High School Football

Local high school football standouts recognized nationally

After catching 125 passes during his senior season, Nation Ford’s Hank Tuipulotu was a first team All-State selection by USA Today.
After catching 125 passes during his senior season, Nation Ford’s Hank Tuipulotu was a first team All-State selection by USA Today. File photo

Several locals were recognized by USA Today in the publication’s South Carolina all-state team, and by MaxPreps’ Freshman All-American team.

Nation Ford’s Hank Tuipulotu and South Pointe’s Nick McCloud were first team selections by USA Today, while Northwestern’s Jerry Howard, Trae’von Hinton and Logan Rudolph made the second team on either offense or defense. All five were All-Area first team selections by The Herald last week.

Tuipulotu - the BYU commit and North-South all-star - caught 125 passes this season, and McCloud made six interceptions while helping South Pointe to a state title. Shrine Bowler Hinton and Rudolph combined for 23.5 sacks this season as devastating bookends on Northwestern’s defensive line, while Howard rushed for 1,570 yards and scored 25 total touchdowns.

MaxPreps highlighted the top ninth grade football players in the country and included two locals, Northwestern’s Jamario Holley and Chester’s Pha’Leak Brown.

Holley became one of the very few Northwestern freshmen to start for the Trojans varsity team, but he also made an impact with 70 catches for 945 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brown was one half of Chester’s primary offensive duo with quarterback Malik Williams. Brown rushed for 735 yards and seven touchdowns, and also played defensive back for the Cyclones.

USA Today South Carolina All-State

Coach of the year: Steve LaPrad, Fort Dorchester

Offensive player of the year: Austin Scott, Spartanburg

Defensive player of the year: Tori Delesline, Hillcrest

First Team

QB Austin Scott (5-11, 186, Sr.), Spartanburg

RB Tavien Feaster (6-0, 204, Sr.), Spartanburg

RB Brandon Sinclair (5-11, 200, Sr.), Myrtle Beach

WR Bryan Edwards (6-3, 205, Sr.), Conway

WR OrTre Smith (6-3, 205, Jr.), Wando (Mt. Pleasant)

TE Hank Tuipulotu (6-2, 220, Sr.), Nation Ford (Fort Mill)

OL Cortez Herrin (6-3, 325, Sr.), Saluda

OL Chris Morales (6-6, 300, Sr.), Fort Dorchester (North Charleston)

OL John Simpson (6-4, 290, Sr.), Fort Dorchester (North Charleston)

OL Cade Stewart (6-4, 280, Sr.), Daniel (Central)

OL Drew Wilson (6-4, 300, Sr.), Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg)

Second Team

QB Collin Hill (6-5, 210, Sr.), Dorman (Spartanburg)

RB Shakur Chisolm (6-1, 190, Sr.), Williston-Elko (Williston)

RB Jerry Howard (6-0, 205, Sr.), Northwestern (Rock Hill)

WR Chavis Dawkins (6-2, 195, Sr.), Byrnes (Duncan)

WR Samuel Denmark (6-0, 180, Sr.), Hanahan

TE Will Register (6-4, 240, Jr.), Chapin

OL Torrey Boone (6-3, 325, Sr.), Westwood (Blythewood)

OL Malcolm Garrett (6-2, 290, Sr.), Cross

OL Demarcus Gilmore (6-4, 310, Sr.), Newberry

OL Chris McCarthy (6-0, 320, Sr.), Westwood (Blythewood)

OL Adonis Sealey (6-3, 265, Sr.), Dillon

DEFENSE

First Team

DL Javon Kinlaw (6-6, 275, Sr.), Goose Creek

DL Nyles Pinckney (6-3, 300, Sr.), Whale Branch (Seabrook)

DL Johnny Ray (6-4, 260, Sr.), Wando (Mt. Pleasant)

DL Emmanuel Walker (6-3, 225, Sr.), Lake Marion (Santee)

LB T.J. Brunson (6-0, 225, Sr.), Richland Northeast (Columbia)

LB Tori Delesline (6-0, 205, Sr.), Hillcrest (Simpsonville)

LB Brandon Hill (6-3, 215, Sr.), Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia)

DB Thomas Jones (6-3, 200, Sr.), Laurens

DB Nick McCloud (6-2, 170, Sr.), South Pointe (Rock Hill)

DB Troy Pride (6-0, 170, Sr.), Greer

DB Davondre Robinson (6-2, 210, Jr.), Lake Marion (Santee)

Second Team

DL Jabari Ellis (6-3, 285, Sr.), Lake Marion (Santee)

DL Trae’von Hinton (6-2, 225, Sr.), Northwestern (Rock Hill)

DL Brad Johnson (6-3, 210, Jr.), Pendleton

DL Logan Rudolph (6-4, 230, Jr.), Northwestern (Rock Hill)

LB Tre Smalls (6-2, 210, Sr.), Hanahan

LB Brandon Tillmon (6-2, 210, Sr.), River Bluff (Lexington)

LB Datavious Wilson (6-1, 225, Sr.), Hartsville

DB Savalas Cann (6-0, 175, Jr.), Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg)

DB Nick Graves (6-1, 175, Sr.), Lexington

DB Jeremiah Maddox (6-0, 180, Sr.), Hilton Head

DB James Valdez (5-11, 190, Sr.), Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Orangeburg)

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Matt Gravely (6-2, 180, Sr.), Pickens

MaxPreps Freshman All-American team

First Team Offense

WR – Jamario Holley, 5-10, 165, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)

WR – Dominick Blaylock, 6-0, 175, Walton (Marietta, Ga.)

