Goose Creek produces another bumper crop of recruits

GOOSE CREEK — They were teammates since middle school, but with the stroke of a pen they became opponents.

Goose Creek defensive end Gerald Turner signed with the University of South Carolina on Wednesday, while running back/wide receiver Tramel Terry signed his national letter intent to play for Georgia.

The players will be on opposite sides of the football field Sept. 7 when the Gamecocks travel to Georgia in the second game of the 2013 season.

“Tramel will always be my teammate,” said the 6-1, 240-pound Turner, arguably the best defensive lineman in the state. “At the end of the game, we will still be friends and family.”

It was a big day at Goose Creek High School as eight players signed in the school’s auditorium. Terry, already enrolled at Georgia, signed in Athens, Ga. The senior class set high standards, compiling a 40-2 record the last three years while winning a Division II-AAAA state championship in 2011.

“They leave here with a 26-game winning streak,” coach Chuck Reedy said. “They leave here with quite a legacy.”

Turner, who played in the Shrine Bowl after recording 66 tackles his senior year, was all smiles after signing to play for Steve Spurrier.

“It feels good to get rid of all that stress,” Turner said of the recruiting process. “It’s a relief. I wanted to go there ever since my first visit. It felt like home.”

Two other Goose Creek stars will leave their home state. Linebacker Jalen Stevens signed with Connecticut and defensive lineman Michael Myers signed with East Carolina.

“I’ll get a great education,” said Stevens, who plans to study business management or software design. “I’ll fit in there in the classroom and on the football field. They play my style of defense.”

East Carolina landed the talented Myers, who might be the most underrated player in the Palmetto State. Reedy felt he is just as good as Mike Hill of Pendleton, who is considered the top defensive lineman in the state.

Myers said he is looking forward to arriving on campus at East Carolina, located in Greenville, N.C.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said the 280-pound Myers, who began his high school career as a fullback but moved to defensive line his junior season. “It’s got a great facility and the coaches are great. It feels like home and this will be my new family.”

Goose Creek has produced six Division I players since 2010 and the number should increase next year as plenty of talent returns. Quarterback Dantez Bennamon has big-time ability in football and basketball. Running back Caleb Kinlaw is considering Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio State, and tight end Kalan Ritchie already has offers from USC, Georgia, UConn and Virginia Tech.

Follow Philip M. Bowman on Twitter @PandCPhil