Marlboro County LB Robert Ayers will start for the Broncos at DE
NFL Training Camps are underway and 18 players with local ties are looking to make an NFL Opening Day roster. The list features 14 local players, 12 of them WPDE All-Zoners and four players from Coastal Carolina. WPDE Sports and CarolinaLive.com will keep track of roster moves throughout the month of August. Eleven WPDE All-Zoners have played in an NFL regular season game and five former CCU Chanticleers have played in a regular season contest.
Local NFL veterans in NFL Training Camps
Atlanta Falcons - John Abraham (Lamar), Cliff Matthews (Cheraw)
Buffalo Bills - Tyler Thigpen (Coastal Carolina)
Carolina Panthers - Mike Tolbert (Coastal Carolina)
Cincinnati Bengals - Robert Geathers, Jr. (Carvers Bay)
Dallas Cowboys - Clifton Geathers (Carvers Bay)
Denver Broncos - Robert Ayers (Marlboro County)
Detroit Lions - Justin Durant (Wilson)
Minnesota Vikings - Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Lawrence Timmons (Wilson)
Local NFL Drafted Rookies in Training Camp
Carolina Panthers - Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina)
Kansas City Chiefs - Junior Hemingway (Conway)
Local Undrafted Free Agents in Training Camp
Detroit Lions - Edmon McClam (Lake City)
Green Bay Packers - Brandon Bostick (West Florence)
Saint Louis Rams - Jamie Childers (Coastal Carolina)
Chicago Bears - Ryan Quigley (North Myrtle Beach)
Jacksonville Jaguars - Donovan Richard (Carvers Bay)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Marshall McFadden (Lamar)
WPDE All Zone Draft Picks History
2007 1st round - #15 - Lawrence Timmons (Wilson HS - Pittsburgh Steelers)
2009 1st Round - #18 - Robert Ayers (Marlboro County HS - Denver Broncos)
2007 2nd Round - #48 - Justin Durant (Wilson HS - Jacksonville Jaguars)
2007 3rd Round - #95 - Anthony Waters (Lake View HS - San Diego Chargers)
2004 4th Round - #117 - Robert Geathers, Jr. (Carvers Bay - Cincinnati Bengals)
2007 4th Round - #123 - Fred Bennett (Manning HS - Houston Texans)
2007 5th Round - #163 - Brandon Frye (Myrtle Beach HS - Houston Texans)
2009 5th Round - #166 - Michael Hamlin (Lamar HS - Dallas Cowboys)
2010 6th Round - #186 - Clifton Geathers (Carvers Bay - Cleveland Browns)
2011 7th Round - #230 - Cifff Matthews (Cheraw - Atlanta Falcons)
2012 7th Round - #238 - Junior Hemingway (Conway - Kansas City Chiefs)
2008 7th Round - #240 - Allen Patrick (Conway - Baltimore Ravens)
Coastal Carolina NFL Draft History
2007 7th round - #217 - Tyler Thigpen (Minnesota Vikings)
2008 2nd round - #46 - Jerome Simpson (Cincinnati Bengals)
2012 5th round - #143 - Josh Norman (Carolina Panthers)
Undrafted WPDE-All Zoners who played in the NFL
Quinton Teal (Marlboro County) - Panthers/Chargers
