Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

I realize there’s no cheering in the press box.

But I’m not in the press box, and I’m not exactly cheering.

I am, though, going to do a little bragging on one of my homeboys.

South Carolina freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore is one impressive dude. But, then, what do you expect? He’s from Rock Hill, S.C.

From the time he walked onto campus this past January, he’s been a starter at cornerback. He’s a regular on the kickoff coverage team. He’s the backup punt returner, and he’s also been working at quarterback some in South Carolina’s “Wildcat” formation.

He might be the busiest true freshman in the country this season.

“I don’t look at it as an overload. I look at it as trying to do everything I can to help my team,” said the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Gilmore, who played more quarterback than he did defensive back in high school.

“I’ve been focusing on cornerback here, trying to get all that down. Quarterback comes pretty natural to me.”

And, yes, he knows North Carolina State will paint a big garnet X on him come Thursday night. For that matter, he knows everybody will.

“They probably will come after me, but I’m not going to back down,” said Gilmore, who went through spring practice after graduating high school early. “I’ll take the challenge, and I’m ready for it. I worked hard this offseason in the weight room to put myself in this position. I’m stronger. I’ve taken it to another level watching film and studying my opponents. I’m ready to turn it up a notch.”

South Carolina senior outside linebacker Eric Norwood calls Gilmore a “beast.”

And Norwood said not to be fooled by Gilmore’s quiet nature.

“He’s humble, but he’s a playmaker,” Norwood said. “He might talk a little bit out there, and when you get him talking, that’s when you know it’s on.”

Gilmore, who won a state championship last season at South Pointe High, has told some that one of his goals is to be the best player to ever come out of Rock Hill.

That’s a lofty goal when you consider all the talent that has come out of that town, which has a population of about 60,000 and sits just south of Charlotte, N.C., across the state line.

Ko Simpson, Ben Watson, Johnathan Joseph and Chris Hope are still playing in the NFL. Jeff Burris, Rick Sanford and Gerald Dixon all had successful careers in the NFL, while others such as Jonathan Hefney, Pat Burris, Derek Ross, Tim Jones, Cookie Massey and Tony Watkins all had solid college careers at major programs.

Gilmore’s South Pointe teammate, safety DeVonte Holloman, is another promising freshman for the Gamecocks, while the guy who will be doing their place-kicking and punting this season, Spencer Lanning, is also from Rock Hill.

There's more talent coming, too. Justin Worley is currently one of the top-rated high school junior quarterbacks in the country. He passed for 3,641 yards and 50 touchdowns last season as a sophomore at Northwestern High in Rock Hill.

So my message to Gilmore is simple: Represent, young man.