COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Pinckney set to return to gridiron
Following a redshirt season, Whale Branch Early College High School graduate Nyles Pinckney is set to take the field for defending football national champion Clemson University.
Pinckney enrolled at Clemson University in January 2016.
Before Clemson, Pinckney rated as high as the No. 79 prospect in the nation by Tom Lemming. He rated as the No. 196 prospect in the nation and the No. 2 overall prospect in South Carolina by Rivals. The productive Pinckney rated No. 261 in the nation and No. 4 player in South Carolina by ESPN.
One of the top defensive linemen in South Carolina high school history, Pinckney had an outstanding senior year with 72 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, four sacks, six caused fumbles, three recovered fumbles, two blocked punts and two defensive touchdowns in 2015.
Pinckney had 98 tackles, 27 for loss, nine sacks, blocked three field goals, 10 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries as a junior. He had 91 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore.
Pinckney narrowed his college choice to Clemson and South Carolina. He played his high school football for Jerry Hatcher at Whale Branch High School and was recruited by Tony Elliott and Dan Brooks.
Pinckney is majoring in justice studies.
Citadel to meet Towson, Elon
The Citadel football team has set home-and-home series with Towson and Elon, Athletic Director Jim Senter announced earlier in the month.
The Bulldogs and Tigers will meet in Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium on Sept. 29, 2018, and in Johnson Hagood Stadium for the 2019 season opener. The Citadel will play at Elon’s Rhodes Stadium on Sept. 7, 2019, and then host the Phoenix to open the 2020 season. The Bulldogs are meeting Towson for the first time in program history and lead the all-time series with former SoCon foe Elon 8-5. The Citadel has an all-time record of 33-43 against current members of the Colonial Athletic Association.
The additions of Towson and Elon round out The Citadel’s 2018 and 2019 schedules. In addition to a competitive Southern Conference slate each season, the Bulldogs host Charleston Southern and travel to Alabama in 2018 before hosting Charleston Southern and playing at Georgia Tech in 2019.
Season tickets are currently on sale for The Citadel’s 2017 campaign. In addition to tickets for each home game, season-ticket holders have the ability to preorder tickets for the Bulldogs’ Nov. 18 game at Clemson. The Citadel Ticket Office is located in the lobby of McAlister Field House and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Fans can also call the ticket office at 843-953-DOGS (3647) or visit citadelsports.com/tickets for more information.
The Bulldogs begin their 2017 season with two straight home games, facing Newberry on Sept. 2 in the season opener before hosting Presbyterian on Sept. 9. The home schedule also includes an Oct. 7 Parents Day matchup against Mercer, an Oct. 14 NCAA FCS Playoffs rematch with Wofford, the Oct. 28 Homecoming contest against VMI and Senior Day against Western Carolina on Nov. 4.
The Citadel roster features two area linemen: Max Ford (Whale Branch High School) and Mike Rentz (Beaufort High School).
MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER
Saullo headed into 2017 season at Newberry
Battery Creek High School graduate Jonathan Saullo is headed into the 2017 season for the Newberry College men’s soccer team.
Saullo, who hails from Beaufort, spent the 2016-17 campaign as a redshirt sophomore for the Red Wolves.
A graphic design major, Saullo played for the Hilton Head Storm earlier in his career. Saullo recorded 17 goals during the 2013 season at Battery Creek High School.
Newberry is scheduled to host longtime rival King in a season opener on Aug. 22.
The Red Wolves compete in the SAC, which also includes Wingate, Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba, Lincoln Memorial, Coker, Mars Hill, Brevard, Queens, Anderson and Carson-Newman.
FISHING
Sportfishing and Diving club to hold July meeting
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s July meeting will be held on Thursday, July 13, at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
The topic will be king fish. Local Capt. Chris Prince of Cool Cat Sportfishing Charters will discuss techniques about hooking and landing “smoker” king fish.
Lenoard Conapinski will smoke and serve Spanish mackerel, blues and king mackerel.
In related news, Paul Spencer won the monthly $50 weigh-in drawing sponsored by Chris Butler at Butler Marine.
Guests are welcome and you do not need a reservation. For additional information, contact Capt. Frank Gibson at 843-522-2122 or email fgibson@islc.net.
YOUTH FOOTBALL
Ron Parker to host third annual camp
Kansas City Chiefs safety Ron Parker, a former Beaufort High School standout, will host his annual free football camp at BHS on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.
The camp will be held from 10 a.m. until noon Friday, July 7. A motivational speaker will also speak to campers on the first day of the camp. Parker will lead drills and activities from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, the final day of the camp.
The camp is open to players in grades 3-12. Participants must register for the camp and fill out a waiver at www.ronparker38.com.
Parker was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football for Newberry College and has also played for the Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL).
