Two Bulldogs take different roads to similar achievement

Silver Bluff HIgh School seniors Blake Robbins (Charleston Southern) and Cordrea Tankersley (Clemson) sign their letters of intent Wednesday. Pictured, from left, are Robbins’ mother, Hollie Hayward, Robbins, Tankersley, Tankersley’s mother, Ledean Tankersley and Tankersley’s father, George Tankersley. Staff photo by By Cam Huffman.

PETTICOAT JUNCTION -- Cordrea Tankersley and Blake Robbins sat side-by-side on National Signing Day in the Silver Bluff High School library, surrounded by parents, coaches and classmates as they signed letters of intent to secure their collegiate football futures.

While the two shared in the spotlight Wednesday, their paths to that special moment couldn't have been more different.

Tankersley, who signed with Clemson, has been a big-time prospect almost since he first stepped on the gridiron. He saw playing time as a freshman with the Bulldogs and has been a star in Petticoat Junction since.

"We've been working on this for four years," said Lown as he watched Tankersley sign with the Tigers. "I've been close to that family for a long time. He's played a lot of different positions for us, and we're proud of him."

College offers rolled in following his junior season, when he was both the top rusher and passer for the Bulldogs, and he quickly made the decision to join Dabo Swinney's club after receiving interest from South Carolina, Arkansas, Miami and Georgia Southern, who offered him the opportunity to play quarterback.

"They're all great schools, and I thank them all for giving me the opportunity," said Tankersley, who played quarterback and defensive back as a senior, rushing for 650 yards and five touchdowns and throwing for 708 yards and six more scores. "But when it comes to Clemson, there's just no one better."

"He loved it from the very beginning," added Lown. "There was no doubt about it. He didn't even go visit anybody else. Once he said he was going, he stayed. He loved it up there, and he'll have a tremendous opportunity to play."

Robbins didn't receive any interest after his junior season - mostly because he didn't even play football. After suffering an injury as an eighth-grader on the middle school football team, the now 6-foot-6, 220-pounder turned to basketball. Despite constant prodding from Lown, he didn't get back to the gridiron, until this past season, when he finally decided to give it a shot.

"I thought I might as well try my last year, because I didn't want to have any regrets," said Robbins. "I wanted to answer the 'what if?'"

"He and I were always close, and he knew I cared about him and finally he decided he wanted to play," said Lown. "I was happy, because I like him as a person."

Lown became even more excited as he watched Robbins on the field. The defensive end ended the year with 64 tackles, 29 assisted tackles, six sacks and 20 tackles for loss, earning a spot on the All-Aiken Standard team.

"As the year went on, he kept getting more and more confidence as a football player, and by the end of the year, he was playing as good as anybody we had," said Lown.

That production drew the attention of Charleston Southern, which offered Robbins the scholarship that he signed Wednesday.

"I liked the small classes, and the program is getting better," said Robbins, who plans to redshirt and hopes to gain 20-25 pounds before taking the field. "I just loved the coaches. They gave me a good vibe.

"I hope to get a good eduction, first. That's really what I want. But I'll let football take me as far as it can."

Lown said there's really no limit to where that could be.

"He has a lot of potential," the veteran coach explained. "If he had played four years, he'd probably be D-I right now. He's tall and can run, and Charleston Southern was a good offer for him."

The future could be equally bright for Tankersley, who will likely play in the secondary for new Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

"The goal is to get bigger, stronger, faster and, most of all, smarter at the game," said Tankersley. "I'm moving up to another level with a bunch of great players."

Two of those players include South Aiken defensive lineman Josh Brown and Fox Creek quarterback Marty Williams, area players that have now become friends.

"It's great," said Tankersley of the familiarity. "We've been playing against each other, and now we don't have to beat up on each other anymore. We've gotten to know each other very well, and I can't wait to play with them."

Tankersley said he isn't focused on numbers or victories - although he did throw out the word "national championship" at one point - but instead making the most of the opportunity.

"My goal is to get a great education and become better as a young man and then a better adult," he said. "I never thought I'd be in this position. I just thought I'd be a graduate back home working in somebody's store. But I worked hard every day, and I wouldn't be here without my family and coaches."