Taking a look at most dominant football players in the Midlands — this year and all-time
As we head into the 2015 football season, I want to take a look at who I believe are the most dominating players in the Midlands area.
In referencing a dominant player, I mean that player is capable of taking over a game and, perhaps, is nearly impossible to stop.
Here are the five most dominating players in Midlands’ history followed by the five most dominating players in the Midlands for 2015.
Trying to narrow the “all-time” to five players was a task and probably a list that will be disputed. I understand that because there are players I left off the “five” list that could easily be inserted. Some of the playmakers from the great Dreher teams, Lower Richland teams, Irmo and Spring Valley teams, Swansea and Batesburg-Leesville teams, and even as far back as the Olympia and Epworth teams were on the list that I narrowed to five.
5 MOST DOMINATING PLAYERS EVER
1. Demetrius Summers, RB, Lexington – Dominated opponents every year, but in 2000 he scored 44 touchdowns and rushed for 2,708 yards. He is still among the leaders in the national records book for career rushing and career touchdowns. Could single-handedly take control of a game.
2. Freddie Solomon, QB, Sumter – His year at Sumter High is legendary and, like Summers, could single handedly change the complex of any game.
3. Roger Woolbright, QB, Chapin – Rushed for 13 scores and passed for 13 scores his senior year to lead Chapin to a state championship over Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Was all-state DB and QB his senior year and led the Midlands in scoring his junior and senior year.
4. Shaq Roland, WR, Lexington – Roland was one of the most exciting players in the state during his junior and senior campaigns. He was lethal with the ball in his hands and did it from the Wildcat position, wide receiver and on special teams.
5. Quincy Wicker, RB, Fairfield Central – Dominated opponents in the Griffins’ unbeaten 1997 season, rushing for 2,063 yards.
2015 PRESEASON MOST DOMINATING PLAYERS
1. Brandon Tillman, QB, River Bluff – Tillman will play linebacker or safety in college, but this young man changes the dynamic of the game at quarterback for the Gators.
2. Octavious Pringle, DL, Brookland-Cayce – This rising junior is the most dominating defensive lineman in the Midlands and will require two blockers to have any chance of preventing him from wrecking opposing backfields.
3. Jayson Hopper, WR, Lexington – Hopper is a weapon because of his combination of size and speed. With focus, he could be the most dangerous receiver in the state.
4. Logan Bailey, QB, Chapin – Bailey might not be considered the best QB in the Midlands, but there is no denying his impact on the game as a running quarterback.
5. Terrance Wilson, RB, Batesburg-Leesville – Wilson has deceptive power for his size, incredible speed and that ability to make people miss. He will force your special teams to either kick away from him or pay a price.