Stud defensive tackle Nikeem Ladson will take his football skills from Greenville to the Lowcountry, he announced Wednesday.
Ladson, a defensive lineman for Wade Hampton High School, signed a letter of intent Wednesday morning to play football at South Carolina State University.
Ladson, whose father Stanley Ladson also played defensive tackle at Wade Hampton High School when he was a teenager, chose the Bulldogs over North Carolina Central.
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"My parents really liked that it was closer to home," Ladson said. "My parents just loved it."
Ladson turned in a stellar senior season in 2011, being named All-State, 1st Team All-Greenville County, All-Area, All-Region and SCADA North-Sound All-Star. This season, he accumulated 108 total tackles, and made a living in the offensive backfield, totaling 26 tackles for loss, causing two fumbles, recovering three fumbles and being credited by five sacks.
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Ladson's mother, Wynyki Kirksey noted that Nikeem's maternal grandfather Roy Kirksey also played football, making it to the National Football League for several seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets.
Ladson said S.C. State coaches informed him that he would likely play both defensive tackle and defensive end while with the Bulldogs.
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