Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011

Top local gridiron talent, part II

Mykal Moody from Conway. Courtesy photo.

 

Last week GameFace presented the first half of our top local high school football players with a legitimate shot at playing Division I

Here are the top 5 players to keep an eye on along Grand Strand gridirons.

5. T.J. Jones - Myrtle Beach, Offensive Lineman, Senior: Jones is a jumbo-sized offensive lineman that can do damage to opposing defensive lines. At 6-feet-6-inches tall and 280 pounds, Jones can clog up a defensive blitz. Jones was on the radar of some colleges but officially gained recognition when he put in a solid performance against South Pointe's Jadaveon Clowney in the Class 3-A State Title Game. Jones verbally committed to Kentucky on Aug. 2.

4. Harold Atkinson - Carolina Forest, Running Back, Junior: Atkinson will likely finish his career as the most highly-recruited player in Carolina Forest history. Coach Drew Hummel says major schools are paying close attention to the 6-feet-1-inch, 205-pound junior running back. Atkinson was part of a two-running back system at Carolina Forest last year but averaged 10.7 yards per carry and nine touchdowns. Atkinson is a threat through the air as well. He caught 20 balls for 193 yards and three more touchdowns.

"He's a big kid, he's athletic fast and powerful," Hummel said. "He's being recruited by all the high majors. There are a lot of expectations of Harold Atkinson coming in. But Harold has to understand the expectations and what he has to be for this team to be successful."

3. Jarvez Holmes - Carolina Forest, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back, Senior: Holmes burst onto the scene last year by catching 52 balls for 720 yards and 10 touchdowns. Holmes has good hands, strong route-running and great field awareness. Holmes calls himself a possession receiver and standing at 6-feet, 1-inch and 185-pounds, is a big target and tough to take down.

"I'm not a speedster receiver so I work on my hands and route-running a lot," Holmes said. "When I was a sophomore we all believed this is going to be the year for Carolina Forest."

2. Mykal Moody - Conway, Quarterback/Defensive Back, Junior: Moody ran and threw for more than 1,000 yards respectively as a freshman quarterback. His sophomore season was cut short after a high ankle sprain in the second game forced him to miss the rest of the season.

"Sitting out the whole year wasn't fun," Moody said. "Every thing went good with the healing process."

Moody said he's 100 percent. Colleges will be keeping a close eye on Moody -- maybe not as much as quarterback, but as an defensive back or wide receiver. But at Conway, Moody will be the premier dual-threat on the Grand Strand. The 6-feet, 185-pound athlete wants to prove to opponents his junior season that he can let it fly.

"I'm trying to showcase I can throw," Moody said. "A lot of people think I can just run -- but I can throw the ball as well."

1. Tyler Knox - Myrtle Beach, Defensive End, Senior: Knox is the most highly-recruited Grand Strand player in the class of 2012. His 6-feet, 4-inch, 230-pound frame combined with speed and strength have impressed more than 15 universities into offering him a scholarship. Knox recorded 12 sacks, recorded 74 tackles and forced three fumbles. With other stud defensive players for the Seahawks such as Octavius Thomas and Kerry Chestnut -- Knox will have an opportunity to shine.

"It's not just me, we have good defensive ends, linebackers and safeties," Knox said. "It's everybody that helps everybody."

Knox is being thrust into more of a leadership role than last year. He wants to be more vocal with his teammates in the 2011 season.

Jeff Zell is sports director for WBTW News 13. You can reach him at jzell@wbtw.com.