What About Us?

The Carolinas have well-known programs that garner media coverage and national attention. Clemson has recently won a national title. Dozens of players have been drafted into the NFL. Fans see the school names frequently on news crawls and scoreboard banners. Travel anywhere in the Carolinas from the Triad to Myrtle Beach and you will see the colors of the Tigers, Tarheels, Wolfpack, Blue Devils, and other familiar teams. However, the “big boys” aren’t the only teams playing quality football. Multiple programs throughout the region have won championships, produced NFL players, and are semi-recognizable to casual fans. They may not be given limelight quite so brightly, but they are worthy of attention.

These programs will not overly populate watch lists or dominate draft boards. Smaller school stars will receive recognition throughout the season and will be invited to important draft process events like the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Coaches from teams at the top of college football rankings scour their rosters for late bloomers and overlooked gems. With relaxed transfer rules, it is now common for players to move from a school like The Citadel to a power five program.

These Carolina based programs have players that have either been ranked in the nflmockdraftdatabase.com Top 1,000 or have been placed on the Senior Bowl watch lists. They will have their own compelling storylines and position battles. They will provide a refreshing alternative to those who have become jaded with the big business of college football and its machinations and just wish to see kids playing for the love of the game. And on occasion, they will trip up an unsuspecting power player, and in the process, break the internet.

Coastal Carolina, Conway, SC, Sun Belt Conference, 8-5 / 5-3

The Chanticleers are probably the most recognizable name in this piece. Not just for their cool nickname or baseball success. Coastal Carolina has one of the most prominent small school transfers in star quarterback Grayson McCall. He parlayed mid-major success into a starting bid in the ACC with NC State. 

In 2020, the Chanticleers peaked in week 16 at ninth in the AP Poll. They finished 2023 with a 24-14 win over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl. As compelling as their brief history and 2023 season was, the real story of Coastal Carolina is the transfer portal and how they almost singlehandedly caused it to implode. According to On3.com, since the end of the 2023 regular season, 18 players have arrived on campus. Included in that number are players expected to give the Coastal Carolina offense a boost. Quarterbacks Tod Hudson (North Carolina) and Noah Kim (Michigan State) will battle to replace McCall. The winner will have a trio of new wide receivers to target in Connor Cmiel (Ohio State), Malick Meiga, and Senika McKie (UNLV).

Whatever enthusiasm the new arrivals may create, McCall and 16 teammates departing will sober the happy thoughts. Like most transfers, the former Chanticleers moved on to other programs due to lack of playing time or to further their education. Their loss, while great in numbers, will not significantly alter the direction of the program other than forcing Head Coach Tim Beck to search for depth. The incoming receivers will be counted on to fill the void left by Tyson Mobley (Liberty) and Jared Brown (South Carolina), two talented pass catching threats.

Coastal Carolina had one player named to the Senior Bowl watch list in DL Will Whitson. Additionally, RB Brandon Bennett is ranked 511th overall on the Top 1,000 list and LS Nate Merchant is 565th. A specialist like Merchant is the type of player that can work his way onto NFL rosters despite individual rankings.

Expect Coastal Carolina to be a top team in the Sunbelt Conference. A program such as this one will have its fair share of eyes on them from NFL scouts looking for day three steals and from college coaches trying to poach talent to upgrade their own programs.

East Carolina, Greenville, NC, American Athletic Conference, 2-10 / 1-7

The Pirates are perhaps the most confounding team on this list. They had a miserable season. Head Coach Mike Houston has had previous losing seasons in his five year tenure as evidenced by his 24-34 record, but none as bad as last season. Unsurprisingly, the program suffered 11 defections through the transfer portal. What was surprising was the level of talent that transferred to the Pirates. Houston was able to snare QBs Byson Harrison from Georgia State and Jake Garcia from Missouri. Garcia is currently rated as the 533rd best prospect in the Top 1,000. The new players are not just veterans seeking one last shot at glory. Incoming Sophomores RB Landen Montgomery pillaged from Penn State and S Ayden Duncanson from North Carolina will have the opportunity to be mainstays of the ECU program and help right the ship.

Even though the program is enduring challenges, it is not without talent. DB Shavon Revel is the 42nd ranked player in the Top 1,000 and is positioned to be selected on day two of the NFL Draft next April. WR Winston Wright, Jr. has been named to the Senior Bowl watch list. A productive season will boost his draft stock.

The Pirates have work to do so that escaping the basement of the AAC to becomes a reality. Another sub-par record and this could be Houston’s last season at the helm.

Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, American Athletic Conference, 3-9 / 2-6

Charlotte will never be considered a football factory despite the nickname the 49ers. Only seven players have ever suited up for NFL action. Of those seven, two are members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, DT Larry Ogunjobi and LB Alex Highsmith. Odds like those indicate that a team that is devoted to routine as the Steelers will have a scout attend at least one Charlotte game this year. They will not be looking for elite talent, or even day two talent. That is not to say that there are not players that could work their way up NFL Draft boards. DB Dontae Balfour was named to the Senior Bowl watch list. 

DL D’Andre Martin is the 575th player on the Top 1,000. Edge Demon Clowney, the cousin of longtime NFL star Jadeveon, sits at 847th overall. The 49ers program hold enough promise that 26 players, according to On3.com, have transferred to Charlotte. These new players have come from well-known programs such as Michigan, Miami, Virginia Tech, and Auburn. The 49ers could be one of the most entertaining watches this fall.

In the 1970s, a sports writer turned scout by the name of Bill Nunn tipped off the Steelers to a vast untapped talent pool playing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Steelers heeded Nunn’s advice, and it resulted in them acquiring future Hall of Famers Mel Blount, John Stallworth, and Donnie Shell. Nowadays, HBCUs are not the goldmine they once were. The scouting of high school players leaves very few elite talents going undiscovered. 

Exceptional athletes now have dozens of scholarship offers and with that seven figure NIL deals from the best college programs in the nation. It is extremely hard for HBCUs to compete with that level of enticement. That is not to say NFL level talent isn’t being played on the HBC level. Two programs have players that have either been placed on the Senior Bowl watch list or occupy spots in the Top 1,000.

South Carolina State, Orangeburg, SC, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, 5-6 / 3-2

The Bulldogs program produced Donnie Shell. They have two players named to the Senior Bowl watch list in LB Aaron Smith and OL Nick Taiste. Those two have been joined by DL Aaron Miller, WR Justin Smith-Brown, and TE KeShawn Toney on the watch list for the Deacon Jones Trophy awarded to the Black College Football Player of the Year.

North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, NC, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, 0-8/1-10

The Aggies have had 12 alumni drafted into the NFL, including luminaries Elvin Bethea and Dwaine Board. They have two players on the Top 1,000 list. K Owen Daffer is ranked 364th, close enough to perform his way into the tail end of the draft. CB Karon Prunty begins 2024 play ranked at 592nd overall. Prunty has also been named to the Jones Trophy watch list and FCS Player of the Year watch list.

The following schools had players named to the Senior Bowl watch list:

Elon, NC – Colonial Athletic Conference – WR Chandler Brayboy

Lenoir-Rhyne, Hickory, NC – South Atlantic Conference – DL Andre Jefferson

If one is a fan of college football in the Carolinas, there is no limiting their viewing options to familiar names. Hard core, casual, and draft aficionados can find enjoyment in programs of all sizes. Fans might get drawn into the small school passion and pride these programs produce. If they allow themselves to be swept up in the game and not the school name, these schools could lead to future weekend destination getaways and becoming familiar with future NFL players.