Strom Thurmond's Simpkins signs to play college football at Campbell University

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Dec. 10—JOHNSTON — Strom Thurmond head football coach Andrew Webb knew he had something special in a freshman defensive back who hadn't yet set foot on campus.

Webb took his team to the University of South Carolina for some summer 7-on-7 work, a prime opportunity to watch his players compete before beginning his first season as their coach.

One player in particular stood out to him, a rising freshman named Kaleb Simpkins who was going face-to-face with junior and senior wide receivers without flinching.

Not long after that, Simpkins was the only freshman starter for the Rebels' defense. Then, as he grew, came the realization that he was too good to only be on the field half the time. By his senior season, he hardly left the field.

And, in his last game, he walked off of it with a state championship trophy.

Now it's time to start the cycle all over again. Simpkins, who two days earlier played a starring role in the Rebels' 26-7 win over Hampton County to win the Class AA state title, was celebrated even more on Monday for signing to play college football at Campbell University, where he'll play safety.

"It feels great. I think it's truly a blessing from God. It shows all the work that I've put in to get to this moment," said Simpkins. "I just want to thank everybody that helped me get here. My family, my teammates, these great coaches that surround me, everybody."

Simpkins, who will graduate early and get a head start at his new home, chose Campbell over a host of other offers that included Wake Forest of the ACC and Ivy League schools Yale and Dartmouth. He intends to study physical therapy.

"I think it's just a great place with great people," he said. "It's somewhere that I can showcase my talents early."

Simpkins committed to Campbell the day after Strom Thurmond's Upper State championship victory and actually signed last week, but he waited until Monday for his ceremony as he didn't want to cause any distractions during the Rebels' state championship preparations.

On Saturday, he had three catches for 107 yards and a touchdown and also had a long fumble return to set up the Rebels' first score of the game. His 55-yard touchdown catch from Bri'Shaun Lee early in the second quarter pushed the lead to 12-0, and another long ball on the next drive set up another Deonte Phillips rushing touchdown to make it 18-0.

"Just watching him grow as a player, from a freshman playing just defense to the other night, he didn't come off the field," Webb said. "He was running down the field on the kickoff team. He played the best when the lights were the brightest. Huge catch he made versus Fairfield Central. Huge pick he had versus Chester. Offense and defense the other night, he did it. He played his best when the lights were brightest."

Simpkins, a North-South All-Star selection who is also an All-State baseball player with a knack for making clutch plays on the diamond, finished his senior season with 37 catches for 797 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, he was credited with 18 tackles and, with all of these occurring during the postseason, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a touchdown. He finished his four years at Strom Thurmond with a record of 39 wins against 12 losses, with three region championships and that elusive state title.

He didn't hesitate when asked which produced a better feeling, choosing the team's state championship victory over his college signing, but those may be the two greatest choices a high school football player can have. Needless to say, there's been a lot to process over the last few days.

"Everything. I thought I was going to cry a lot, but it hasn't come to me yet," he said. "This place is special to me. Knowing that was my last time and the performance I put out, I can sleep great."

Monday was a full-circle moment for Simpkins and Webb, together for four years and wrapping it up with a state championship and a college signing. As it turns out, what Webb saw from that fearless freshman at 7-on-7s was only scratching the surface.

"It's been special," he said. "He was the only freshman playing my first year here, and to watch him grow for four years has been incredible. We've been through a lot of ups, a lot of downs, but always, always, always together."

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