How Grayson White defied QB stereotypes to lead Camden to title game

Nothing rattles Grayson White easily — not even trash talk regarding his size.

At 6-foot, 250 pounds, the Camden senior isn’t your typical prototype for a quarterback. He benches over 300 pounds, squats more than 500 pounds and was state champion at last year’s SC strength meet.

Fans, opposing players and others have joked, some playfully, about White’s size and stature through the years. One of those encounters came from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney at a camp.

“I spoke to Dabo this summer and he called me porkchop,” White said this week. “People have called me T-bone and other things but nothing really phases me. During a game, I throw it right back at him … and respond with my play.”

White definitely has done that during his two-plus years as he ranks near the top or is No. 1 in every quarterbacking record in school history. He can break Eric McCollum’s record for most wins as a starting QB (28) if the Bulldogs defeat Daniel in the Class 3A championship on Saturday. McCollum was SC Mr. Football in 2002 and went on to play at Iowa.

“He has been our true team leader, one of those guys that will always be remembered at Camden,” Camden coach Brian Rimpf said of White. “... With a win this week, he will be the all-time winningest quarterback at Camden, which is saying something with 130 years of tradition. He has been fun to coach.

“After the lower state game last week, I said I hope every coach has a chance to coach someone like Grayson White in their coaching career. He just makes it easy. He does what he is supposed to, has a great attitude and guys look to him as a leader and he is a phenomenal player, too.”

White’s move to quarterback was a necessity at the time but he has never relinquished the starting spot. After injuries to quarterbacks Cauthen Best and Katrez Bracey, White was told by the coaching staff at halftime against AC Flora in 2021.

White was a starter on defense at the time and also played running back.

“Coach Sisk (assistant) comes up to me and said you are the guy coming out,” White said. “I said, ‘What, you mean coach?’ I said, ‘Oh, God’ and I gave it a shot. I haven’t looked back since.”

White was just 2-of-6 for 10 yards in the 3-0 loss against AC Flora. But the Bulldogs rattled off eight straight wins after that in advancing to the state championship, losing to Daniel 45-20.

White’s numbers have gotten better each season as the Bulldogs have expanded their passing game over the last few years. He has thrown for 7,015 yards, rushed for 2,246 and has 112 touchdowns.

The senior also plays defensive end, something he lobbied for, on passing downs and leads the team with six sacks and 19 quarterback pressures.

“It is definitely tiring going out and playing both sides,” White said. “But it is my senior year, last shot so you gotta love it.”

But more than stats, Rimpf said White’s toughness and leadership are what stands out. He referenced last year’s Lower Richland playoff game when he hurt his ankle in the first quarter and missed most of the rest of the game.

White came back in the final series near the goal line and ran in a quarterback sneak for the game-winning touchdown.

“That really won over his teammates if he hadn’t won them over before,” Rimpf said. “He plays the (QB) position like a defensive lineman and I think that is a lot of the personality of this team. Here we are at the state championship game, he has been a great leader and hopefully we can get another win on Saturday.”

State championship schedule

▪ Thursday, Nov. 30

Class 2A: Oceanside Collegiate 35, Gray Collegiate 28

▪ Friday, Dec. 1

Class A: Christ Church vs. Johnsonville, 2 p.m.

Class 5A: Dutch Fork vs. White Knoll, 8 p.m.

▪ Saturday, Dec. 2

Class 4A: Westside vs. South Florence, noon

Class 3A: Daniel vs. Camden, 7 p.m.

Tickets, directions, how to watch championship games

▪ THE ADDRESS: S.C. State’s Oliver C Dawson Stadium is located at 300 College Ave, Orangeburg, SC 29115

▪ TICKETS: $15, can be purchased at gofan.co or through each of the schools before gameday. Gates will open for spectators no earlier than one hour prior to posted game time. Expect delays and long lines getting into the stadium.

▪ PARKING: Parking is $10 per car. Parking pass available through Gofan.co. Vehicles with trailers, pull behind grills and RV’s will cost $20. Parking lots open two hours prior to the first game of the day.

▪ TV: All five games will be carried on Sinclair Broadcasting stations across South Carolina. Affiliates are WMYA (My40 Asheville-Greenville), WACH (57.2/1250/Columbia), WCIV (MyTV Charleston) and WWMB (CW21, Florence/Myrtle Beach). The Dutch Fork-White Knoll game will be broadcast locally on WACH Fox’s regular channel.

▪ INTERNET: All five games will be streamed on www.nfhsnetwork.com. A subscription ($10) is required.

▪ RADIO: The South Florence-Westside game will will be on 96.3 FM in Florence and on the radio station’s Facebook page. WPUB Kool 102.7 FM in Kershaw County will carry the Camden-Daniel game and stream it online.

▪ WEATHER: According to weather.com, Thursday 63 degrees for high, partly cloudy. Friday, PM rain (61% chance) and high of 70. Saturday, 70% chance of rain and high of 71.