Photo by: Tyrone Walker/Post and Courier

Goose Creek linebacker T.J. Burrell signed with the Clemson Tigers on National Signing Day, along with teammates Virgil Smalls and Jaquan Marsh, who signed with South Carolina State and Brevard, respectively.

Photo by: Rob Gantt/Gazette

Hanahan football player and track standout Chris Brown signed a national letter of intent with Notre Dame.

The annual athletic scholarship signing ceremony held on National Signing Day by the Berkeley County School District was bigger than ever.

Including the athletes that inked scholarships in November’s early signing period, 35 student-athletes from the BCSD were honored at the ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

“It’s a record number by a long shot,” BCSD athletic director Charlie Davis. “I think that’s exciting.”

Because the group being recognized was so sizeable, the annual event was shifted from the district’s offices to Berkeley High School’s auditorium.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year because of the recognition that we so expectantly look forward to every year,” Davis said. “It’s the result of a lot of people working very hard and making a commitment to be here where you are today: The athletes, the parents, the coaches, the communities you represent, the school you represent. It’s a commitment by all those groups.”

Twenty-three of the honorees were from Goose Creek, Stratford, Cane Bay and Hanahan high schools.

The top new signings by athletes at those schools came from Goose Creek football standout T.J. Burrell and Hanahan’s Chris Brown.

Burrell signed with Clemson and Brown is headed for Notre Dame.

Burrell, a linebacker, was a two-time all-state player for the Gators and played in the Shrine Bowl. He finished the season with 105 tackles and seven tackles for loss.

“He’s a great football player, an excellent student and an outstanding young man,” GCHS football coach Chuck Reedy said of Burrell.

This past football season, Brown missed half the year with a broken collarbone but still had some gaudy stats. He scored 12 touchdowns in the passing game, hauling in 33 passes for 532 yards. He also returned two punts for a score for the Hawks.

His track and field accomplishments are impressive too. Brown set the state record in the triple jump and won two other gold medals at last spring’s state meet.

“I think it was a very good decision academically and athletically,” Brown said of his signing with Notre Dame. “It fits me. I feel good about it. It’s an outstanding place.”

Other football signings included two more from Goose Creek and two players from Stratford.

Gators fullback Virgil Smalls is headed to South Carolina State, while quarterback Jaquan Marsh inked with Brevard.

Stratford offensive lineman Eric Dickerson also signed with South Carolina State, while Knights linebacker Brandon Young is going to Greenville Technical College.

Smalls finished third in state history in career touchdowns scored with 89. He played in the Shrine Bowl and rushed for over 1,200 yards this season.

Marsh was 37-4 as a starter in his career and was team MVP this past fall. He combined for over 2,300 passing and rushing yards and accounted for 22 touchdowns.

Dickerson was a three-year starter at left tackle and was all-state this season. He was also a North-South all-star.

Young made 133 tackles for the Knights, including 22 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Complete List of Honorees

HANAHAN

Baseball

Bret Hines, The Citadel

Skylar Hunter, The Citadel

Kyle Dyson, Charleston Southern

Sam Bezy, Anderson 

Joey Bisognani, Anderson

Football

Chris Brown, Notre Dame

CANE BAY

Baseball

Quinton Cable, Spartanburg Meth.

Zack Wimmer, Cane Bay

Softball

Erin Cook – USC Salkehatchie

Tierra Fischler – USC Salkehatchie

Track

Ja’Carl Safford – USC Beaufort

GOOSE CREEK

Baseball

Zach Lavery, Citadel

Basketball

N’Dea Bryant, North Carolina

Rae Robinson, Citadel

Football

T.J. Burrell, Clemson

Jaquan Marsh, Brevard

Virgil Smalls, S.C. State

STRATFORD

Baseball

Brandon Hester, South Carolina

Track

Brandon Gourdine, USC Beaufort

Domonique Harris, USC Beaufort

Matt Shuler, USC Beaufort

Football

Eric Dickerson, S.C. State

Brandon Young, Greenville Tech

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