Dru Goldsmith is a Class of 2025 wide receiver of Hanahan High School in Charleston, South Carolina who had a breakout performance under the Friday Night Lights of the Lowcountry last season, the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder recording 972 yards on 60 catches (16.2 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns for the Hawks in 2023.

After a season to remember last fall, Goldsmith is beginning to trend on the radars of Division 1 programs across the country. The Lowcountry legend recorded his No. 1 offer from Central Michigan on Dec. 12, reporting to Palmetto Preps that he was pleased with his first FBS offer from the Chippewas, a program that has seen success as a member of the Mid-American Conference.

“(The offer) from Central Michigan meant a lot. The program believes that I belong there. Speed and route running (are aspects of my game) that coaches told me they loved,” he said.

Not only was it the Chippewas who offered the speedy Charleston pass-catcher after his breakout season, but Appalachian State and James Madison who demonstrated interest in the developments of Dru during his big-impact junior season and Limestone College who caught wind of his name before that.

Here is recruiting editor and website co-owner Lee Wardlaw’s intel potentially connecting Goldsmith to the Saints, Mountaineers, and Dukes: “Before his big season with the Hawks in 2023, Goldsmith received an invite to showcase his talents at Limestone College’s High School Prospect Camp last June. The Saints followed up with a gameday invite. The speedy, tackle-breaking wide receiver that also runs track also received game day invites from Appalachian State and James Madison, the Mountaineers and Dukes who also sent graphics and other correspondence, along with incoming-second year head coach Tim Beck’s instate Coastal Carolina Chanticleers’ program.”

Goldsmith’s efforts also landed him a big-ticket invite to a prestigious prep bowl game in the Palmetto State, none other than the High School Blitz Junior Showcase Game, which was held at Brookland-Cayce High School Stadium in Columbia on Jan. 14.

Now, let’s take Palmetto Preps fans behind the scenes with who is helping iron Goldsmith into the Division 1 athlete he strives to become in the future.

That coach is no one other than former Clemson University and professional tight end Brandon Ford, who enjoyed a short five-month career with the New England Patriots in 2013 before starring with the Boston Brawlers of the Fall Experimental Football Leauge (FXFL) in 2014.

Fast forward nine years, and the Lowcountry native, a proud Hanahan alum, is stepping up to help current Hawks follow in his footsteps and chase their own Division 1 and NFL dreams as the wide receivers’ coach of the program.

Now, Ford’s stint with the Tigers, where he earned All-ACC status as a senior in 2012, recording 480 yards and eight touchdowns on 40 receptions (12 yards per catch) along with the leadership skills he learned via head coach Dabo Swinney’s program and other life experiences, is rubbing off on Goldsmith, who seeks to blaze a similar trail on the Palmetto State gridiron.

“(Ford) is heavily involved with my progression,” the Hawks’ star said.

Also count Goldsmith’s family as part of his inner circle of support. This includes mother, Rosalyn, father, AG, and little sister, Lylah. "(Ford), my parents, and my little sister see my potential. Each of them believe in me,” he said.

Count recruiting editor Lee Wardlaw as another believer in the athlete, who shows an impressive repertoire of talent on his film. He’s not a Power Four-level receiver at this point, but Goldsmith is certainly capable of seeing a future on the collegiate gridiron as an Group of Five or FCS athlete.

The Hawks’ star is speedy and possesses great vision, but he still has plenty of things to to work on in order to perfect his craft this offseason. Goldsmith talked about one factor which could be preventing his recruitment from powerhouse programs.

Size.

"I just have to put my blinders on and lean on my strength, because being six feet or taller is not one of them,” he said.

Now, let’s enter the Palmetto Preps film room to see what Goldsmith does best on the gridiron.

FILM: The pass-catcher with a strong, paced trot uses his speed to initiate terror on the defense from the screen out of the backfield. Goldsmith turns on his speed and his vision to create seperation. (0:12, 1:05-1:16) (3:08-3:12)

Goldsmith runs a smooth routes and elevates to the highest level to pinpoint the catch, despite his smaller size. (0:33)

The Hanahan Fighting Hawks star utilizes both footwork and route-running skills to level up on his man and make a nice grab on a deep ball in traffic. (1:21-1:33)

Goldsmith goes through his motions, demonstrating good change of direction and crisp, smooth route-running on a deep pattern. (1:45)

The Hawks' star creates separation with his footwork and finishes the route, all while going up to the highest point to make the catch in one-on-one traffic near the sideline during a three-part sequence play. (1:52-2:02)

Goldsmith demonstrates his hand-fighting and physicality, all while staying true to the finish of the play on a mid-range pattern. (2:15)

The Hanahan standout generates his quick-strike abilities, showing off his twitchiness on both a mid-range stop-and-go route and a post route. This all happens while he demonstrates good range of motion and body control on an advanced route, finishing the play to the punch with a highlight-reel worthy, turn-around grab. (2:46, 3:08, 3:32)

Goldsmith utilizes his arms well, all while demonstrating deceptive speed and route-running. Here, the Hawks’ star shows further knowledge of his football concepts and on-field capabilities to collegiate coaches, building off 2:46, 3:08, and 3:32. Goldsmith makes multiple players miss, showing physicality, drive, and refusal to quit on the play. (3:38-3:50)

Goldsmith generates bump-and-run physicality and barreling speed, all while the Hawks’ star shows off his further knowledge of his wide range of concepts and ability to run several patterns on the route tree (3:59-4:14)

On two screen routes, Goldsmith again demonstrates his top two capabilities on the gridiron, killing the defense with his speed on bubble screen routes. The Hawks' star shows off his physicality, agility (4:25-4:50)

Goldsmith demonstrates good vision while going through the motions of a bubble screen route, further demonstrating his capabilities to be a potential break-out slot receiver. (5:25-5:30)

The Hawks' star shows good arm motion and fluid, smooth route-running ability on a corner pattern (5:52-5:57)

ANALYSIS: Goldsmith can do a number of things, but the wide receiver with track star is especially dangerous out of the slot receiver running screen and bubble routes.

The Hawks' star also demonstrated speed, physicality, and an unwillingness to quit on the play. He could improve on body control, hand-fighting, and technique, but Goldsmith was still catching passes all over the field and creating havoc for Lowcountry defenses throughout last season.

Perhaps evaluating him against some more elite competition would help, but Goldsmith looks capable of earning a scholarship with a Group of Five or FCS school when it’s all said and done as signing day rolls around next winter.