High school football is at the forefront of South Carolina’s sporting scene, and once you look at the state’s rich history of talent, it’s easy to see why.
Who is the all-time best South Carolina high school football player, the one who defined the Palmetto State?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, that’s the question USA TODAY Sports is looking to answer in celebration of the greatest American sports figures of all time, including high school athletes who shaped communities and defined their states.
With that in mind, here are our selections for the football players who defined South Carolina. The 10 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts at the high school level before playing at the next level.
Did we miss someone? There’s a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn’t included on our list of 10.
Shuler Bentley, Quarterback, Byrnes
Bentley was named Gatorade Player of the Year not once, but twice during his playing career from 2010 to 2013. He set the single-season passing touchdown record in 2013 with 71 and also the single-game record for touchdown passes with nine. For his career, he threw for 13,322 yards and 178 touchdowns, including a senior year that featured 71 touchdowns and 5,032 yards.
Courtney Brown, Linebacker, Macedonia
There weren’t many high school players anywhere in the country who were more physically imposing in the 1990s than Brown. He earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 1995 as a two-way player, totaling 132 tackles, four fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. Brown went on to star at Penn State and was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the first pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Pointe
For many people, it could be argued that Clowney is the greatest high school prospect in history. A physical specimen who starred on both sides of the ball, South Point went 38-6 in his four years there, winning a state title in 2008. As good as he was on offense, he was even better on defense, recording more than 300 total tackles, 66.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and 11 fumble recoveries. Clowney’s senior year saw him total 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.
Stephen Davis, Running Back, Spartanburg
Davis earned honors as the nation’s top high school prospect his senior season, leading the Vikings to the Class 4A championship in 1991. Since most of Spartanburg’s wins were so lopsided, Davis was usually done by half, meaning he ended his high school career with 4,501 yards on the ground.
Stephon Gilmore, Athlete, South Pointe
Gilmore may be known now as one of the best cornerbacks this century, but in high school, he was also one of South Carolina’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. As a senior in 2008, he led South Pointe to a 15-0 record, rushing for 1,331 yards and 23 touchdowns to go along with 1,771 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. For his career, Gilmore totaled 6.736 total yards of offense and 72 total touchdowns.
A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Summerville
At the high school level, there haven’t been many players who were as dominant as Green was. He totaled 5,373 yards and more than 56 touchdowns during his preps career. As a senior, he was constantly double- and even triple-teamed, yet still managed to record 644 yards and seven touchdowns.
Marcus Lattimore, Running Back, Byrnes
Even if he hadn’t gone to play for the Gamecocks and become a legend there, Lattimore’s status as a legend in the state was cemented by his play in high school. Leading James F. Byrnes to back-to-back state titles, he was nicknamed “The Horse” and finished his high school career with 6,375 yards on the ground and 104 total touchdowns. After rushing for 2,314 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior, he capped his career by rushing for 1,898 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior.
Art Shell, Lineman, Bonds-Wilson
Shell dominated on both sides of the line playing for segregated Bonds-Wilson High School in the early 1960’s. Graduating in 1964, he was regarded not only as one of the state’s top football players but also as one of the best basketball players. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Demetris Summers, Running Back, Lexington
Summer last played over 20 years ago, but his rushing records still hold to this day. The No. 1 running back prospect for the 2002 class, he finished his career with 9,076 yards and 127 touchdowns in just over 920 carries. The highlight of his career came midway through his junior season, in a game in which he ran for 315 yards and six touchdowns on just 10 carries.
Justin Worley, Quarterback, Northwestern
Worley was not only one of the most decorated passers in state history, but he went national with his level of play. A Gatorade National Player of the Year after leading the Trojans to a 15-0 record and the Class 4A-II state title in 2010, he finished his career with 13,320 yards passing and 156 touchdowns. In his senior year, he threw for 5,313 yards and 64 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vote for South Carolina’s all-time best high school football player