Lexington wide receiver
Shaq Roland, who is considered by many as the top prospect in the state for the 2012 class, has narrowed his list to four SEC schools, according to a report on PalmettoSports.com.
Roland, who caught 58 passes for 1,033 yards and 10 scores, has more than 30 football offers. He also has 14 offers to play college basketball.
His coach, Scott Earley, told the site that Roland has narrowed the list to South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Georgia, in that order. The coach also said that Roland will commit before the prep football season begins.
The Gamecocks are in the position to nab another top player from the state, which they've done the past two years in running back Marcus Lattimore and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
"He likes that it's real close to home, real close to his momma and the people of Lexington," Earley told the site. "That's big for him for them to be able to see him play."
Roland was all over the field last season, as he ran for 684 yards and 10 scores, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and threw for six scores.
CHARPIA TAKES OVER AT BROOKLAND-CAYCEFormer Arkansas assistant coach Rusty Charpia was named the football coach and athletic director at
Brookland-Cayce (Cayce) last week, according to The State.
Charpia, who was the offensive coordinator at Woodland High School last year, served as an assistant coach in the SEC from 1993 to 1995 and is a Clemson graduate. He replaces Abby Bray, who posted a 6-26 record with the Bearcats in three seasons. The Bearcats lost 70-0 to Myrtle Beach in the opening round of the playoffs in the fall.
"We are excited about the caliber of coach Charpia's football experiences," Brookland-Cayce principal Scott Newman told The State. "We are convinced that he has what it takes to put together a winning program."
CARFLEY OUT AT MARIONAfter four seasons and a 19-25 record, Bryan Carfley is no longer the football coach at
Marion, according to the Florence Morning News. Carfley was asked to resign last week.
'We appreciate his services over the last four years," Marion School District Michael Lupo told the paper. "But we felt it was time for a change. We haven't had a winning season in four years, and that was one of the factors in the decision."
Lupo also said the position would be filled internally.
Carfley led the team to the playoffs each season and advanced past the first round only once. That year (2007), Marion posted a 6-6 mark and that was the only .500 season during his tenure.
"I enjoyed coaching football and always tried to compare the game of football with life after football for my players," Carfley wrote in an e-mail to the paper. "I always stressed character and good attitudes when you win and lose. Those that can do that and realize it's only a game are the ones that are going to be successful in life."
Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettofootballtalkblog@gmail.com.
