BLYTHEWOOD – Fresh off of his team’s 37-24 victory over Lugoff-Elgin Friday night, Blythewood defensive end Sterling Sanders found out that he made the South Carolina roster for the 2024 Shrine Bowl.
Sanders, a 6-5, 295-pound senior and Georgia Southern Commit, has 30 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and 15 quarterback pressures on the season.
Last year Sanders had 50 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks and 10 quarterback pressures.
“It’s been a long time since Blythewood had a player on the roster, it’s really an honor,” Sanders said. “I’m really excited to play in the Shrine Bowl. I’ve always dreamed about this since I was a kid.”
Fairfield Central running back Tydarion Grier also made the SC roster. Grier has 868 yards and 13 touchdowns on 107 carries for the season. He’s also caught four passes for 104 yards and a TD.
Grier had 1,136 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games last season.
“I am truly thankful for being selected to play in the Shrine Bowl,” Grier said. “I would like to thank God, my family, my coaches, and teammates for their sacrifices and support they have given to me over the years.”
He is the first player picked from Fairfield-Central since Griffins outside linebacker Ryan Raley made the team in 2012.
“It’s a blessing to be recognized as one of the best in South Carolina and to represent my school and family in the Shrine Bowl!”
The game will be played Dec. 21 at Spartanburg High School’s Viking Stadium.
The Blythewood-Fairfield County has a sizeable list of Shrine Bowl picks.
Bengals wide receiver Josh Burrell and linebacker D.J. Hutcherson were named to the South team in 2020, even though the game was cancelled because of the threat of Covid. Burrell played three seasons at Florida State and now plays at Furman. Hutcherson signed with South Carolina State in 2021.
The most recent Blythewood-area player to be named to the Shrine Bowl roster was Westwood receiver Noah Jennings, who received the honor in 2022. Jennings now plays at Charleston Southern.
Redhawks cornerback Cam Smith, who now plays with the Miami Dolphins, made the roster in 2018 along with wide receiver Cortez Branham Jr., who played at Hutchison Community College, transferred to West Virginia in 2022, and is in his sixth year of eligibility at Nevada.
Offensive guard Chris McCarthy made the SC team in 2015 and later signed with Limestone.
Besides Grier this year and Raley in 2012, Fairfield Central wide receiver Christopher Alston made the team in 2011; quarterback Justin Trapp and linebacker Joshua Roseborough were 2009 selections; cornerback Darius Gaither and linebacker Sedric Griffin made the 2005 team; cornerback Jojo McFadden made the team in 2002; and tight end Chris Thigpen and defensive back Marcus Coleman made the Sandlappers roster in 1997 following the Griffins’ 3A state championship year.
Blythewood linebacker Charles White, who played on the Bengals’ 3A State Championship team, was the school’s first Shrine Bowl pick in 2006. The next year, quarterback Richard Mounce and wide receiver Marquan Jones made the Shrine Bowl roster, and defensive lineman Justin Anderson was a Shrine Bowler in 2009.