The hype machine is in full-effect.

 Alshon Jeffery this. David Sims that. Doubt their talents? Fine. But, before casting stones, Walt Wilson wants you to come check out his Calhoun County Saints in person.

 “First of all, when they see (Jeffery) play they are in for a treat,” Wilson said. “I really feel he is special. He is the kind of kid that can take over a game, and that can, you know, do what he wants to do. If a person has never really seen him play, when they watch him play, there is no way they will believe the kid is the age he is and that he is only in his third year of playing football.”

 A Southern Cal football commit, Jeffery is a star on the basketball floor. He was an All-Area first-team selection two seasons ago, and in 2007 he was the All-Area SCSHL Boys’ Player of the Year. On the football field, he was a first-team T&D All-Area selection as a wide receiver a season ago after hauling in 33 passes for 855 yards and 12 touchdowns. At safety, he also shined, picking off seven passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns, while recording 25 tackles.

But, Jeffery isn’t going to Los Angeles next year to defend passes. He’s going to catch them.

 “Pete Carroll compared him to Dwayne Jarrett,” Wilson said. “But, since we went to camp (at Southern Cal) they nicknamed him ‘The Freak.’ He was catching everything in his sight. He was adjusting to the ball, and there were some bad throws that he just went and got it.

 “This kid has been compared to Dwayne Bowe, Dwayne Jarrett and one coach from Michigan said he hasn’t seen one like him since (Randy) Moss,” he added. “To me...those are some high compliments.”

 Jeffery leads the 2008 Elite 11 team — The Times and Democrat’s preseason pick of the top 11 players in the region. He’s joined in the Elite 11 by Saints’ quarterback/defensive back David Sims and offensive lineman Eric Mack.

Sims, who has around 15 FBS offers, is an ultra-athletic quarterback that can create with his arm and his legs. In 2007, he accounted for 2,200-plus yards of offense and 30 touchdowns, but was a T&D first-team All-Area selection as a defensive back after recording 38 tackles, and picking off four passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

At one point, Sims listed Georgia Tech among his favorites, but heading into the season he has remained tight-lipped. With offers from schools such as Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky and NC State, Sims said a major deciding factor will be where each team wants him to play. Thus far, he’s been projected as a quarterback, tailback and defensive back.

“Right now, I’m not going to say,” Sims said about his college choice. “I’m trying to focus on my team right now.”

Mack is a massive left tackle with a season left to play for the Saints. As a junior, his list of offers already includes Alabama, North Carolina, Wake Forest, South Carolina and Kentucky.

Joining the Saints’ trio on the Elite 11 is Woodland sophomore quarterback Robert Smith, who was 170 of 294 passing for 2,528 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 617 yards and seven touchdowns on 144 attempts en route to first-team All-Area honors a season ago.

Pelion tailback Sean Davis, a first-team All-Area selection, is on the team after having led the state in rushing last year with 2,130 yards and 27 touchdowns on 274 carries. The Class AA back of the year also caught 19 passes for 189 yards.

Calhoun Academy’s Andrew Robinson is in the Elite 11 this year after hitting on 67 of 134 passes a season ago for 1,877 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is, perhaps, the region’s best pocket passer.

O-W’s Thomas Hart, a huge, road-grading offensive lineman who missed last season with a knee injury is on the team as well.

The bully from Blackville-Hilda, Joe Thomas, is the lone returning Elite 11 selection. An All-Area first-teamer as an athlete last year, Thomas rushed for 1,386 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007, and recorded 55 unassisted tackles, 28 assisted and four sacks.

Edisto quarterback Kamrie Connell is on the team because of his overall athleticism. Connell was a second-team All-T&D selection last season, recording 81 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception at safety. Connell attended a Presbyterian College camp over the summer, switched to receiver, and impressed.

Capping off this year’s Elite 11 is a pair of Bamberg-Ehrhardt stars.

Tailback Anquan Thomas, a second-team All-Area selection a season ago, is on the team after rushing for 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback/linebacker/defensive end Zack Godley makes the Elite 11 for his defensive prowess, despite the fact he will spend much of his time at quarterback, after recording 103 tackles, seven for loss, three interceptions and five forced fumbles a season ago.

All seven seniors in the 2007 Elite 11 — Da’Quan Bowers, Willie Carter, Chris Presley, Donte Rumph, Dalton Freeman, Sterling Lucas, Taylor Wyndham, Lennel Elmore, Akiem Smart — signed to play college football.

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