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In the end, the contrasting journeys of Justin Parker and Ricky Chaney brought them to the same point, bonding the one-time crosstown rivals into college teammates as both signed letters of intent Wednesday to play football at Clemson.
As one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state, Beaufort High's Parker had narrowed his choices to Clemson, the University of South Carolina and LSU entering Wednesday's 3 p.m. announcement. And with approximately 50 family members and friends present, the senior linebacker elected to further the suspense.
With a hat from each of his top schools on the table and his parents at each side, Parker quickly grabbed for the Clemson cap, only to place it on his father's head. Then, Parker snagged the USC hat before giving it to his mother. But instead of donning the LSU cap that remained, Parker reached under the table and pulled out a black Clemson hat along with a wide grin, leading the room to erupt in cheers.
"It's just something, when you go around there, you realize that there's no place better; it's just like home," said Parker, who made his official visit to Clemson on the weekend of Jan. 9-11. "I realized that it's all about where you feel most comfortable and where you'll get a great education along with the football side.
"Those visits with them will be very memorable times in my life because it's just a family-type feel with (Clemson) coach (Dabo) Swinney and everybody else."
Just across town, about six hours earlier, Chaney solidified his prior verbal commitment with the Tigers in front of a handful of relatives at Battery Creek. The hybrid safety/linebacker is expected to redshirt next year in an effort to add bulk to his 6-foot-2, 200-pound build and polish his skills.
For Chaney, it was a similar vibe of comfort during a 2009 Junior Day visit that led him to voice his devotion to Clemson last May, well before the hoopla that led up to National Signing Day.
"From the first time I visited last year, it was just a great school with a great feeling," said Chaney, who recorded 52 tackles last season. "It's a small football town and I'm from a small town, so I think it's the perfect fit for me."
Just how Chaney and his moldable frame will fit into the Tigers' puzzle remains to be seen. But with his blazing speed and big-play ability, Swinney couldn't say enough to Dolphins coach Carlos Cave about the potential surrounding one of the Tigers' 23 commitments on Wednesday.
"For him, his upside is the X-factor, because the things you can't coach -- speed and athleticism -- are the strong intangibles and God-given gifts that Ricky already has," Dolphins coach Carlos Cave said. "I think he'll get an opportunity at strong safety initially. But with what (Clemson does), I see them moving him ... to linebacker eventually."
It's safe to say that Parker will get his chance to shine at the linebacker position, using his mix of sure hands, deft tackling and aggressive pursuit to man the middle and outside slots.
Last season, the hard-hitting defender lived up to the hype, recording 133 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception for the Eagles. Such success is expected to translate well on a Clemson team that's currently thin at the linebacker position.
"I don't know if Justin will come in his first year and start, but I know one thing -- he'll play and he's going to be a player," Eagles coach Mark Clifford said. "Justin is a great team player, and he's the type of kid that doesn't have to try to be a leader; that's just how he is. And with the family atmosphere that he's going into at Clemson, I think that will serve him well with the type of player and person he is."
SIGNING DAY CAPSULES
Name: Justin Parker
High School: Beaufort High
Sport: Football
High school coach: Mark Clifford
College: Clemson
Probable major: Business
About Clemson: In their first full season under coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers went 9-5, clinched their first ACC championship game berth and defeated Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.
Why Clemson: "I just love the family atmosphere that I feel when I visit the school and talk with the coaches," Parker said. "I've always felt it, and it really got me to feel at peace with my decision and playing at the next level."
Other schools that offered scholarships: South Carolina, LSU, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Colorado, Nebraska, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Central Florida, South Florida, East Carolina, Syracuse, Mississippi State.
Other high school sports played: None
Accolades: AP all-state selection, 2009 Beaufort Gazette/Island Packet Defensive Player of the Year, competed in Shrine Bowl and Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, three-time all-Region 8-AAAA selection, three-time all-area selection, team captain
Name: Ricky Chaney
High school: Battery Creek
Sport: Football
High school coach: Carlos Cave
College: Clemson
Probable major: Undecided, maybe food science or engineering
Why Clemson: "Even though Clemson was the first -- and really the only -- college to show me a lot of interest, I know it's the right fit for me," Chaney said. "When I visited, I just got a good feeling."
Other schools that offered scholarships: None, although South Carolina also showed interest
Other high school sports played: Track
Accolades: Competed in North-South All-Star game and named most improved player on football team.
Name: Spencer Shine
High school: Battery Creek
Sport: Football
High school coach: Carlos Cave
College: Johnson C. Smith University
Probable major: Engineering
About Johnson C. Smith: In their first season under coach Steve Aycock, the Golden Bulls finished 3-7 for the third conseuctive year and 2-5 in the CIAA.The school, located in Charlotte, competes in the NCAA's Division II ranks.
Why Johnson C. Smith: "I looked everything up about the school, and I saw not only is it a good chance to play football, it's a great school education-wise, with engineering," Shine said. "If I make it to the (NFL), then great, I do. But if not, I know I'm going to a school that will help me get a nice paycheck in engineering."
Other schools that offered scholarships: None, although South Carolina extended a preferred walk-on offer
Other high school sports played: Basketball, track
Accolades: All-region selection and named team's defensive MVP.
Name: Cleon Wright
High school: Battery Creek
Sport: Football
High school coach: Carlos Cave
College: Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College
Probable major: Undecided, maybe auto mechanics
About Hutchinson CC: As one of the top NJCAA football programs in the nation, the Blue Dragons went 7-4 under coach Rion Rhoades in 2009 and won the inaugural Central Bank/Salt City Bowl game.
Why Hutchinson CC: "I like the college, and it helps that (former Battery Creek track star) Martin Jenkins is already up there," Wright said. "I think it will give me a lot of good opportunities to get better and play somewhere else in the future."
Other schools that offered scholarships: None
Other high school sports played: Track
Accolades: Named team's defensive back MVP.
Name: Spencer Wallace
High school: Hilton Head High
Sport: Track
High school coaches: Blake Bishop, Bill Wrightson
College: The Citadel
Probable major: Undecided, maybe sports marketing
About The Citadel: Head coach Jody Huddleston received the Southern Conference's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2009. The 2010 season began with a trip to Chapel Hill in late January.
Why The Citadel: "They offered me a scholarship," Wallace said. "I took a trip there, and it went good. They treated me really well. ... It's a really good school, and I think I'll get a lot of job offers after I graduate."
Other schools that offered scholarships: None, although Connecticut, Winthrop and USCB also showed interest
Other high school sports played: Cross country
Accolades: Four-time Class 3-A track state champion (three straight in 4x800 relay, once in 1,600 meters), won team cross country state championship with Seahawks last fall, finished 16th individually in cross country state meet.
