Palmetto State's top 2011 prospects (Part 2) |
It is time to delve back into the recruiting scene a little bit as spring break offers the chance for some junior prospects to take visits to prospective universities. TigerNet continues to take a look at some of the top junior prospects in the state of South Carolina, and we begin with another big offensive lineman.
OL Brandon Shell, Goose Creek (6-8 295) – Shell has not been able to take many visits because of playing in the state basketball playoffs. However, Shell said recently that he is ready to take some visits and might be visiting Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia during spring break. Shell has offers from most of the big programs, including Southern Cal, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Miami, LSU, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina, Illinois and Kentucky. He does not have a favorites list. Shell has the bloodlines to play on the next level, as he is the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer and former NFL head coach and executive Art Shell. He is also coached by longtime Clemson assistant Chuck Reedy, and he visited the Clemson campus back in November when the Tigers upended Florida St. 40-24. Shell is also strong – he bench presses 305 and squats 430. He will probably be the No. 1-rated offensive line prospect in the state next season. He listed Clemson as an early favorite last season, but has since backed off and said he is going to take a long, hard look at all of the schools on his list. OLB B.J. Goodson, Lamar (6-2, 215) – Goodson is part of a quarter of linebackers out of the lower state that figure to be impact players on the next level. He recorded 96 tackles (six for loss), two sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and an interception in 2009. On offense, he caught 16 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and benches 320 pounds. He visited Clemson last fall, when the Tigers whipped Wake Forest, and plans another trip this spring. He also hopes to take trips to Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Clemson is the leader at this point, but South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia are on his radar, along with Coastal Carolina, who offered him first. ATH Jerell Adams, Scotts Branch (6-5, 220) - Adams is a two-sport star, also drawing interest from several programs for his basketball skills, and that list of schools also involves Oliver Purnell’s Clemson team, as well as South Carolina and some mid-majors. He plays quarterback on the Scotts Branch football team but likely will be a tight end or defensive end in college. Adams attended Clemson's junior day, and also visited Clemson during the rain-soaked TCU game last fall. Adams has also drawn interest from South Carolina, Illinois, N.C. State and Nebraska, but Clemson is his early favorite. As a junior, he rushed 30 times for 73 yards and a score and connected on 16-of-55 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns as he led his team to the Class A, Division II state championship. On defense, he tallied 96 tackles, with one sack, five interceptions, three recovered fumbles and a forced fumble. QB Tony McNeal, Chester (6-1, 180) - McNeal committed to the Tigers back in December, and is still very firm with his choice. McNeal had surgery in January to repair a torn ACL he suffered midway through last season, but he fully expects to play his senior season after undergoing rehab throughout the spring and summer. With the Kyle Parker situation fluid and the Tigers a little thin at quarterback next season, the Clemson coaches should be excited about getting McNeal on campus and adding depth to the position heading into the 2011 season. He also drew interest from Miami, Wisconsin, NC State, Maryland, Kentucky and Mississippi State, but liked the fact that the Tigers were the first to offer and made the offer before he had the surgery. As a junior, in eight games, he completed 128-of-206 passes for 1,732 yards and 18 touchdowns with eight interceptions. As a sophomore, he completed 244-of-426 passes for 3,533 yards and 37 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. WR Hakeem Flowers, Wade Hampton (6-2, 173) – Flowers is a big-time receiving prospect, and has already gathered offers from nearly two dozen schools including Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, LSU, Miami (FL), Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA, and Virginia Tech. Flowers visited Alabama recently and has also taken trips to Oklahoma and Texas. He will visit Notre Dame this summer and will also make a return trip to Texas and will visit Texas Tech. He has over 30 offers at this point but Clemson has not offered as of yet. Flowers has indicated that the in-state schools are certain he is going out of state to school, and that is the reason that Clemson, and South Carolina for that matter, have not made an offer. He watched Clemson’s dismantling of Wake Forest last season, and then came back to see the Tiger win over FSU. Flowers run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and caught 50 passes for a little over 800 yards last season.
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