McFadden still a presence for Bulldogs

Marshall McFadden stopped second-guessing himself after suffering a season-ending injury last month.

The S.C. State linebacker refuses to ask what if he should have taped up more before practice or gotten to the ball sooner while trying to break up a pass.

Instead, the former Lamar standout is focused on rehabbing a broken right wrist and helping his teammates in any way possible. He’s been a presence in practice and will be on the sidelines today when the Bulldogs open the season against Grambling State.

“It got to a point, I don’t even ask what if anymore,” said McFadden, who had surgery two weeks ago and will be in a cast for six to eight weeks. “What’s done is done. No need to live in the past. My job is to just be there for my teammates.”

S.C. State coach Buddy Pough likes having McFadden around.

“Marshall is a good positive role model for the guys and they respect him,” he said.

The injury occurred on the first day in full pads when his wrist was jarred in teammate Rafael Bush’s helmet as the two were going for a pass. Initially, McFadden didn’t think it was that bad. He sat out of the rest of practice, joked with teammates and had X-rays the next morning.

Later that day, McFadden got a call saying he needed to go to Columbia to put the wrist back in place. And that’s when he was told his season was over.
“That was a big blow and almost brought tears to my eyes,” McFadden said. “I thought it was just a little sprain.”

This isn’t the first time McFadden’s season has been cut short. While playing safety in 2007, he dislocated an elbow after colliding with fellow Lamar standout Markee Hamlin during the third game of the year.

McFadden was granted a redshirt and returned last season with a vengeance.

He moved back to his regular position of linebacker and led the Bulldogs, who won the MEAC championship, with 88 tackles while earning second-team all-conference honors.

McFadden was a preseason first team MEAC selection this year and was starting to get attention from NFL scouts.

Pough is going to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility for McFadden and is confident he’ll have him back on the field next year.

McFadden, who will graduate in December with a degree in communications, says it’s disappointing he won’t be able to finish his career with many of his teammates, but getting to play another year of college ball won’t be so bad.

“It can’t hurt,” he said. “It’s another year and I can try to get ready for the NFL.”

Notes

A look at the other Pee Dee players on the Bulldogs’ two-deep roster:

• Marquais Hamlin (Lamar) — Backing up brother Markee at safety. Had eight tackles
• Markee Hamklin (Lamar) — Starting at strong safety and had 70 tackles last season
• Desmond Benjamin (Lamar) — Defensive back had 45 tackles last season.
• Chris Massey (Cheraw) — Running back is in first season with Bulldogs after spending two seasons at Coffeyville Junior College.
• Donovan Richard (Carvers Bay) — Junior will back up at middle linebacker and had 41 tackles and 1 ½ sacks last year.
• Josh Harrison (Lake City) — Junior will start at right tackle.
• Jake Johnson (Hartsville) — Redshirt sophomore will start at left guard.
• Leigh Manley (Darlington) — Will handle punting duties.
• Sterling Blunt (Hemingway) — Moving from defensive end to offensive line this season.
• Jayson Ayers (Marlboro County— Younger brother of Denver Broncos Rober Ayers will start at defensive end. Had 1 ½ sacks last year.
• Casey Fortune (Lee Central) — Senior will start at center.
• Dyrell Porchea (Carvers Bay) — Will back up at defensive tackle.

Other Pee Dee players on the roster are Richard Cue (Wilson), Bootsie Gattison (Darlington), Donovan Malloy (Hartsville), Lawrence Davis (Wilson), Franklin Fulmore (Kingstree),  Caleb Davis (Wilson) and Arnett James (Pee Dee Academy).