Palmetto State Prospects
Mekhi Campfield (Lower Richland) and Ben Holmes (A.C. Flora)'s accomplishments highlight the launch of Wardlaw University's new insider recruiting service brand
PalmettoStateProspects.com is an insider scouting service founded by Lee Wardlaw of Wardlaw University. Wardlaw, a University of South Carolina graduate, Columbia native, and proud Gamecocks alum has 13 years of sports journalism experience, with his byline featured in Bleacher Report, Fansided, Fits News, South Carolina Public Radio, and several other publications.
Wardlaw started scouting high school football student-athletes at the Pylon Dallas 7-on-7 Tournament in Jan. 2021, hosted at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium. He reviewed top players who committed to top schools such as Arkansas, Miami, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, and several others and has built connections in 14 states, including California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
Read Mekhi Campfield’s scouting report at Ben Holmes’ offers and interest updates below.
SCOUTING REPORT
Mekhi Campfield: Heading into his senior season, Campfield was a special component of a Lower Richland Diamond Hornets team that competed at a high level in 3A. Hopkins produced underrated college athletic talent, and at 6-foot-3, 197 pounds, the do-it-all wide receiver has the standard size requirement needed to play in Division 1 ball. The Diamond Hornet is a dart in space and can stretch for diving catches. Campfield can line up in the slot and is a home run threat on special teams.
The Hornets seemed to have crafty offensive playcalling, and his name was called on a few Steve Spurrier-Esque trick plays.
Wardlaw University heavily factors in the level of competition and evaluates every angle possible. We’re very thorough.
The Diamond Hornets did play against some weaker opponents, but their only losses were to A.C. Flora, an accomplished AAAA program, and Clinton, who only fell to Chapman and Daniel. Both facing the Falcons and the Red Devils further solidifies his film, and Campfield was all over the field.
The Falcons only fell short to Greenville in the 4A playoffs, and the Red Raiders were stacked with scholarship student-athletes that went on to Clemson, Georgia Southern, South Carolina State, and more. The Red Devils only fell to Chapman and Daniel, both strong Upstate schools. Deebo Samuel attended Champan, the Inman, SC, based program. Do I need I say more?
Yes, I insist. On many receivers’ highlights, I never see videos of blocking. Campfield provides plenty. Clocking in with a 4.54 40-yard dash, 265-pound bench, and a 375-pound squat, video evidence shows Campbell both successfully paving a lane for a teammate to score and viciously knocking a defender to the ground.
A 2022 All-American Bowl Combine selection, hosted in concert with the All-American Game, Campfield competes in 7-on-7 travel ball and runs track and field for the Diamond Hornets.
If that’s not enough to sell the prospect, catch him on Aug. 26 vs. 4A Westwood, Sep. 2 in a monster home matchup vs. 5A Ridge View, or on Sep. 16 at the 5A River Bluff Gators on the banks of the Saluda River.
Don’t take it from me. He’s drawing interest from several schools, including Appalachian State, Brown, Bryant, East Carolina, Elon, Furman, Georgia State, Harvard, Lousiville, Marist, North Carolina, Tennessee Tech, and UT-Martin.
If he doesn’t earn a P5 offer, catch him with a potential Ivy League degree. Remember, this, student-athletes: only 1.6% of players earn an NFL roster position, so make the most of your opportunities off the field.
Mekhi said that his dream school is the North Carolina Tar Heels. Coach Mack Brown, check his tape below.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/13094816/Mekhi-Campfield
GPA: 4.4
OFFERS
BEN HOLMES, A.C FLORA
🌙🌴 One student-athlete competing in the trenches for the A.C. Flora Falcons has been busy competing at College Junior Days across the Carolinas this spring, making stops at Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Wofford.
After a conversation with HC Coach Josh Conklin and OL Coach Dane Romero, 6-foot-7, 270-pound Class of 2023 OT Ben Holmes has officially announced that he has earned his No. 1 scholarship offer from the Wofford College Terriers on Monday.
Holmes announced the news via Twitter.
The first offer is a big step in the right direction for the offensive lineman seeking to earn as much exposure as possible preceding National Signing Day.
The Terriers, a program synonymous with Spartanburg and the Upstate SC area, have produced seven Southern Conference championships, nine FCS playoff appearances, and countless undergraduate degrees for student-athletes.
Ben is also slated to travel to Charleston, SC on April 30 to participate in an invite-only camp showcasing the best prospects on the radar of SC’s Military School, with a start time slated for 1:00 p.m. at Johnson-Hagood Stadium.
Holmes is racing to a fast start during his last-ever offseason in Forest Acres.🌙🌴