• HOME
  • BEST OF PARTY PHOTOS
  • FEATURES
    • Best Of Cover Shoot
    • Pet Owner’s Stories
    • People
    • Places
    • Issues
    • Remembering
    • Things
    • To Do
  • DEPARTMENTS
    • Finance / Real Estate
      • Financial Articles
      • Real Estate
        • Real Estate Experts
        • Top 10 Most Expensive Homes Sold
        • Articles
    • Around Town
    • Business
      • Belle Hall Shopping Center
      • Lowcountry Women in Business
      • MP Business
    • Dwellings
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Drink
    • Giving Back
    • Health & Wellness
    • Love & Marriage
    • Pets
    • Relax & Retire
    • Sports & Fitness
  • Read Magazine
  • MORE MAGS
    • Charleston Women 👩‍🏫🏢
    • Lowcountry Cuisine 🧀🍷
    • Best of Mt Pleasant Mag 🏆🏆
    • MP Business Mag 🏢
    • MP Pets 🐶🐱
    • Charleston Independent School Directory 🏫
    • MP Senior Living 👴👵
    • More Mags
      • IOP Mag
      • SI Mag
      • MP Town Hall Magazine
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Attorney Directory
    • 2025 Charleston Wedding Venues
    • Pool Builders/Services Directory
    • Financial Planners
    • Mount Pleasant Area Hotel Directory
    • East Cooper Worship Guide
    • East Cooper Fitness Directory
    • Senior Living Directory
    • 2023 Local CPA Tax Directory
    • Mount Pleasant Apartment Directory
  • SUBSCRIBE

Mount Pleasant Magazine

Mount Pleasant Magazine is the premier lifestyle magazine for Mount Pleasant, SC. Read about local news, events, businesses, people, and more. Subscribe today or read our digital magazine online.

  • Best of Mount Pleasant
    • 2025 Best of Mount Pleasant Including Previous Years
    • Best of Mount Pleasant Winner Articles
    • Best Of Party Photos
  • Podcasts
    • Mount Pleasant Podcast
    • Carolina Real Estate Podcast
    • Georgetown the Podcast
    • Coastal Home Podcast Video Tour
    • Best of Mount Pleasant Podcast
    • Hammock Coast Podcast
    • More Podcasts
      • Charleston Women Podcast
      • Isle of Palms Podcast
      • Charleston Pet Podcast
      • Charleston Wedding Podcast
  • Top Ten Homes Sold
  • Advertise
    • Advertise With Us
    • Media Kit
    • Video Testimonials
  • About Our Team
  • MORE
    • Real Estate Experts
    • MP Town Hall
    • Attorney Directory
    • News
    • MP Neighborhoods
    • East Cooper Online Network
    • Contact

Making Their Communities Proud: Clemson and Carolina Football Players

Posted by MPM Leave a Comment

There are kids who play sports in high school – and then there are high school athletes. The difference has less to do with their skills or love for the game but instead with the determination and sacrifice it takes to truly pursue excellence. For most, their time on the field ends on graduation day, having given it their all, enjoyed their time and hopefully, made memories to last them a lifetime. For others – a select group of passionate and talented competitors – the game is just beginning.

For the student athletes who go on to play at the collegiate level, where they go and who they play for is just as important as being on the field in the first place. Raised in a culture that lives and breathes college football, it’s no wonder the young men who have the high honor of playing for the Clemson Tigers or the University of South Carolina Gamecocks are hailed and celebrated by their local communities.

And celebrated they should be. Being scouted – let alone being recruited – to play at either of these Division I schools is a larger than life task. It takes true talent and grit to withstand the years of training and sacrifice that few students across the Lowcountry have exhibited to make this dream come true. For most, it started as a child, proudly donning their beloved orange or garnet jerseys as they faithfully rooted for their teams. From flag football to tackle football, one by one these exceptional athletes impressed their coaches, and, as passed, they honed their skills to truly stand above their peers.

Over the years, the two in-state college rivals have successfully recruited a handful of athletes from the Charleston area. From 2010 to 2015, many local football stars from Summerville, James Island and Goose Creek made their way to Death Valley – officially known as Memorial Stadium – home of the Clemson Tigers. At one point, T.J. Burrell, Donny McElveen, Stanton Seckinger and Matt Porter, all from Charleston-area high schools, helped round out the roster for Dabo Swinney’s 2013 Clemson team. Offensive tackle and Mount Pleasant native Barry Richardson made it all the way to the National Football League back in 2008. Drafted in the sixth round by the Kansas City Chiefs, he eventually was released and went on to play for the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.

During the 2017 season, it’s up to John Simpson from Fort Dorchester High School to carry the torch for the Lowcountry at Clemson. He chose to become a Tiger despite offers from Florida and LSU and has already enjoyed success. Coming out of high school, he was considered to be the second best prospect in the Palmetto State. He said he picked Clemson because he “wanted to be part of something great.”

Now with playing time under his belt, great things are expected from Simpson. According to Swinney, Simpson is “big time special and a great young man.” He respects and appreciates the way Simpson was brought up, adding that he “comes from a great family and was well-coached in high school.”

Charleston-based fans have quite a number of reasons to cheer for the University of South Carolina this year – eight to be exact. Representing Wando High School are Parker White, Bailey Hart and highly anticipated wide receiver OrTre Smith. Longtime athletic trainer Mark Buchman, who has seen some truly talnted players pass through Wando and into the collegiate spotlight, said that he is “always excited to see such great kids play at the next level, especially when playing Division I football is so rare.”

