ORANGEBURG - When it comes to recruiting and signing talent, Buddy Pough is bullish on the state of South Carolina.

Now in his 11th year at the helm of the South Carolina State football program, the former player and assistant coach at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)-affiliated institution of higher learning recently added 23 grid prospects to the Bulldogs 2012 roster, including 15 from the Palmetto State.

Chief among players inked from South Carolina are Javonte Brown, who prepped at Calhoun County High School and Virgil Smalls, a Goose Creek High School running back, who was selected as the 4A Lower State Back of the Year. A Cameron, S.C. native, Brown is a 6’-0, 250 pound defensive lineman, who played in the Shrine Bowl and was named Region Defensive Player of the Year. He also landed a spot on the All-State team. In addition to being a Shrine Bowler, Smalls, 6’-0, 260 pounds also made the All-State squad.

Other Shrine Bowl participants and Palmetto State natives who cast their lots with S.C. State include Joey Copeland, a quarterback hopeful from Gaffney and offensive lineman Javarius Leamon. Leamon, who checks in at 6’-6, 290 pounds, was tabbed as 2A Upper State Lineman of the Year. He is from Woodruff and is a product of Woodruff H.S.

Dondre Brown (Varnville), Eric Dickerson (Goose Creek), Phillip Henry (Manning), Clyde Johnson (Orangeburg), Marquise Jones (Columbia), Adrian Kollock (Spartanburg), Nikeem Ladson (Greenville), Jake Scott (Swansea), Tyler Smith (Columbia), Taquan West (Lexington) and Michael Wilson (St. Stephens) round out the list of South Carolina State signees, who call South Carolina home.

In evaluating his most recent signing class that is ranked No.2 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) by Boxtorow, Pough zeroed in on the aim in recruiting and the readiness of some of his prospects.

"We try to stay as high up the recruiting chain as we possibly can; that is to get the very best available," the veteran S.C. State coach said. "Both of the quarterbacks (Gaffney’s Joey Copeland and Spartanburg’s Adrian Kollock) we signed are very close to ready as we’ve signed here during my tenure. They did similar things for their high school teams, appear to be mature and possess a good understanding of the game.

"The two fullbacks (Virgil Smalls and Dondre Brown) will go a long way to addressing our needs on short yardage and goal-line situations; and the linebackers and safeties will help us up the middle on defense where we took some key losses."

Although optimistic about his prospects and encouraged by what some can contribute in short order, Pough opted to not over play their talents.

Thus, in concluding comments about a class he describes as similar to others in recent years, the veteran coach says he’s looking to the future with cautious optimism.

Pough and his 2012 S.C. State team will be trying to improve on a 7-4 finish in the 2011 campaign, which halted a streak of four consecutive seasons wherein the Bulldogs either won or shared the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.