SCSU gets ‘The Rock,’ begins building next generation

Back in 2004, head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough put together a signing class which provided major pieces to the championship foundation he’s built at South Carolina State. Center Raymond Harrison and tackle Nygel Pearson on offense and cornerback Terrance Allen, defensive end Cedric Lloyd (recruited originally as a tight end) and linebacker Tony White on defense were the main stalwarts of a class which produced 33 victories during their Bulldog careers and a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title this past season.

With all five players having completed their eligibility at S.C. State, Pough and his coaching staff set their goals on recruiting a “next generation” of Bulldogs hungry to maintain their predecessor’s success. The end result was the signing of 22 players on Wednesday targeted specifically to address immediate and future needs.

“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 S.C. State.” The Bulldogs received good news early on Sunday after receiving a letter of intent giving them a piece of “The Rock” the next four years. In Timberland running back Rockarius King, S.C. State gets a back that’s fifth in the state all-time in rushing yards with 6,343 yards and a potential heir apparent to senior tailback Will Ford.

S.C. State's 22 Football Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School Hometown

Trent Barnes TE/DL 6-3 242 Dublin Dublin, Ga.
Tristan Bellamy OL 6-3 285 Strom Thurmond Johnston
Jerico Brown DL 6-0 255 Glenn Hills Augusta, Ga.
Pat Burris DB 5-11 180 South Pointe
Cedric Chisolm OL 6-5 270 West Ashley Charleston
Richard Cue QB 6-2 190 Wilson Florence
LaQuan Gilliard WR 6-3 186 Pinewood Prep Summerville
Mason Harris DB 5-11 175 First Colonial Virginia Beach, Va.
Thomas Hart OL 6-2 301 O-Wilkinson Orangeburg
Cortney Ingram LB 5-11 200 Baldwin County Milledgeville, Ga.
Erskine Johnson OL 6-3 270 Conway Conway
Rockarius King RB 5-7 170 Timberland St. Stephen
William Kirkland OL 6-5 280 Lancaster Lancaster
Marcus Lloyd WR 6-3 185 Manning Manning
Donovan Malloy DB 5-10 190 Hartsville Hartsville
Darius Nelson OL 6-5 250 Baldwin Milledgeville, Ga.
Cedric Proctor QB 6-0 175 Chesnee Chesnee
Malcolm Reed DL 6-4 250 Fayette County Fayetteville, Ga.
Leon Smith DL 6-1 285 James Island James Island
Javon Weston DL 6-2 270 Crestwood Dalzell
Devin Wherry RB 6-0 220 South Pointe Rock Hill
Rashad Hampton, LB, 6-2, 215, Airport High, West Columbia

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