Goodman Named Community Captain

Malliciah Goodman, senior defensive end at West Florence High School, has been selected as a Carolina Panthers Community Captain.

He is one of the most highly touted prep stars in the Carolinas and is an outstanding student and contributor to his community.

Goodman (6-foot-4, 252 pounds) is a four-star defensive end according to scout.com, which also has him ranked as the eleventh best in the country at that position. His impressive size is matched by his sheer athleticism.

At the Scout.com/Under Armour Combine earlier this year, Goodman ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, the fastest time of any defensive lineman. He also recorded a 37.5 inch vertical leap.

He has received full athletic scholarship offers to play football at Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others. However, he has given a verbal commitment to attend Clemson University on a full athletic scholarship. Also, he has been selected to represent South Carolina at the 2008 Shrine Bowl on December 20 in Spartanburg, SC. Clemson will not only be getting a great athlete, but also someone who knows what leadership is all about.

“A leader is someone who leads through victory as well as defeat,” said Goodman. “They sacrifice themselves for the greater good not expecting an acknowledgement in return. If you are a true leader, you don’t look forward to the fame or glory; those things will come as your leadership is followed by others.”

At West Florence High School, Goodman is also a leader in the classroom where he has a 3.363 grade point average. His grades have earned him a place on the Principal’s Honor Roll. He is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he is active in monthly community service projects. Goodman also participates with the Knight Readers. This is a group of West Florence football players who go to local elementary schools once per week and read to 1st and 2nd grade students.

Goodman is also a member of the Boy Scouts. With his Boy Scout troop, he participates in various community service projects all year round. He is currently working his way towards achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Malliciah Goodman is one of the finest young men to ever attend West Florence High School,” said Principal Pamela Quick. “He comes from a single-parent home and was raised by his mother and grandmother, who are very proud of him, as is his West Florence family. He has represented all of us very well, and I consider it an honor to be his principal.”

During this high school football season, the Carolina Panthers will select ten Community Captains based on nominations received from high school administrators and media representatives. Recipients will receive an authentic Carolina Panthers Community Captain jersey and have the opportunity to participate in select Panthers community outreach events during the current academic year.

Recipients will be honored during an on-field ceremony at the Panthers home game versus the Denver Broncos on December 14, 2008 at Bank of America Stadium.

The Carolina Panthers Community Captain program recognizes outstanding high school football student-athletes in North and South Carolina who have demonstrated strong leadership skills on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. The program encourages these future college and NFL players to continue in their positive development as leaders and role models in their communities.