Courtesy of The Post and Courier
The second annual Medal of Honor Bowl will feature 38 players from SEC and ACC schools, including two from Clemson and at least one South Carolina Gamecock.
Two players from The Citadel, running back Jake Stenson and defensive end Justin Oxendine, and Charleston Southern linebacker Gabe Middlebrook also are on the all-star game’s rosters, released Wednesday.
Clemson cornerback Garry Peters and wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez had previously committed to the game, set for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Johnson Hagood Stadium. South Carolina safety Brison Williams also will play, and bowl officials say a second Gamecock could be added to the roster.
The American and National team rosters, made up of draft-eligible college football players from around the country, include 20 players from the ACC, with 15 of the 16 member schools represented thus far. There are 18 SEC players on the rosters, including Florida linemen Max Garcia and Chaz Green.
Quarterbacks in the game include Tyler Murphy of Boston College, Jake Waters of Kansas State, Terrance Broadway of Louisiana Lafayette, Gary Nova of Rutgers and Ryan Williams of Miami.
Other local players of note include ex-Citadel center Mike Sellers, now a 6-0, 265-pound lineman at Winston-Salem State. The Fort Dorchester High School product will play H-back and running back in the Medal of Honor Bowl.
Also playing is former Dorchester Academy standout Michael Gruber, a Division II All-American linebacker at Brevard (N.C.) College. Gruber, 6-3 and 240 pounds, finished his career as Brevard’s all-time leading tackler. Linebackers Gary Wilkins of Furman and Quinn Backus of Coastal Carolina also were selected.
Also Wednesday, the Medal of Honor Bowl announced that former Citadel and NFL player Travis Jervey and NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman have been added as assistant coaches. Doleman replaces Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea, who had to withdraw from the game for family reasons.
Doleman played for the Vikings, Falcons and 49ers and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Players are set to report Sunday for a week of practices. The game will be televised nationally by NBC Sports Network.
Medal of Honor Bowl rosters
American Team
Quarterbacks: Chris Bonner, Colorado State-Pueblo; Jake Waters, Kansas State; Terrance Broadway, Louisiana Lafayette; Tyler Murphy, Boston College.
Running backs: Akeem Hunt, Purdue, Prince-Tyson Gulley, Syracuse; Jake Stenson, The Citadel; Tony Creecy, N.C. State; Mike Sellers, Winston-Salem State.
Wide receivers: J.J. Nelson, Alabama-Birmingham; Cam Worthy, East Carolina; Curry Sexton, Kansas State; R.J. Harris, New Hampshire; Glenn Coleman, Florida Atlantic; Kyle Prater, Northwestern.
Tight ends: Jack Tabb, North Carolina; Steven Borden, Kentucky.
Linemen: Jake Smith, Louisville; Junior Salt, Utah; Garrett Frye, Ga. Southern; Chris Jasperse, Marshall; Ian Silberman, Boston College; Terrence Jones, Troy; Kendall Lamm, App State; Blaine Causell, Mississippi State; Rob Crisp, N.C. State; Quinterrius Eatmon, South Florida.
Defensive linemen: Zack Allen, Wake Forest; Justin Oxendine, The Citadel; Ryan Mueller, Kansas State; Nigel Crawford, St. Augustine; Thomas Teal, N.C. State; Terry Williams, East Carolina; Angelo Blackson, Auburn; Alfy Hill, Winston-Salem State.
Linebackers: Reshard Cliett, S. Florida; Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina; Michael Gruber, Brevard; Gabe Middlebrook, Charleston Southern; Edwin Jackson, Ga. Southern; Norkeithus Otis, North Carolina.
Defensive backs: Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern; Terry Johnson, Florida A&M; Will Brown, Missouri S&T; Merrill Noel, Wake Forest; Jacob Hagen, Liberty; Ace Clark, Western Carolina; Jamerson Love, Mississippi State; Justin Halley, Florida International.
Specialists: K Ty Long, Alabama-Birmingham; LS Charlie Coggins, East Carolina; P Hunter Mullins, Alabama-Birmingham.
National Team
Quarterbacks: Gary Nova, Rutgers; Ryan Williams, Miami; Kevin Rodgers, Henderson State.
Running backs: Kevin Parks, Virginia; Mike Burton, Rutgers; Brandon Wegher, Morningside.
Wide receivers: Kenny Cook, Gardner-Webb; David Frazier, Miami (Ohio); Issac Blakeney, Duke; Daniel Rodriguez, Clemson; Malcome Kennedy, Texas A&M; Demetrius Wilson, Arkansas.
Tight ends: C.J. Uzomah, Auburn; Khari Lee, Bowie State.
Offensive linemen: Austin Gund, Richmond; Torrian Wilson, Central Florida; Matt Rotheram, Pitt; Caleb Farris, Va. Tech; Chaz Green, Florida; Brey Cook, Arkansas; Max Garcia, Florida; David Wang, Va. Tech; Cameron Jefferson, Arkansas.
Defensive linemen: Brock Hekking, Nevada; Joe Drummond, Army; Kristjan Sokoli, Buffalo; Jordan Williams, Tennessee; Terrell Hartsfield, Cincinnati; Vince Taylor, Vanderbilt; Shaq Riddick, West Virginia; Jasper Coleman, William & Mary; Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum.
Linebackers: Andrae Kirk, Florida Atlantic; Tank Jakes, Memphis; Serderius Bryant, Mississippi; Gary Wilkins, Furman; Paul Quessenberry, Navy; Thurston Armbrister, Miami.
Defensive backs: Garry Peters, Clemson; Cariel Brooks, Adams State; Brison Williams, South Carolina; De’Vante Bausby, Pittsburgh State; Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas; Jermaine Whitehead, Auburn; Keenan Lambert, Norfolk State.
Specialists: P Kyle Christy, Florida; K Will Conant, Air Force; LS Nate Boyer, Texas.
This bowl will give some players who could use a good look from pro scouts to improve their stock in the NFL draft.