Small Town, Big Legacy: Carvers Bay's Football Tradition Amid Transfer Portal Upheaval
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Offensive line prospect Zyon Guiles received an offer from Clemson on June 5 while competing at Dabo Swinney’s Camp. Guiles, who's big, standing at 6 foot-5 and weighing 293, is from tiny Carvers Bay Early College and Career High School, located in Hemingway, SC, with an approximate enrollment of 400 students.
Though small and nestled in rural Carvers Bay, Carvers Bay High, established when former Georgetown County Class A rivals Pleasant Hill High and Choppee High merged in 2000, has made a name for itself outside of the white cedar forests and black bears that are observed in the area.
Los Angeles Rams rookie Byron Young, a 2017 graduate, was named to the 2023 Pro Football Writers Association NFL All-Rookie first team.
A 2019 graduate, Melissa Jefferson qualified for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (Jul 26 – Aug 11) by finishing second in the 100 meters at the Olympic Team Trials.
And then there's the Geathers family football legacy initiated at Choppee with massive brothers, Robert Geathers (6'6, 320), a third-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1981, and James 'Jumpy' Geathers (6'7, 290), a 12-year pro from 1984 to 1996 with two Super Bowl rings.
Robert Geathers Jr. (6'3, 280), No. 48 on the Cincinnati Bengals First 50 List of retired players, was the first family member from Carvers Bay to play in the NFL, followed by brothers Clifton (6'8, 325) and Kwame (6'6, 335), and first cousin Clayton Geathers (6'2, 208).
- Robert Geathers Jr - 2004-14 (Cincinnati)
- Clifton Geathers - 2010-14 (Miami, Dallas, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington)
- Kwame Geathers - 2013 (San Diego Chargers)
- Clayton Geathers - 2015-19 (Indianapolis)
We recently spoke with Carvers Bay athletic director and head football coach Matthew Richard, a fixture on the Bears sidelines for 15 years (five as AD and head coach), about the challenges his program faces in today's football environment.
Q: How important is it for you as a coach of a smaller school to have your team and individual players participate at Dabo Swinney’s Camp and others?
A: It's imperative that we get our kids that exposure – coming from a smaller school, it's extremely difficult for us to get everyone to come to us. We've tried to take away all the excuses from our kids. We try to take them to camps so they can put their talents on display for the coaches.
Q: It's common knowledge that the transfer portal has turned the college football world upside down. Can you tell me how the portal has affected prep football?
A: The transfer portal has made it a lot tougher for kids in this day and age. Ten years ago, the same kids would have received an offer, but now, to me, they are an afterthought. There's more emphasis on being ready to contribute versus coming in and being developed. Therefore, we're working extremely hard and doing whatever we can on our end to help kids make it to the next level.
Q: Can you tell me specifically what that could require from you?
A: First and foremost, we require our kids, coaches, and student-athletes to ensure we're taking care of business in the classroom. That's where it starts. Next, player development all year and again, getting them out there to meet the coaches.
With the portal process now, many coaches are telling me they are not going to offer kids who won't come on campus. We want to get our kids out in front of coaches and on their radar. We are constantly emailing coaches on Twitter, or x, getting their recruiting profiles out, and ensuring their films are updated. We do our best in what we can control.
Q: Football camps aren't cheap, especially when traveling from your area to most of the FCS and FBS schools. I'm sure you have a few kids who may have the desire to compete at camps, but financially, it's not possible. How do you handle those situations?
A: With us, we tell kids that money should not be our excuse for us not to attend camps. We're lucky enough to have great support from the community regarding sponsorships and great coaches who are also great men and don't mind helping out whenever needed.
Q: You've traveled to Clemson multiple times for camp. How was the experience this time around?
A: It was our first as a team this year, but it was great. I noticed that there wasn't a lot of what I always call fluff—time-consuming drills. There was more emphasis on really seeing what the kids could do. Coach [Dabo] Swinney does a really good job of preaching the family aspect. We've been across the country and seen some really good camps over the years, and Clemson ranks right up there.
Q: You played football under inaugural Bears head coach Nate Thompson in 2000 at Choppee and grew up in nearby Oatland before playing collegiately at South Carolina. So when you're discussing the program or specific players, you're essentially speaking and fighting for the future of your younger self. Let's say you're in front of college coaches and asked to sell the room on Carvers Bay Athletics. What would you say?
A: Don't overlook us. You can find a lot of diamonds in the rough at the smaller schools, especially in the Pee Dee area. We're working extremely hard, just like any program. Come on down to Carvers Bay Early College and Career High, and maybe you'll find another DI player or even a future NFL player.
👇 RECENT RECRUITING ARTICLE ON ZYON GUILES👇
Q: Zyon Guiles now has up to 15 total offers, with 8 received in June alone from the Tigers, Duke, FSU, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina, UNC, and USF. Why is he receiving so much attention now?
A: Zyon is a leader on and off the field. He's a kid that works hard in the classroom. He's an honor student. He worked for everything. Early on, coming from a small school, many people overlooked him. He took that personally. When he faced adversity, he didn't lie down and accept it, but he used it as fuel to work to get better in the offseason. Everybody's starting to see the results of his hard work and dedication.
Q: It's safe to say that Zyon has the attention of college recruiters, and he's poised to receive more offers in the future. Who are a few other players to watch from your roster?
A: Kenard Heyward: A rising junior running back/linebacker who might rush for 1500 yards this season.
Jaquan Hannah: Jaquan, a rising junior, is going to be a great edge rusher in the future.
Juluis Mccrea: He's the nephew of Byron Young, and he is really going to be special. Julius is a wide receiver and a tall (6'1, 190 pounds) big corner.
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