Chapman receiver, future Gamecock shines in final high school game at Williams-Brice
Ben Rollins began and ended his high school football season at Williams-Brice Stadium.
It also will be the place where he will continue his football career.
The Chapman senior receiver is walking on to play at South Carolina next season and turned in a strong performance for his final high school game. Rollins caught five passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns in helping the Panthers to 44-14 win over Dillon for the Class 3A championship.
“Me and the boys came out on fire from the start, playing for each other,” Rollins said. “It has been a pleasure playing for head coach (Mark) Hodge the past four or five years what a great guy.
“Very exciting, to do it at Williams-Brice. Love williams-brice, it is a very special place. Love me some gamecocks.”
Rollins is from the same high school that produced Deebo Samuel, one of the top playmakers in Gamecocks history and rookie for the San Francisco 49ers. Rollins and his Chapman teammates played at Williams-Brice at USC’s 7-on-7 tournament in June.
In on one of the first plays he caught a TD pass from quarterback Mikele Colasurdo, SC’s Gatorade Player of the Year, in the corner of the end zone. He was dominant in the event that included some of the best teams in the state.
After the tournament, USC coaches offered Rollins a walk-on spot and he announced he would play for the Gamecocks.
Rollins grew up coming to South Carolina games as a kid and his favorite player was the late Kenny McKinley. He was in the stands when South Carolina knocked off No. 1 Alabama in 2010.
“I love coach Muschamp, coach McLendon,” Rollins said. “Great school, great facilities great program.”
As a junior, Rollins had 43 catches for 745 yards and eight touchdowns. He came into Saturday’s title game with 40 catches for 1,030 yards and 13 touchdowns, playing in one of the top offenses in the state. Chapman set a SC record with 847 points this season, an average of 55.6 per game.
Rollins is listed at 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds and isn’t going to standout at first glance but makes up for it on the field with his speed and route running. Chapman coach Mark Hodge said he isn’t worried about Rollins’ size in playing against Southeastern Conference competition.
Hodge thinks Rollins, who also is a standout baseball player, as the potential to be a West Walker, the former Texas Tech standout who went on to a productive career with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.
“He isn’t always going to be little,” Chapman coach Mark Hodge said. “Once you get him in SEC strength program and him concentrating on one sport, he can be someone like a Wes Welker once he puts on muscle mass. He is going to be great in the slot but can run by people.
“His top end speed is ridiculous. He stretches the field for us. He makes big plays in big situations. Never afraid to have the ball in his hands.”