WR – Jashawn Sheffield, 6-2, 175, Frederica Academy (St. Simons Island, Ga.)

TE – Blake Hinson, 6-6, 200, Deltona (Fla.)

OL – Nolan Rumler, 6-4, 290, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio)

OL – Keiondre Jones, 6-4, 266, Callaway (Hogansville, Ga.)

OL – Dontae Lucas, 6-5, 290, Booker T. Washington (Miami)

OL – Kenyon Green, 6-4, 275, Atascocita (Humble, Texas)

OL – Justin Scrempos, 6-7, 300, Milpitas (Calif.)

QB – JT Daniels, 6-1, 195, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

QB – Sam Howell, 6-0, 200, Sun Valley (Monroe, N.C.)

RB – Nay'quan Wright, 5-9, 185, Carol City (Miami)

RB – James Cook, 5-11, 190, Central (Miami)

RB – Deondrick Glass, 5-10, 165, Katy (Texas)

ATH - Devyn Ford, 5-11, 170, North Stafford (Stafford, Va.)

First Team Defense

DL – Antione Whitner jr., 6-5, 295, Godwin (Richmond, Va.)

DL – Charles Moore, 6-4, 240, Louisville (Miss.)

DL – Tru Thompson, 6-1, 300, Griffin (Ga.)

DL – Jonathan Kingsley, 6-5, 220, Eastern Alamance (Mebane, N.C.)

LB – Owen Pappoe, 6-1, 195, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

LB – Keyon Ware-Hudson, 6-2, 235, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)

LB – Ge'mon Eaford, 6-2, 215, Deerfield Beach (Fla.)

LB – Quack Cohen, 6-2, 220, Greer (S.C.)

LB – Shane Lee, 6-2, 200, Gilman (Baltimore)

DB – Kenny McIntosh, 6-1, 204, University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

DB – Max Williams, 5-10, 160, Serra (Gardena, Calif.)

DB – Jacardia Wright, 6-0, 180, St. Teresa (Decatur, Ill.)

DB – Tayvion "Tank" land, 5-9, 160, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.)

Second Team Offense

WR – David Bell, 6-1, 165, Warren Central (Indianapolis)

WR – Darren Jones, 6-7, 185, Upland (Calif.)

WR – Maurice Goolsby, 6-5, 200, Dunnellon (Fla.)

OL – Demarcus Gordon, 6-4, 318, Rosa Fort (Tunica, Miss.)

OL – Trevor Keegan, 6-6, 255, Crystal Lake South (Ill.)

OL – Melvin Craddock, OL, 6-3, 315, Hawkins (Los Angeles)

OL – Zach Carpenter, 6-3, 270, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)

OL – Kardell Thomas, 6-4, 290, Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)

OL – Clay Webb, 6-4, 295, Oxford (Ala.)

QB – Grant Gunnell, 6-5, 185, St. Pius X (Houston)

QB – Xavier Malone, 6-3, 200, Fulton (Knoxville, Tenn.)

RB – Jamal Speaks, 6-0, 185, Ballou (Washington, D.C.)

RB – Noah Cain, 5-10, 190, Guyer (Denton, Texas)

RB – Jojo Siofele, 5-10, 190, Union (Vancouver, Wash.)

ATH – Josh Mckenzie, 5-10, 185, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

ATH - Jerrion Ealy, 5-8, 176, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

Second Team Defense

DL – Trevis Hopper, 6-3, 265, Memphis Central (Tenn.)

DL – Jason Bargy, 6-5, 231, Momence (Ill.)

DL – Kevon Thibodeaux, 6-6, 245, Dorsey (Los Angeles)

DL – Reese Silofau, 6-2, 275, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

LB – Jamir Thomas, 6-0, 212, Washington (Massillon, Ohio)

LB – Demetrius Mauney, 6-0, 180, East Rutherford (Forest City, N.C.)

LB – Kyi Wright, 6-3, 210, Farrell (Pa.)

LB – Diamante Howard, 6-2, 200, Southridge (Miami)

LB – Zacch Pickens, 6-4, 240, Hanna (Anderson, S.C.)

DB – Jonathan McGill, 5-11, 180, Coppell (Texas)

DB – Pha'leak Brown, 5-10, 170, Chester (S.C.)

DB – D'Marcus Ross, 5-11, 200, Capital Christian (Sacramento, Calif.)

DB – Khalid Martin, 6-1, 175, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.)

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Local high school football standouts recognized nationally."

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