Seven Lowco area standouts were selected to the 2021 South Carolina Football Coaches Association All-State first team on Monday, and 12 additional players earned honorable mention.
May River’s Garvin Douglas and Jaeon Allen, Whale Branch’s Joseph Hicks and Xavier Chaplin, Hilton Head High’s Jaylen Sneed, Beaufort High’s Alvin Wilson, and Bluffton’s Camauri Simmons earned a spot on their classifications’ first teams.
Replacing legendary May River quarterback Ahmad Green, Douglas put together a spectacular season of his own under center for the Sharks. The senior showed off his dominant explosiveness on the ground, rushing for a Lowco-leading 1,673 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 694 passing yards and five scores through the air to propel his team to the Region 7-4A title.
His versatile backfield mate also earned a nod. Transfer Jaeon Allen made a terrific splash for the Sharks in 2021 on both sides of the ball, landing a spot on the All-State team as a defensive back. The former Battery Creek Dolphin brought his blazing speed south of the Broad River, rushing for 722 yards and five touchdowns while averaging an impressive 9.14 yards per carry. Allen doubled as a menacing presence in the May River secondary with 40 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Hicks delivered a monster year in the backfield for Whale Branch, racking up 1,129 yards and 19 touchdowns. The senior back was the catalyst of the Warriors’ high-powered offense and showcased his stellar power and elusiveness with a whopping 11.64 yards per carry. Hicks’ speed and strength was also on display for Jerry Hatcher’s defense, adding 47 tackles with 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage, one sack, and two interceptions.
Hicks’ dominant season may not have been possible if it wasn’t for the outstanding blocking from Chaplin. After committing to Virginia Tech in the summer, Chaplin showed out on both sides of the ball this season, paving the way for a dominant run game while making 52 tackles including 11 stops for loss. His phenomenal motor and strength on the line made a major difference on the defensive side, punishing opposing quarterbacks with five sacks on the year.
After playing in just three games in a pandemic-challenged 2020 season, Sneed made the most of his senior year at linebacker and quarterback for Hilton Head High. The Seahawk star used his elite motor and athleticism to make plays all over the field, recording a Lowco-best 101 tackles (11.2 per game) alongside eight tackles for loss, one sack, eight quarterback pressures, and two interceptions. Sneed took over the reins at quarterback midway through the season, and ignited the Seahawks’ offense with 815 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns alongside 210 passing yards and two scores.
With his dynamic capabilities at linebacker and unmatched explosiveness, Sneed has been highly ranked as one of the best at his position in the country. He is set to join new head coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame in January and is a finalist for several prestigious awards, including South Carolina’s Mr. Football, the Maxwell Club’s National High School Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the High School Butkus Award recognizing the country’s best linebacker.
A phenom on the defensive line for Beaufort High, Wilson helped lead the Eagles to a 2021 Lower State Championship. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior was a monster in the trenches for Bryce Lybrand’s group, feasting all season long with 80 tackles and a Lowco-leading 28 tackles for loss. Wilson had a knack for making game-changing plays, picking up 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries alongside 19 quarterback pressures. His power and determination on the line helped stuff the run and force mistakes in the passing game as the Eagles soared to the state championship game for the first time since 2007.
Simmons was a key-difference maker for an impressive Bluffton offense, using his stellar speed to make explosive plays in the backfield and out wide. The versatile Bobcat junior finished the year with 22 catches for 225 yards and a touchdown while adding 131 rushing yards with two scores, and he was a standout kick returner. Earning All-State honors in the athlete category, Simmons will be in line for a strong senior season in a high-powered offense led by quarterback Max Vonhohenstraeten.
The Bobcats and Sharks were well represented on the 4A team, earning six selections each on the Class 4A All-State teams. Bluffton’s KJ Frazier, Ja’Quinn Williams, Jaylin Linder, DJ Aiken, and Chase Wilfong notched honorable-mention spots alongside May River’s Trevor Murdaugh, Justin Barrow, Darrion Perry, and Jaiden Jones. Beaufort High quarterback Tyler Haley and defensive lineman Eamon Smalls were also named to the honorable-mention team with Hilton Head High lineman Ryan Clark.
By Wes Kerr
Some local sports content that is not sponsored is now available only to LowcoSports.com’s Patreon supporters. Pledge your monthly support here for as little as $1 per month to ensure you have access to all of our grassroots LOCAL sports coverage!