Five Woodland Football Players Named All-Region For Wolverines Following 7-4 Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Dorchester — Eddie Ford has just concluded his 6^th season as the head football coach at Woodland High (7-4) with 15 starters back for the 2025 season he feels like next year could be a highly successful season.

The Wolverines concluded the 2024 season with a first- round play-off game on the road at Hampton County.

“I was a little disappointed in our season because after going 8-3 last year, we had 13 starters back and I felt like we had the talent to get to the third round of the play-offs this season,” said Coach Ford. “We had the misfortune of drawing Hampton County as our first- round opponent and they were a really good team this year.”

Woodland had five players named to the all-region team.

Senior wide receiver Ja’Keese Salley (6-4,185) was an all-region performer after catching 58 passes for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has a football offer from Mississippi Valley State. He is also an outstanding basketball player and he is currently averaging 21 points a game on the Woodland boys’ basketball team. Salley also has offers in basketball from Wofford College and South Carolina State.

“Ja’Keese can run and jump very well and he catches a pass at a very high level,” said Coach Ford. “He has all the tools to be good both as a football or basketball player.”

Senior Travon Tate (5-10,160) had to have been one of the most versatile all-region players in his conference this past season. Tate caught 23 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns. As a quarterback he completed 34-of-60 passes for 487 yards and six touchdowns. As a running back he rushed for 355 yards on 45 carries and he scored two touchdowns.

On defense, Tate had 45 tackles and four interceptions with five pass-break-ups. “Tate played well at multiple positions and he has one of the highest football IQ’s I have been around,” said Coach Ford.

Senior DJ Blanding (5-11, 205) was a three-year starter at tight end and inside linebacker and he earned all-region honors after making 108 tackles, 11 TFL, 8 sacks and four forced fumbles.

“DJ is very physical and he also has a high football IQ,” said Coach Ford.

Woodland’s fourth all-region player is junior defensive end Donovan Miles (6-2, 255). Miles had 87 total tackles, 11 sacks, 14 TFL, with three forced fumbles.

“Donovan is very aggressive with a high football motor and we are looking forward to having him back next season,” said Coach Ford.

The top junior prospect on the team is all region performer outside linebacker Jaemin Pinckney (6-4, 210). He had 77 tackles this past season including seven TFL, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and he had one defensive touchdown.

“Jaemin is the next D-1 football prospect from Woodland High School,” said Coach Ford. “He already has a college body, has a very high motor, and he is a freakish looking athletic.”

Woodland will return 15 starters to the team in 2025. One player they will be counting on is rising junior quarterback Jervase Salley (6-2, 190). “Jervase passed for over 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns this season,” said Coach Ford. “He has all the tools to play at the next level. He has a chance to be a power five guy if he keeps working hard.”

Rising junior free safety George Perry (5-9,160) had a solid sophomore season with 62 tackles and five interceptions. “He will be a leader for us on defense,” said Coach Ford. “He has the potential to be a strong D-1 recruit also. He is very physical and he tracks to the ball really well.”

A couple other players who should be good leaders next season include rising senior offensive lineman Tyreon Summerson (6-3, 306), and rising sophomore nose guard David Hall. 

This past season Woodland’s seven wins came over Colleton County (32-14), Bethune-Bowman (42-0), Whale Branch (42-13), Bamberg-Ehrhardt (25-20), Andrews (19-6), Burke (42-18) and Academic Magnet (56-7).  

“With 15 starters back, we will be working hard on getting bigger, stronger and faster for next season right away” said Coach Ford. “Our goal will be to compete for the region title and make a deep run in the play-offs.”