The Paladin Walk Blog

Recruiting Update

Andrew Fulk – Defensive Lineman Manatee HS, Bradenton, FL.
"My whole life, my dad's been pushing me to get A's — it's not just athletics, it's academics, too," Fulk said. "We have a little reward thing where we he pays me for 'As'. He says, 'B's are nice, but you don't get money for that. You don't get money for being average.'"

Fulk has been anything but. Not in the classroom, where he sports a grade-point average just over 4.2. Not on the wrestling mat, where he finished third in the 189-pound bracket during last year's Class 2A state tournament. And not on the football field, where Fulk is a defensive co-captain and a starter at end.

Fulk is currently receiving attention from Furman and Vanderbilt. You can read the entire article on Fulk here.
Story credit: Jeff Lembo, Bradenton Herald

Dakota Derrick – QB Conway HS Conway, SC
The schools most interested in Derrick are from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). Schools such as Presbyterian, Furman, Georgia Southern and William & Mary have inquired about the 6-foot-5 senior, but he hasn't fielded any offers yet.

"Their take on recruiting [in FCS] is to wait as long as possible and see who falls through the cracks," said Derrick, who will visit William & Mary this weekend. "Obviously it's every player's dream to play I-A, but I don't know how much of a reality that is. I would just be happy to play at the next level, no matter where it is."
Story credit: Josh Hoke, MyrtleBeach Online

Richard Mounce – QB Blythewood

Phil Kornbluth is reporting that Richard Mounce(#12) is is still committed to Clemson for baseball but he will entertain offers for football. Richard's former coach Jeff Scott now at PC has offered and now Furman is expressing interest. I watched Mounce play in the championship game last season and he was impressive. Mounce will be hurt this season by the penalties imposed on the Blythewood program by the High School Football League.

Photo courtesy Ryan Johnson/Blythewood

Recruiting Update August 16th

A couple of random recruiting notes from players listing Furman.

Dewitt Ford  Noseguard  Blacksburg HS
Dewitt is a solid 6-2, 302 pounds. He is described as mild-mannered and intelligent in the classroom, but disruptive on the football field.

“(Nose guard is) one of the best places on the line. If you can intimidate the center, it messes up the whole routine — the way (the center) snaps the ball, when he snaps the ball,” Ford said.

“The quarterback has a set cadence that he’s used to, and if you hit the center a couple of good times, he’s going to be hesitant to snap the ball,” Ford said.

“He snaps it a little to the left or right, it’s going to take time off the play.”

Ford has had in home visits from Clemson and Furman, but he still has  his options open. I can just imagine what Coach Pinella could do with this guy.

Story credit from goupstate.com / Craig Peters

Another player to watch develop this season is Tymeco Gregory a left tackle for Greer HS. Gregory has 3.75 core GPA and participates in the “Bridges to a Brighter Future” program at Furman.

Easley HS offensive lineman   6-5, 285 has an ofer from Newberry and is hearing from Clemson, Vandy, Delaware, Dartmouth, Liberty, Lehigh, Elon, and Furman.

Paladin Recruit PJ Beidel Injuried at Colorado Camp

From Scout.com, read the entire post here.

Roswell's P.J. Beidel suffered a devastating injury during a camp at the University of Colorado, "We were forming up and I just fell," said a somber Beidel who tore an ACL. 

Doctors say it could be 4-6 months before Beidel is fully recovered which will make it unlikely the Roswell (Ga.) star will ever get to play his senior season. Sadly many schools that were recruiting Beidel such as Connecticut, Colorado, Indiana and Vanderbilt have backed off of recruiting him because of the injury.

Beidel doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit" and is not giving up on his dreams.   Tulane and Miami (Ohio) are maintaining contact with the speedy receiver. Beidel also recently visited Furman and the Paladin staff seemed interested in giving him a shot down the road. "Those coaches are just waiting to see how my rehab goes and might either offer me a scholarship or invite me as a preffered walk-on," commented Beidel.

Recruiting 2008: Lee Butler

Lee Butler  | CB/WR
5-11  170  | 4.3
Westside HS  | Anderson, SC

The talk of the first Shrine Bowl Combine was Westside High School CB Lee Butler. Butler has risen from sleeper to a top prospect. What got all the attention was Butler running a 4.3 flat 40 and then a 4.32 the second time. Furman, Air Force and Duke have already offered. Butler currently has a 3.8 GPA. He also is a member of the National Honor Society, and is ranked in the top 15 of his class. Don’t write Furman off his list yet.  Butler should get plenty of FBS school offers but let’s hope this uber student-athlete stays close to home.

Recruiting 2008: Reid McCollum

Summerville High School quarterback Reid McCollum (6-4, 208) is drawing plenty of interest during Summerville's spring practice. Phil Kornblut is reporting that assistant coaches from Furman, USC, Duke, Virginia, and UNC are dropping by to watch McCollum. If Bobby Lambs holds true to past recruiting, look for Furman to heavily recruit a quarterback in 08.