Levon Kirkland knew he would not be the last, because he is certain he should not have been the first.
As a 6-foot-1, 205 pound wide receiver, tight end, linebacker and kick returner, Kirkland impressed spectators through his high school career in Lamar, South Carolina. Unfortunately, the crowds rarely included college scouts.
In 1987, Lamar's population was estimated at less than 1,400. There were no national football recruiting services to uncover talent in tiny towns. There were no summer combines and exposure camps that allowed players to audition for college coaches. There were no video websites to document every game highlight.
Kirkland could do little to intensify interest. He simply continued to impress. Finally, during one of Lamar's playoff games, a college scout joined the crowd.
Kirkland earned a scholarship from Clemson University and opened a new road from Lamar to the National Football League. Nearly three decades later, B.J. Goodson is driven, on that same road.
Guided by the standards set before him. Fueled by the dignity, respect and support of his small town. Always proud of where he comes from. Never content with where he is.
Like Kirkland, Goodson was lightly recruited out of Lamar High. Like Kirkland, Goodson seized an opportunity to become one of Clemson's most reliable linebackers and most dependable leaders. And like Kirkland, Goodson aims to represent Lamar in the NFL.
Kirkland garnered All-American honors in his final two seasons at Clemson. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kirkland in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons in Pittsburgh and earned All-Pro recognition in 1996 and 1997. He is now an assistant coach with the Arizona Cardinals.
"I might have been three years old, but Levon Kirkland was the first football player I had ever heard of by name. To have him represent our town was big. " said Goodson, who seeks advice from Kirkland whenever their busy schedules allow them to communicate.
Goodson would be the fourth Lamar native to follow Kirkland to the NFL.
John Abraham starred on the defensive line at the University of South Carolina before the New York Jets drafted him 13th overall in 2000. He played 15 seasons, including seven with the Atlanta Falcons. He was named to five Pro Bowls.
Michael Hamlin was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference safety in his final two seasons at Clemson. He was selected in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2009. He played three NFL seasons and is now a special teams quality control coach with the Buffalo Bills.
Former South Carolina State linebacker Marshall McFadden earned a free agent contract with the Steelers in 2012.
Through the past 25 years, Lamar has produced more NFL players than traditional state power Gaffney, whose enrollment is more than twice Lamar's entire population.
"That was one of my goals and dreams to see our small town become somewhat known for football players," Kirkland said. "Sometimes once one person does it, other people follow."
Kirkland contended that several other Lamar natives could have preceded him on this path. Many of them had the talent but never had the chance to showcase it.
"I have brothers who should've went to college and played ball. I had cousins that probably should've went to college," Kirkland said. "Maybe it was just from a lack of things to do in Lamar, so most kids just played sports from a young age. We just had a lot of good athletes then, but just not a whole lot of opportunity."
Twenty-five years ago, opportunity often bypassed small towns like Lamar. Business owners, tourists and coaches rarely took that exit off Interstate 20. According to B.J.'s mother, Deirdre Goodson, Lamar still is easy to bypass.
"We have one traffic light. One grocery store. One bank," she said with a laugh. "It's such a small town. Everybody knows everybody, but everybody just looks out for everybody. It definitely reminds me of a little village."
In 2010, Goodson's senior year at Lamar High, the town's population was estimated at less than 1,000. There were national football recruiting services that rated Goodson against linebackers from larger schools. There were summer combines and exposure camps through which Goodson could audition. There were video websites available to document the 156 tackles he amassed.
Nevertheless, recruiters did not speed to Darlington County. Scholarship offers trickled in from Clemson, Tennessee and Louisiana State.
"There were some that doubted him, doubted his ability to play and compete at a Division I school," Deirdre Goodson said. "I just felt like if he was given the opportunity and the chance to show his ability, his talent, his gifts from God, everybody would see the real B.J."
Goodson needed four years to climb Clemson's depth chart. He redshirted his first season on campus. He battled nagging injuries through his next two years and played infrequently behind standout starters Tig Willard and Stephone Anthony. Goodson started six games last season but split the outside linebacker-nickelback role with Korrin Wiggins.
"Through all that adversity, he just kept his faith," Deirdre Goodson said. "He was determined to keep working hard and keep plugging in there, because his time was coming."
In Lamar, Goodson grew accustomed to toiling tirelessly in obscurity. He was conditioned to accept hard work but never to accept defeat. He would not be diverted off his road.
"Most guys who come up in that area have worked hard at some point in time. They're doing either farming work or they're doing some kind of manual labor just to earn some bucks," Kirkland said. "We're not afraid of that. I've been to some high schools where football is probably the hardest thing kids have ever done. Whereas in Lamar, football is not hard at all. Because you work hard, when you actually get on the field, it's more of a release."
Teammates have observed Goodson's cathartic transformations on gameday.
"All through the week, he's quiet, just an old country dude," fellow linebacker Ben Boulware said. "He's a totally different animal on the field. He's a completely different person, outspoken, just a leader. He just flips a switch. You need that to play at a high level."
Through persistence and diligence, Goodson claimed the starting role at middle linebacker this season. He leads Clemson with 127 total tackles, including 14 for loss. He notched at least 11 tackles in seven games. He graduated on Dec. 17 with a degree in sociology.
"A big part of college is just figuring life out. He's done that," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "He is a grown man. He's ready for whatever he wants to do in life. He is just mature and focused and driven and committed."
Goodson asserted that those adjectives could describe most folks in Lamar. It is a culture of encouragement, a haven for hard work. It is a village that does not need many stoplights, because its people are too driven to slow down.
"I remember asking B.J., ‘When you're out there on the field, what are you feeling? What gets you fired up,'" Deirdre Goodson recalled. "He said, ‘Ma, I think about this little town where I come from. I think about my family here.' That just pushes him to go all out."
Goodson earned second team All-ACC honors this season. He was named the league's linebacker of the week after games against Notre Dame, Florida State and South Carolina. Yet, he is not projected as a high NFL draft prospect. That does not deter Goodson.
He has been down this road before.
"In Lamar, we get overlooked a lot, but I'm blessed to be from that town," Goodson said. "That's really what makes the people so tight. We are really all we have in that town, and it's pretty special."
Levon Kirkland is proud to be the first. He knows B.J. Goodson will not be the last.
"There's some kid in Lamar playing little league right now. He's looking at B.J. saying, ‘OK, that's what I want to do,'" Kirkland said. "I tease people that you need to get on I-20 and make a right on exit 123.
"You're going to find you a player. You're going to find a guy who's hungry, who's passionate, who knows how to work. You're going to find a guy who's just waiting for that opportunity."
