By Thomas Grant Jr.
Former Dutch Fork and Irmo players are continuing to make an impact at the next level.
In the NFL, former Silver Foxes’ placekicker Tyler Bass earned a special teams award for the third time with the Buffalo Bills.
He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. Bass previously won the honor in November 2022.
In three games during the opening month, Bass went 7-for-7 kicking. He connected on a game-tying 50-yard attempt against the Jets and is 10-10 on PATs.
The former sixth-round selection out of Georgia Southern signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
Another Dutch Fork graduate was also in action Monday. Rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was competing in his fourth game with the New York Giants.
COLLEGE
Despite missing a game due to injury, sophomore safety Nick Emmanwori remains one of the top tacklers for the University of South Carolina.
The Irmo graduate has 25 tackles and one pass breakup in four games. He’s coming off a freshman year in which he was a first-team All-Freshman in various publications and was the first freshman since Skai Moore in 2013 to lead the team in tackles.
Another former Yellow Jacket had an historic performance on Sept. 18. Wide receiver DeAree Rogers returned two punts for touchdowns to tie a school record and broke the record for most return yards in a game and most punt return yards in a season.
Rogers had three punt returns for touchdowns in the first three games. He was named the WePlayed Sports Football Players of the Week by the South Atlantic Conference.
Over at Clemson are former Dutch Fork teammates wide receiver Antonio Williams and running back Jarvis Green. The sophomore Williams has 15 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns in three games. Green has only had two carries for four yards in two games.
Not far down Interstate 85 is Furman University where former Silver Foxes’ state champion safety Hugh Ryan is completing his college career.
The co-captain was named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference 1st team. He currently leads the team in tackles.
Featured photo: Tyler Bass and DeAree Rogers
