Brandon McIlwain named state player of the year, USC commits land on USA Today lists
At year’s end, with a season over and the papers already signed to come to South Carolina, it only makes sense the accolades are coming in for well-regarded quarterback Brandon McIlwain.
On Wednesday, USA Today named him the 2015 American Family Insurance ALL-USA State Football Pennsylvania player of the year and first-team quarterback. The two-sport star threw for 1,720 yards, ran for 1,545 and scored 48 total touchdowns, while leading Council Rock North High School to its first conference football title since 2006.
Including McIlwain, seven Gamecocks commitments made the publication's various teams, with Conway wide receiver Bryan Edwards and Goose Creek defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw earning first-team honors in South Carolina and 2017 tight end prospect Will Register, from Chapin, taking second team honors.
Defensive lineman Darius Whitfield took first-team honors in Alabama, while defensive lineman Keir Thomas was on the Florida first team, offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry was on the Louisiana first team and offensive lineman Pete Leota made the North Carolina first team.
A slew of Gamecocks recruiting targets also made the USA Today lists.
In-state, offensive lineman John Simpson from Fort Dorchester, junior wide receiver OrTre Smith from Wando and local linebacker T.J. Brunson from Richland Northeast made the first team. Defensive lineman Logan Rudolph of Northwestern and defensive lineman Brad Johnson from Pendleton and defensive back Savalas Cann of Bamberg-Ehrhardt, all juniors, were second teamers.
Texas linebacker Dontavious Jackson make his state’s first team, while wide receiver Velus Jones made the first team in Alabama and defensive lineman Tyreic Martin made the second team.
Wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers made the first team in Florida. Defensive lineman Joshua Uche and defensive back Jamel Cook were on the second team in the Sunshine State.
Wide receiver Kiel Pollard was a second team selection in Georgia, while quarterback Rico Dowdle, who USC is looking at to play running back, was on the North Carolina second team.