ST. MATTHEWS — This isn’t just a basketball school.

Don’t believe it? Crank up your computer, head to Google, and start searching for stuff on David Sims and Alshon Jeffery. Or, save yourself the trouble and trust this: What you will find on the dynamic Calhoun County High duo is football film. Lots and lots of football film.

Granted, Jeffery was the star of the Saints’ powerhouse, undefeated, record-setting, back-to-back-to-back Class A state champion hoops squad, and Sims was a reserve, but the boys from St. Matthews can play football too. And they want you to know that.

“Playing basketball last year helped me realize it’s not a bad thing to say we are a basketball school,” Sims said. “But as a member of the football team, we are trying to prove that we can have success as well, and we want to get our name out there too.”

Well, Mr. Sims, your name is out there. It’s been bantered about by schools in the SEC, ACC and everywhere in-between. So, no worries there. Nevertheless, there are great expectations at Calhoun County High School this year.

“I used a reference and asked them, ‘Why can’t we be Florida?’” head coach Walt Wilson said. “That is the best example. Florida won it in basketball and football the same year. Why can’t we be Florida? And, you know, honestly I feel we can win. Like I said, if you ask me if I feel pressure ... it’s not pressure. I always have high expectations.”

There’s no question Wilson has the tools at his disposal. Jeffery and Sims aren’t the only players on the Saint roster catching the eyes of college coaches. Linemen Blair Fekel and Ramell Davis have offers from Howard.

“That is just the start,” Wilson said. “Once I get a little more film on them, I think a couple more (offers) are going to come in. If I can get Blair where he needs to be ... Furman, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt are looking at him. He is a kid that is a 4.0, and on math and verbal he has an 1160.”

The prized recruit on the line is big junior Eric Mack, who is being courted, already, by schools such as Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Kentucky.

“In 16 years, I can’t say I have coached a more talented team,” Wilson said. “I am going to tell you, I had some talent in Kingstree, but was it as talented across the board as this group here, I don’t think so. This is one of the more talented teams I’ve seen. I’ve coached at Ridge View, Blackville ...

I’ve been around, and this is one of the teams that, if we get all the pieces together, and I say if but I mean when, it’s going to be a very interesting year.”

And don’t let Wilson fool you, interesting means the Calhoun County Saints won’t be just a basketball school anymore. They will be Class A football state champions.

“These kids want to do something that has never been done at CC,” Wilson said.

“You know, you have to admire that.”

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

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