Area high school football players selected for All-State teams
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Dec. 17—The South Carolina Football Coaches Association recently released its All-State teams, and 32 players from the Aiken Standard coverage area were recognized in their respective classifications.
Leading the way were three local players who were chosen to the SCFCA's Overall All-State team, which recognized the best of the best at their position regardless of classification. Those three are North Augusta running back Michael Doe, North Augusta offensive lineman Malcolm Gaston and Strom Thurmond defensive back Kaleb Simpkins.
Seven players were named first-team All-State in Class AAAA, and another five were honorable mention picks. North Augusta defensive linemen Simeon Jones and Davion McKinnis made the first team along with linebacker Javon Ryans, while offensive lineman Seth Short and kicker Jacob DeGennaro were honorable mention. From South Aiken, defensive lineman Ray Harris, wide receiver Kyson McLeod and offensive lineman Santos Whitt-Hernandez were first-team selections, with kicker/punter Knox Young and defensive lineman Tyson Braxton earning honorable mention nods. Midland Valley defensive lineman Aaron Adams was also an honorable mention selection.
Silver Bluff had two players make the Class AAA list, with defensive lineman Keyaideen Williams earning first-team All-State honors and running back Drelyn Brown picking up an honorable mention nod.
Five players from the state champion Strom Thurmond Rebels earned Class AA honors, as Simpkins, offensive lineman Carter Boatwright, linebacker Deonte Phillips and defensive back Shaheed Williams were all first-team selections, and linebacker Bryston Coleman earned an honorable mention. Barnwell's Jackson Bedingfield was a first-team All-State pick at the tight end/H-back position.
Ten players from local Class A schools earned All-State honors, led by Ridge Spring-Monetta's first-team duo of Jaiden Holloway at defensive back and D'Toris Lott on the defensive line. Three of their teammates earned honorable mention — running back/linebacker Akiem Mills, lineman Bryce Smith and linebacker/running back Jabarius Brunson. Blackville-Hilda landed five players on the honorable mention list — lineman Jayden Dash, athlete Kaiden Aiken, running back/defensive back Kaiden Davis, wide receiver/linebacker Messiah McFadden and linebacker Ricky Richburg.
To be eligible for first-team and honorable mention All-State honors, players had to either be nominated by their coaches or be picked for the Touchstone Energy Bowl or Shrine Bowl. A committee of coaches from the SCFCA then voted from that pool of players.
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