magazine's Academic All-Academic first team.
- Punter
- Josh Brown, Redshirt Senior, 6-3, 206
lbs. (USC)
A three-year starter as a punter and place-kicker, Brown was a
preseason third-team All-SEC selection who averaged 40 yards per
punt for the Gamecocks this season. Of his 52 points, 15 landed
inside the 20-yard line and six were caught for fair catches. As
a place-kicker, Brown was 9-11 and his 49-yard field goal which
lifted USC to a historic 16-15 victory at Tennessee and earned
him the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-kicker Award.
- Return Specialist
- Rondriekas Darby, Senior, 5-9, 175 lbs.
(SCSU)
A double-threat both as a wide receiver and a kick returner, the
Neeses native and second-team All-MEAC player led the conference
in receiving yards per catch (21.7) and all-purpose yards
(131.5) and was fourth nationally in kickoff return yards
(30.5). He had two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt
return for a score and caught 29 passes for 629 yards and seven
touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
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