Manning’s Fulton to play in Shrine Bowl

By DENNIS BRUNSON
Item Sports Editor
dennisb@theitem.com

Manning High School’s John Fulton has only been completely healthy for about half of the football season. That didn’t keep him from being chosen to play in the Shrine Bowl though.

The 6 feet, 180 pounds, Fulton will play for the South Carolina squad in the 73rd Annual Shrine Bowl set for Dec. 14 at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg. Fulton is the only local player chosen to the Shrine Bowl team.

“It’s a big honor to be chosen,” Fulton said. “I’ve had to fight through some injuries and my dad has been gone (John Sr. is a member of the U.S. Army and has been serving in Afghanistan since April), so it makes it better being part of the Shrine Bowl.

“I guess I’m a little surprised to be chosen (because of the lack of games he’s played),” Fulton added. “I played against some Shrine Bowl coaches, and they respected me because they wouldn’t pass my way. I’m just glad I was able to play through the injuries.”

Fulton has no interceptions on the season from his cornerback position, and his head coach, Robbie Briggs, said the reason for that is opposing teams haven’t challenged him. He does have 29 tackles and has broken up 10 passes.

“He’s a true cover corner,” said Briggs, who has had some pretty good ones at Manning such as Houston Texans cornerback Fred Bennett and former Clemson defensive back regulars Brian Mance and Travis Pugh. “He’s the most sought after recruit we’ve ever had here at Manning.”

Fulton does much more than play cornerback though. He is averaging 27 yards a kickoff return and 21 yards a punt return, while catching 14 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns and carrying the football 10 times for 190 yards and two more scores.

“He’s just a tremendous competitor and he’s still building in terms of his emotional growth,” Briggs said of Fulton. “When his emotional growth matches his athletic ability, he could be the best athlete to ever come through Manning High School.”

Fulton is on course to graduate in December, and he plans to enroll in college for the 2010 spring semester. Which college that will be is still up in the air, but it will be a Southeastern Conference school. The five schools Fulton is looking at are South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana State.

“I’ll decide something in early December,” he said. “I’m not sure right now.”



Reach Sports Editor Dennis Brunson at dennisb@theitem.com or (803) 774-1241.