Joining Zack Bailey – a dynamic competitor already at USC – is Chandler Farrell from Summerville High School, who successfully walked on to the team as an offensive lineman in 2016. Rounding out the remaining local players are: Devin Dingle from Cane Bay; Caleb Kinlaw from Goose Creek; and Ryan Green from James Island. USC head coach Will Muschamp sees a lot of potential coming from the Holy City: “We are excited about the year. The Charleston area will always be important to the University of South Carolina, with so many great players and coaches in that area.”

Perhaps the most notable splash at USC will be made by OrTre Smith, who graduated from Wando in December 2016 after playing for Wando High School Head Coach Jimmy Noonan, before enrolling at South Carolina for the start of January classes.

“Division 1 athletes only come along every so often; percentage wise it’s pretty rare. It’s a joy to help these guys develop and see them become the best teammates they can be to one another,” Noonan said, recalling the players he’s coached over the last 18 years. He added that for him, the biggest reward is when they come back to say thank you.

Smith, a finalist in the Mr. Football competition, was ranked at the 15th  best wide receiver in the country, receiving a stunning total of 24 offers before choosing USC. Following an ankle injury and subsequent surgery, he’s back on field, already turning heads and impressing Muschamp as he continues to display the same dedication and passion that brought him to Williams-Brice Stadium in the first place.

“I am really excited about Smith’s progress. OrTre is a wonderful young man. his mother, Tashia, deserves a lot of credit – he was raised the right way. He has an exciting future as a Gamecock,” Muschamp said.

It’s an exciting time of the year, with tailgates, rowdy celebrations and a weekly commitment to cheering on your favorite teams. While not every high school athlete gets to represent his hometown, the current crop of Clemson and Carolina players are making their communities proud. From parents to former coaches to past teachers and teammates, everyone in the Charleston area is sure to be tuned in on game day to celebrate and support their favorite college stars.

By Krysta Chapman

Sharing is Caring

Possibly Related:

Rob Fowler, Chief Meteorologist, NEWS 2Brace Yourself: Expecting Above-average Hurricane Season for 2024 Kick it Kicks Mount Pleasant, SC boutique shoe store - featured imageKickin’ It New School: Teen Opens Kick It Kicks Boutique Shoe Store Mount Pleasant Podcast logoGridiron Gurus: Local High School Football Coaches Sound Off!

Filed Under: Entertainment

Advertisement

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search The Site

We're on Facebook We're on X (formerly Twitter) Mount Pleasant Magazine Youtube Channel We're on Pinterest Mount Pleasant Magazine Facebook Community We're on Instagram
Ad: South Carolina Federal Credit Union, enjoy life banking on the best.
Ad: Visit Woof Gang today!
Mount Pleasant Magazine Sep/Oct 2023 magazine coverREAD DIGITALLY
Read the digital magazine
now.
GRAB A COPY
Where can I pick up a copy of Mount Pleasant Magazine?
SUBSCRIBE
Get Mount Pleasant Magazine Delivered.
Ad: Premier Health and Wellness in Mount Pleasant, SC. Let’s Redesign Your Health & Wellness.
Read about the History of the Bridge Run
Visit Palmetto Christian Academy.org
Ad: 1st Choice AC, Heating, Plumbing and Gas, for the best AC Service for your home in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Pleasant Family Dentistry in Mount Pleasant, SC. Experience the BEST, and find out why we've been awarded 7 times in the BEST of MOUNT PLEASANT!
Ad: Visit Front Beach IOP and SHOP, DINE and DRINK in the SUNSHINE.
Ad: Get Carried Away - Real Food, Real Southern, Really Good!
Click for Stores & Services
on Coleman Boulevard
Coleman Blvd Merchant Alliance
Best of Mount Pleasant logo is a registered trademark
Ad: Every Day is a Good Dog Day at Michael's Barkery

Most Recent Posts

Palmetto Christian Academy Mount Pleasant’s #1 Private School 11 Years Running!

Emily Faile, Academic Counselor with Palmetto Christian Academy, sat down for a chat with host Brian Cleary. Their opening discussion revolves around why she believes the Academy was named Best … Continue Reading

Georgetown’s New Gem: The Making of The George Hotel

Get the inside story on The George Hotel, Georgetown's exciting new addition! Host Bill Macchio sits down for a compelling conversation with Christy Whitlock, a Realtor and developer with The … Continue Reading

Georgetown, SC Rising: A Look at the City’s Dramatic Growth & Downtown Revival

Join host Scott Richards and Main Street Director Al Joseph for an insightful look into the remarkable transformation sweeping across Georgetown, SC. This video dives deep into the revitalization of … Continue Reading

Front Street Georgetown

Opening Batch: Georgetown Crafts First Brewery

A craft beer fan and teacher from Cincinnati, Chase Runyan started brewing in his house by tinkering with kits and learning how to bottle the beer after fermentation. After making five or six batches … Continue Reading

Revolutionized: Georgetown’s Downtown Makeover

When the port city of Georgetown was laid out in 1729, merchant-oriented businesses and homes lined the land side of Front Street, originally called Bay Street, overlooking the sparkling Sampit River, … Continue Reading

Gold Standard: Georgetown’s Own Crowned Olympic Champion

When 23-year-old Nike athlete and Georgetown native Melissa Jefferson arrived at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June, she was determined to secure her … Continue Reading

More Front Street Georgetown

SEARCH

Get Our Free Newsletter!
Mount Pleasant Apartments
Pleasant Family Dentistry
Water's Edge Dentistry
34 Waterway Island Drive

Copyright © 2025 · Mount Pleasant Magazine, All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy

▲