DISCOVER LAMAR: NFL players hail from Lamar
Cobie Durant
Michael Hamlin
Lorenzo Levon Kirkland
From Staff Reports
Lamar may not be world-famous or known to most of America but, the world may be surprised to learn that 6 NFL players hail from this small town in South Carolina.
John Antonio Abraham is a former defensive end and outside linebacker who played 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Born in Timmonsville in 1978, Abraham spent his high school years at Lamar High School, primarily as an athlete in the track program. He set the current S.C. record for the 200-meter dash, at 22.6 seconds, and ran the 100 meters in 11.26 seconds. He also recorded top-throws of 13.61 meters in the shot put competition and 43.05 meters in the discus throw. He first played organized football as a senior in high school and was recruited to play for the S.C. Gamecocks football team at the University of South Carolina (USC). While there, he amassed 23.5 quarterback sacks, ranking second on S.C.’s career list and was a first-team All-Southeaster Conference (SEC) selection. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 200 NFL Draft and also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.
Cobie Durant, born in 1998 in Lamar. He played college football at S.C. State and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the 142nd pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Durant recorded his first professional sack and interception in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons in the 31-27 win. In the Rams Week 16 game against the Denver Broncos, Durant recorded a pick-six off quarterback Brett Rypien in the 51-14 win. In 2022, Durant led the NFL in interception return yards with 151.
B.J. Goodson, born in Lamar in 1993, went to Lamar High School where he played linebacker, tight end, and kick returner. An All-State selection in his junior year, he was credited with 96 tackles and six tackles for loss and added 16 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns on offense. He went on to Clemson University, where he played college football and was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In June of 2016, Goodson signed with the N.Y. Giants to a four-year $2.92 million contract which included a signing bonus of $582,207. He was traded to the Green Bay Packers in September of 2019 and signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in March of 2020. In September of 2021, Goodson signed a one-year contract with the N.Y. Jets and was placed on the reserve/retired list later that same month.
Michael Hamlin was born in Lamar in 1985 and attended Lamar High School, where he competed in football, baseball and basketball. By his sophomore year, he was a two-way player (wide receiver and safety), contributing to the team reaching the 2001 state championship game. He accepted a football scholarship from Clemson University and played there for 4 years, racking up numerous records. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He suffered a broken right wrist in the third preseason game and was declared inactive for the first 9 games of the season before being re-activated on November 22nd of 2009. In October of 2010, he was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in December and played in the last 4 games of that season. He was released in August of 2011. He later played for the Indianapolis Colts, the Washington Redskins before being hired as a graduate assistant at Clemson University in 2013, where he worked with the defensive backs. In 2016, he took a job coaching in the NFL as a special teams quality control coach with the Buffalo Bills. In 2017, he was hired as a defensive backs coach at Wilson High School in Florence.
Lorenzo Levon Kirkland was born in 1969 in Lamar and went on to become a massive inside linebacker. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was a second-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played 11 years as a linebacker in the NFL, including nine seasons with the Steelers. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadephia Eagles. In 1995, the Steelers signed him to a four-year $6 million contract which included a signing bonus of $900,000. He was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the leage and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys. In 1996, Kirkland was named to Clemson University’s All-Centennial team and was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also inducted into the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Kirkland educates student-athletes across the country on the college recruiting process as an Educational Speaker for the National Collegiate Scouting Association. In March of 2013, he accepted a job coaching linebackers at Florida A&M University.
Marshall McFadden was born in Lamar in 1986 and played linebacker at South Carolina State where he finished the 2008 season with 88 tackles and 5 sacks. He also earned the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors during the 2008 season. In 2012, he was signed to the practice squad with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2013, he signed with the Oakland Raiders and moved up to the St. Louis Rams active roster in 2014. After retiring from pro football, McFadden is currently a pit crew member for various NASCAR teams, currently working as a gasman for Jeremy Clements Racing.
