Oh, brother: Hamlins to face each other Saturday

For one weekend at least, Jeannette and Mike Hamlin won’t have to decide which of their sons’ games they will attend.

The couple’s three children, Michael, Markee and Marquis, will face each other Saturday when Clemson hosts S.C. State at Memorial Stadium.

It will be the first time the Hamlin boys will be playing on opposite sides during a game. The trio always was on the same team from their days in the rec leagues to their days as standouts at Lamar.

“It’s going to be an exciting time for the three of us,” said Michael Hamlin, who starts at safety for Clemson. “We’ve been looking forward to this for a while.”
Michael said his two brothers, both safeties for the Bulldogs, have contacted him this week for secrets and pointers, but he hasn’t helped them out.

Growing up Hamlin

While the brothers won’t share game information, they reflected on growing up in Timmonsville.

Before the first day of school every year, the brothers pulled together beds so they could sleep in the same room. They did this every year until they graduated high school.

“It was a tradition,” Markee said. “We couldn’t even sleep. We would just sit and talk. That’s a great memory.”

The three brothers said they didn’t fight “too much” with each other, but there was healthy competition when playing video games, basketball or football.
Most of the time, Michael got the best of his younger brothers.

“It was usually them against me,” he said, “but they couldn’t beat me.”

As much as they liked competing against each other, they also enjoyed being on the same team, especially when they took on their friends in 3-on-3 basketball.

“We never lost in our yard,” Michael said.

Much of the brothers’ athletic prowess can be traced to their father. Mike Hamlin was a good athlete at Timmonsville High School and shares the state record for interceptions in a game with five.

The most interceptions any of the younger Hamlin’s had in a high school game was two. Earlier this year, Michael had three in a game against The Citadel.

The elder Hamlin drilled his boys on technique and little things to get an edge on the field. Now every Saturday, he sees the fruits of his labor.

“I always told them I was the better athlete, but they get all the glory,” Mike said with a laugh. “… I’m very proud of them and hope they can stay humble.”

Leader of the group

Of the three brothers, Michael has earned the most attention and clearly is the glue to the group.

Michael was a Shrine Bowl selection and a finalist for Mr. Football, given to the top player in the Palmetto State, during his senior year with the Silver Foxes.

At Clemson, Michael has become one of the leaders of the Tigers’ defense and is the only four-year starter. He was second on the team last year with 97 tackles.

“He had a lot of smarts and great athletic ability, so you knew was going to be pretty good,” said his father, who thought he would always make it playing baseball.

Through three games this year, Michael is second on the team in tackles with 22 and leads the squad with three interceptions.

Michael is sure to hear his name called during next year’s NFL draft. Early projections have the fifth-year senior going as high as the second round.

Just as important as his performance on the field, Michael does his best to watch out for his brothers and be there when they need him.

During Clemson’s bye weeks, Michael always tries get to Orangeburg to see his two siblings play.

“He’s just a great athlete and great person,” Marquis said.

In the shadows

Growing up as Michael Hamlin’s younger brother hasn’t been easy, at least for Markee.

Early on, comparisons were made between Michael and Markee, and Markee was always held up to Michael’s level of play.

“Markee always wanted to make a name for himself and wanted his own identity,” Jeanette said.

Markee managed that. He was a two-time all-state performer in football and basketball at Lamar, which earned him a scholarship to S.C. State.

But when he struggled during his first year in college and was red-shirted, Michael was there for advice.

Michael told him to remain positive, continue to work out hard and be ready to play the following season.

Markee followed his brother’s advice and was named the team’s top defensive player last year, recording 51 tackles and five interceptions.

This season, he has 15 tackles through the first three games.

“(Michael) has been a big influence,” Markee said. “He showed the right stuff to do in life and in football.:

Still, Markee relishes anytime he can outdo his older brother. Last year, he won family bragging rights in interceptions 5-4 over Michael. He also remembers, at age 16, dunking a basketball over Michael in the backyard.

“I brag about that all the time,” said Markee, who is two inches shorter than the 6-foot-3 Michael.

His brothers have grown weary of that story.

“He hasn’t been quiet about that since he did it,” Marquis said.

The young one

Marquis is the most laid back and free-spirited of the bunch, yet his brothers call him the instigator of the group.

The 19-year-old says he loves being the “baby” of the family and used his age to his advantage when punishment was handed down. Jeanette admits she was a little more lenient toward Marquis.

“I’m the baby. That’s the way it’s going to be,” Marquis said with a chuckle.

On the field, Marquis had to be pushed more and is still a work in progress. After red-shirting last season, he’s seeing some playing time this year and got his first tackle earlier in the season.

“His work ethic isn’t what the other two are, but he’s getting there,” his father said.

Brother vs. Brother

With all three brothers playing defense, there won’t be a chance they will be on the field against each other Saturday. Markee, though, has lobbied S.C. State coach Buddy Pough unsuccessfully about going in on offense for a series.

The brothers say they will try and catch a glimpse of each other playing, and they plan to take photos with each other on the field following the game.

“I’m going to keep my eyes on them and see how they react in that type of environment,” Michael said.

With 50 to 100 family members and friends planning to attend the game, there will be plenty of eyes on the Hamlin brothers from the stands.

Jeanette has made “My Three Sons” T-shirts for her and her husband to wear. Photos are on the front and the Clemson and S.C. State logos are on the back.

Jeanette and her husband will sit on the Clemson side because “the seats are better,” but they won’t pull for either team.

“I’m going to just keep clapping,” she said.

Said Mike, “I’m just going to be rooting for both defenses to do good.”