21 sacks? Gamecocks’ commit Staley wants more in senior season
It’s going to be hard for Damani Staley to improve on last season, but he wants to try.
The Ridge View defensive end had a breakout junior season with 88 tackles and a school-record 21 sacks in earning The State’s Midlands’ Defensive Player of the Year honors.
“If he does, then he deserves all the accolades he can get,” Ridge View coach Perry Parks said on improving in last year’s totals. “Last year was a special year and I’m excited to watch him develop. He is a great kid.”
Staley’s season earned him Division I offers from East Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia Tech. In March, he committed to the USC, where his father Duce was a standout player.
“I’m glad I did so I don’t have to worry about college and can focus on my senior year,” Staley said of his commitment to South Carolina. “Expectations are lot higher than last year. I want to get more sacks this season and working on my speed and improve as a pass rusher.”
Staley, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, also wants to improve on his strength and get up to 225 pounds by the end of his senior season. He remains “100 percent” committed to the Gamecocks but will listen to what schools have to say.
Staley will attend Georgia and South Carolina 7-on-7 camps with the rest of his Ridge View teammates next week and take part in the South Carolina Elite Prospect Satellite Camp at Ridge View on June 17.
Staley is ranked as the 15th best prospect in the state by 247Sports and is projected to play linebacker in college.
Parks said he plans to keep Staley at defensive end for his senior year but will move him around on the right and left side of the defensive line to try and offset the double teams that he will face this season.
During Ridge View’s spring game, Staley took snaps at both end spots and showed his speed by making a couple tackles down field on screen plays. He also caused a fumble, which was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Latheron Rogers-Anderson.
“He is very versatile. He has become a team leader for us and more vocal for us,” Parks said. “We use him to rush the quarterback because he is good at it. We use him in space and you saw he chased down two screens. He is a special kid and we are excited for him going to his senior year.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 11:21 AM.