Coastal Carolina will add all-state lineman

Coastal Carolina is expected to add an all-state lineman and two area products to its roster today.

Chesterfield Shrine Bowl defensive lineman Moon Edwards will sign with Coastal Carolina, Rams coach Steven Taneyhill said Tuesday. Also, Carolina Forest receiver Ronnie Moses will sign a partial scholarship and Socastee athlete Zack Elliman will walk on for the Chanticleers.

Edwards and Moses comprise a group of 13 players who have committed to Coastal and will likely sign National Letters of Intent with the Chants on National Signing Day.

Edwards, a three-year starter, won a number of awards following his career at Chesterfield. He was named the Class A Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-state honors for a second straight season. The 6-foot, 245-pounder had 91 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries as a defensive end in Chesterfield's 3-4 scheme last fall.

Coastal plans to use Edwards at Chief, the team's hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot, Taneyhill said. The position requires players to play mostly as an end in Coastal's 4-3, but they also must have the ability to play in space and drop into coverage.

Taneyhill believes Edwards has the motor and talent to play at a bigger school, but many of them were concerned with his height and what position he would play. He believes Coastal has landed a great player.

"He's awfully strong," Taneyhill said. "He squats 725, benches 380 and ran 4.61. I think and I think they think he can compete to play early."

Moses, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, set a school record with 63 catches in 2009, breaking the record of 51 he set as a junior. He had 857 yards (13.6 per catch) last season.

Moses isn't the fastest player, running just 4.75 in the 40-yard dash, but Panthers coach Drew Hummel believes he has the potential to become a better athlete.

"I think coach [David] Bennett likes him a lot," Hummel said. "He told Ronnie the story about how Jerome Simpson came in running at 4.7 and left running a 4.4. ... He's more of a possession receiver, but as he develops physically with his strength, speed will come and the tenths will drop. Then he'll be a bigger factor down the field. He's already got great body control. Speed is the only factor.

"He's a guy that it's worthwhile to develop to see what you have a year or two down the road."

One of the area's top dual-threat signal-callers the last two seasons, Elliman could play one of several positions in college. Bennett, who recruits the Grand Strand, told Elliman that he will likely start his career at wide receiver but could also take some snaps in Wildcat and option packages, Elliman said.

Elliman, a great student, has earned the Life scholarship, and thus will have a significant portion of his education paid for. He has been promised the opportunity to earn a scholarship down the road.

"The coaching staff was very welcoming, the new facilities are top of the line, and I believe the new coaching additions are going to make a very positive impact on the team," Elliman said. "I am excited to be a part of it."

To view Hoke's CCU sports blog, "The Roost," go to TheSunNews.com.