Orangeburg, SC -- South Carolina State, Wednesday, announced the signing of 22 football prospects to national letters. The 2009 Bulldog class includes 16 players from the Palmetto State, five from Georgia and one from Virginia.
Twelve members of the class either played in the North-South All-Star Classic, Shrine Bowl or some other postseason contest.
SC State head coach Buddy Pough said he was excited about the 2009 Bulldog class, which he said addressed the team's needs and included some top notch players.
“I'm excited (about this year's class),” Pough said. “I think our coaching staff did a fantastic job in identifying high level prospects and getting them to sign with SC State.
“We were really looking to bring in a solid crop of linemen,” he continued, “and I think we addressed our needs here, both on the defensive and offensive line. This group also includes some outstanding skill players, among them (DB) Pat Burris of Rock Hill, (RB) Rockarius King of Timberland and (WR) LaQuan Gilliard of Summerville.”
Pough also acknowledged the fact that the 2008 Class was made up mostly of instate players.
“As always, we try to get the best available players,” he said, “but this year, as in past years since I have been here, the class is heavy on instate players.”
The Bulldogs finished the 2008 campaign at 10-3 overall, captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with an unblemished 8-0 record and earned a spot in the prestigious Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the first time in 26 years.
The entire Bulldog list is below.
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School Hometown Facts
Trent Barnes TE/DL 6-3 242 Dublin Dublin, GA
Tristan Bellamy OL 6-3 285 Strom Thurmond Johnston, SC North-South Game
Jerico Brown DL 6-0 255 Glenn Hills Augusta, GA All-State, Georgia All-
Star Game
Pat Burris DB 5-11 180 South Pointe Rock Hill, SC Class 4A Div. II State
Championship
Cedric Chisolm OL 6-5 270 West Ashley Charleston, SC North-South Game
Richard Cue QB 6-2 190 Wilson Florence, SC
LaQuan Gilliard WR 6-3 186 Pinewood Prep Summerville, SC Shrine Bowl
Rashad Hampton LB 6-2 215 Airport High West Columbia, SC
Mason Harris DB 5-11 175 First Colonial Virginia Beach, VA
Thomas Hart OL 6-2 301 O-Wilkinson Orangeburg, SC All-Area
Cortney Ingram LB 5-11 200 Baldwin County Milledgeville, GA All-Region
Erskine Johnson OL 6-3 270 Conway Conway, SC North-South Game
Rockarius King RB 5-7 170 Timberland St. Stephen, SC Shrine Bowl
William Kirkland OL 6-5 280 Lancaster Lancaster, SC Shrine Bowl
Marcus Lloyd WR 6-3 185 Manning Manning, SC
Donovan Malloy DB 5-10 190 Hartsville Hartsville, SC
Darius Nelson OL 6-5 250 Baldwin Milledgeville, GA All-State
Cedric Proctor QB 6-0 175 Chesnee Chesnee, SC North-South Game
Malcolm Reed DL 6-4 250 Fayette County Fayetteville, GA
Leon Smith DL 6-1 285 James Island James Island Shrine Bowl
Javon Weston DL 6-2 270 Crestwood Dalzell, SC Shrine Bowl
Devin Wherry RB 6-0 220 South Pointe Rock Hill, SC 4A Div. II Championship
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