July 8, 2010

Dallas Jackson
Senior Analyst

Dallas Jackson is the Senior Analyst for RivalsHigh. Email him your question, comment or story ideas to DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.com and follow him on Twitter.

DUNCAN, S.C. - Chris Miller knows his opponents are not going to feel sorry for him.

In fact, they are probably down right giddy with the thought.

The Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes Rebels have played in nationally televised games, been ranked as high as No. 2 nationally by RivalsHigh.com, and receive a plethora of media attention from coast-to-coast.

And they will, according to some, be ripe for the picking this season.

"I don't think we can match the talent level we had last year," Miller said just after getting off the exercise bike. He is rehabbing from a hip replacement. "But if we can come together as a team, we should be good."

The Rebels finished last year ranked No. 36 in the RivalsHigh 100, graduated their largest senior class ever and will be losing two U.S. Army All-Americans.

The team returns only four starters on offense and just three on defense.

Last season, the Rebels had seven players sign with Division I football teams and had another four commit to FCS-level programs.

Entering this year though, only one player - tight end Craig Weick - even has an offer to play football past his time at Byrnes. It is from FCS member Liberty University.

Rebel Radar

The Byrnes football team will have to replace one of its most productive teams in school history. While the players' names aren't yet on the national radar, here are some players that are expected to play pivotal roles: Sr., Devin Lindsey, CB Jr., Davon Terry, Sabre Sr., Tony Hillman, ATH Sr., Zach Blair, QB Sr., Craig Weick, TE Jr., Shakeem Wharton, RB Sr., Andre Brewton, LB

"We are going to need kids to step up," Miller said. "We have had to replace great players in the past and we have always had kids rise to the challenge."

This year, the Rebels will be replacing nearly all of its offensive yards and scoring, as well as six of its back eight on defense.

That would make more than just a few coaches squirm.

"I'm a winner," Miller said. "These kids are winners."

That, if nothing else, is a fact.

The Byrnes football team has won six state championships since 2002 and played in two others. That kind of track record makes the title game an expectation, not a goal.

"This isn't the first time we have heard the whispers and the talk of us going away," Miller said. "When Coach Bentley left they said we were done. When the big guys left the team a handful of years ago, they said we were done. It's a challenge to the guys who come in. It's a challenge to the coaches. It's a challenge to see who is going to take the reigns and lead us back."

The call to answer the bell may be staring squarely at two players on the offensive side of the ball - quarterback Zach Blair and running back Shakeem Wharton.

Blair, a senior, has been in the program for years but has been sitting behind Chas Dodd for the previous two seasons.

According to Miller, it is his time to shine.

"Zach is going to have to step up," Miller said. "He has to continue doing the things he has done in the offseason on the field. He will have to do enough to keep the other guys on the team believing in him."

If Blair can't do that, there is a familiar name to the Byrnes family waiting in the wings in senior Kolton Korn. His older brother, Wily Korn, was one of the best quarterbacks to ever play at Byrnes and Kolton, if needed, could challenge for the starting job.

To help alleviate the pressure on Blair will be Wharton.

Wharton, like Blair, will be walking in a very long shadow as he will be the running back to follow U.S. Army All-American Marcus Lattimore.

Only a junior, Wharton has a very similar body build to Lattimore and can equal his speed.

The hard part is duplicating his production.

"We have four guys on our offensive line that come back," Miller said. "Those are the guys that will make us go this year. They don't get any hype for anything but we will need them."

With so many questions entering the season, Miller seemed confident and excited.

"All of us have a sour taste in our mouth from last year," he said. "It has made our offseason miserable and we want to make it better.

"If you want something, you have to go work for it. Coach Bentley and those guys got this program rolling and it is up to us to keep up the success of the program."

The success of the program will be measured on a national level. Byrnes, the flag bearer for the state of South Carolina, will be judged instantly - and potentially harshly - as another national game awaits them with one of the best in Alabama - Hoover High.

"We are very excited for that game," Miller said. "Our kids have had a lot of great opportunities and this is another one."

The excitement, at least for Miller, is seeing what kind of team he fields.

"In the beginning of each season, there are so many questions," he said. "Getting the kids ready to play each and every week is exciting. If you finish with a state title or a least make a great run, it is satisfying."

Or, if you're a part of the Byrnes Rebels, it's expected.

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