By Staff
Commentary by KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Since I’ve been covering sports for the Washington Daily News, several student-athletes have definitely left their mark.
Several of those athletes went on to play in college, while a couple are now playing professionally. I could easily make a “Dream Team” of the “best of the best.”
I know there were plenty of greats before my time as sports editor, and plenty of outstanding athletes who could make the team now. But this list is about those athletes I’ve covered who have already graduated.
Here is my “Dream Team” for football.
Trimane Goddard would be a busy guy on this “Dream Team.” Getting the ball in his hands and letting him work his magic would be at the top of the playbook. The former Roanoke Redskins quarterback/running back/defensive back/all-everything-player was a mouth-dropping, eye-popping wonder during his prep playing days. I would line him up on offense, defense and special teams and just watch him bop around like a ball on a pinball machine. Goddard, a likely NFL draft pick, is now playing college ball for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The starting quarterback on the “Dream Team” would be former Williamston High School star Brad Roach, who is currently with the Baltimore Ravens. The strong-armed, smart, affable Roach, who was an All-America quarterback at Catawba, threw for a ton of yards in high school and college.
Roach could hand the ball off to Washington Pam Pack great Travis Daniels, Goddard, or speedster Bryan Haywood, a former star at Southside High School. All three running backs were named WDN Male Athletes of the Year during their senior years. Daniels will be churning out yards at UNC-Pembroke in the fall, while Haywood has been putting up big numbers at North Carolina Wesleyan.
Roach has plenty of targets to throw the ball to, including his brother Kevin Roach. Kevin Roach had some outstanding seasons in football for the Tigers, before becoming a solid receiver with the ECU Pirates.
Also catching Roach’s rockets will be Damien Linson, a record-setting receiver for the Plymouth Vikings and Central Michigan Chippewas, and former Williamston star Elton Coffield.
Anthony Williams, a sure-handed and big target for the Williamston Tigers, is the team’s tight end.
Protecting Roach in the pocket and helping to open holes for the running backs are the beef up front. The “Dream Team” offensive linemen are Washington’s Jock Moore, Plymouth’s William Hunt, Northside’s Ben Hopkins, Plymouth’s Blake Bryant and Williamston’s Will Paschal.
Nailing the extra points will be kicker Dee Eubanks, a former standout at Williamston High School.
Goddard will be captain on the defensive side of the ball as he lines up as a defensive back. He’s joined in the secondary by Linson, who joins Goddard as a two-way threat, Southside’s Zack Squires and Washington’s Jamont Jones. The former Pam Pack great will be playing at Lenoir-Rhyne this fall.
The “G-men” make up the linebacking corps. Roaming the middle of the field are “Dream Team” linebackers Gerald Lawrence, Garret Baker and Greg Palmer.
Lawrence, a former star at Washington High School, is currently with the ECU Pirates. Palmer, a former great at Northside High School, is playing college ball at Chowan. Both were named WDN Defensive Players of the Year in their senior seasons. Baker, who played at Western Carolina before an injury sidelined him, was an offensive and defensive dynamo for the Roanoke Redskins.
A pair of Wilson boys provide some of the bulk up front. C.J. Wilson, a former standout at Northside and now a Conference USA Preseason First-Team selection at defensive end for the East Carolina Pirates, is joined by his brother, Jacob Wilson, on the front line. Jacob Wilson, also a standout with the Northside Panthers, played at Western Carolina.
Joining the two are former Williamston standout Jamaine Clemmons, who is now playing at N.C. State, and former Southside standout Neil Whitney.
Handling the punting chores is Angelo Sharpless. The Offensive MVP of this years 1A state championship game, this former Plymouth Vikings star has to play somewhere. Get the ball in his hands and something good is going to happen.
Other former greats on the team who can come off the bench include Washington running back Carlos “Roc” Guilford, Williamston tailback Antonio Tillman, Plymouth quarterback Donald Norman, Plymouth receiver Marvin Jackson, Southside defensive back Jeremiah Marable, Southside running back Raphael Marable and Washington linebacker Lee Watkins.
More players are on the list below.
Dream Team offense
QB – Brad Roach, Williamston
RB – Trimane Goddard, Roanoke
RB – Travis Daniels, Washington
RB – Bryan Haywood, Southside
WR – Kevin Roach, Williamston
WR – Damien Linson, Plymouth
WR – Elton Coffield, Williamston
TE – Anthony Williams, Williamston
OL – Jock Moore, Washington
OL – William Hunt, Plymouth
OL – Ben Hopkins, Northside
OL – Blake Bryant, Plymouth
OL – Will Paschal, Williamston
K – Dee Eubanks, Williamston
Dream Team defense
DE – C.J. Wilson, Northside
DE – Jamaine Clemmons, Williamston
DL – Jacob Wilson, Northside
DL – Neil Whitney, Southside
LB – Gerald Lawrence, Washington
LB – Garret Baker, Roanoke
LB – Greg Palmer, Northside
DB – Trimane Goddard, Roanoke
DB – Zack Squires, Southside
DB – Damien Linson, Plymouth
DB – Jamont Jones, Washington
P – Angelo Sharpless, Plymouth
Others: Antonio Tillman, Williamston, RB
Carlos “Roc” Guildford, Washington, RB
Donald Norman, Plymouth, QB
Marvin Jackson, Plymouth, WR
Jeremiah Marable, Southside, DB
Raphael Marable, Southside, RB
Lee Watkins, Washington, LB
J.J. House, Williamston, WR
Bennie Fordham, Southside, LB
Treymayne Farmer, Williamston, DL
Derrell Wiggins, Williamston, LB
Davelle Whitney, Southside, LB
—–
Kevin Travis is the sports editor of the Washington Daily News. You may reach him at 940-4217, or by e-mail at Kevin@wdnweb.com.