South Carolina State Signs 23 Football Prospects

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State, on Wednesday, announced the signing of twenty-three (23) prospects to national letters, including ten from South Carolina, nine from neighboring North Carolina -- among them six from Charlotte -- two from Georgia and one each from Florida and Virginia.

The 2011 Bulldog class, which features four Shrine Bowl participants and three North-South All-Star Game players, is made up of six offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, four listed in the athlete category, three running backs and defensive backs each, and one linebacker and tight end each.

SC State's Buddy Pough, who is beginning his tenth season as Bulldog head coach, said the class addresses the team's need.

The Bulldogs finished the 2010 campaign at 9-3 overall and 7-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to earn a share of the title after winning outright league championships in 2008 and 2009. Pough lost 11 starters and 15 seniors overall from that squad.

The signees are:

Raheim Barr OL 6-3 270 Lamar Timmonsville, SC North-South All-Star,
HSSR All-State

Fadol Brown TE/DE 6-4 235 Burke Charleston, SC All-Low Country,
Region Def POTY

Andrew Carter DE 6-1 230 Richmond Sr. Hamlet, NC

Dominique Cooper RB 6-0 180 Darlington Florence, SC North-South All-Star, 247 Sports 3-Star recruit; received offers from East Carolina and South Carolina; Has 4.4 speed in 40 yard dash. Coach Justin Danner said, "When he breaks out, you might as well go ahead and warm up the band." Despite two nagging injuries, Cooper rushed for 1,200 yards and 11 TDs senior season.

Mariel Cooper DB 5-11 170 Sumter H.S. Sumter, SC Shrine Bowl, HSSR All-State

Devin Flowers OL 6-3 300 Mallard Creek Charlotte, NC Shrine Bowl, AP All-State

Alex Glover DE 6-1 310 Mallard Creek Charlotte, NC All-Mecklenburg,
Meck Def POTY

Avery Grant OL 6-2 310 Mullins H.S. South Carolina,  Mullins North-South All-Star, HSSR All-State

Javon Hargrave DL 6-1 280 North Rowan Salisbury, NC All-State, Def POTY

Jairon Harrison OL 6-3 310 James Island H.S., Charleston Shrine Bowl, HSSR All-State

Temmarick Hemingway TE 6-4 210 N. Myrtle Beach Loris

Charles Henderson OL 6-3 265 Kennesaw Mtn. Kennesaw, GA Cobb County Senior Bowl

Justin Hughes LB 6-2 215 Fork Union Mil. Virginia Beach Dondre

Dondre Lewis-Freeman ATH 5-8 180 Hopewell Charlotte, NC Lake Norman News
POTY, All-Lake Norman

Chris Manns DL 6-2 250 Mount Tabor Winston-Salem AP All-State, All-County, All-Region; Received offer from N.C. State.

Dominique Mitchell DB 5-10 180 NC Tech Miramar, FL

Julius Pendergrass ATH 5-9 170 Chester Chester, SC Shrine Bowl, HSSR All-State

Tevin Richard ATH 6-0 180 Carvers Bay Hemingway

Gideon Scott OL 6-3 310 Louisburg College Jonesboro, GA

Jalen "Scoot" Simmons RB 5-8 200 West Charlotte Charlotte, NC All-Mecklenburg, All-Conference

Austin Smith ATH 6-1 190 Mount Zion Rex, GA All-Area, All-Region

Austin Stewart DB 6-1 200 Butler Charlotte, NC NC 4AA State Champs

Deion Walker RB 5-10 190 Butler Charlotte, NC NC 4AA State Champs

By S.C. State Sports Information 2/2/2011