Midlands Defensive Player of the Year: Damani Staley

When Perry Parks took the job at Ridge View in January, he began watching film of the Blazers’ previous season to see what he had to work with in his first season.

One of the players who stood out was Damani Staley. The defensive end was called up to the varsity squad late in his sophomore season and Parks liked what he saw.

“He had such a high motor and I just liked the way he came off the edge rushing the passer,” Parks said of his first impressions of Staley, who had six sacks as a sophomore.

Staley backed up his coach’s intuition and had a breakout season in his first full year on the varsity squad. The 6-foot-2, 190 pounder had 88 tackles and led the Midlands with 21 sacks. For his strong season, Staley is The State’s Defensive of Player of the Year.

“It was an amazing season for him. Even with him getting double and triple teamed, he was able to get in there and make the plays,” Parks said. “He has great hands and rip technique coming off the edge. He is a coach’s dream and a great kid that leads by example. Other kids respond to him.”

Staley has the pedigree to be successful on the gridiron. His father Duce was a standout at Airport High who went on to a successful college career at South Carolina and played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

“He likes to show off his old films,” Damani said of his father, who is the running backs coach for the Eagles. “My dad was pretty good back in the day.”

Damani said he and his dad talk frequently. He gets advice about football and life, but Damani hopes to make a name for himself and is off to a good start. Like this father, Staley started out playing running back when he was younger but wasn’t thrilled with the position.

“I didn’t like it all. I rather hit than get hit,” Staley said. “It is an adrenaline rush playing defense and there is nothing like that.”

Staley had at least one sack in each game and more than three in a game on three difference occasions, including four against South Florence on Sept. 24. But he isn’t satisfied with that and already is looking to getting better for next season. He plans to get stronger and add some weight to his 190-pound body and also will be running track in the spring.

Parks said they hope to add a bull rush to Staley’s repertoire for next season, and that college coaches are starting to notice him. He will likely play linebacker on the next level because of his size and body type.

Staley will get a chance to showcase his talents when he attends the U.S. Army All-American Combine next month in San Antonio, Texas.

“I’m very excited to see how he develops. He has all the tools to be successful,” Parks said.

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Midlands Defensive Player of the Year: Damani Staley."