South Carolina State quarterback’s reunion with former coach yields winning results

As an all-conference quarterback at Benedict College, Eric Phoenix always aspired to play football at a higher level than the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. After reuniting with former Benedict coach Chennis Berry at South Carolina State University this season, Phoenix is finally realizing his goal as a starter for a Division I program.

After a 69-35 homecoming win Oct. 26 against Delaware State, South Carolina State is undefeated in conference play and in contention to earn the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s automatic bid to the Celebration Bowl.

With Phoenix as their starting quarterback, South Carolina State (5-2 overall, 1-0 MEAC) has the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference. The Bulldogs will face the No. 1 scoring offense, North Carolina Central University (6-2 overall, 2-0 MEAC), Thursday hoping to continue their undefeated conference streak.

“Basically the message [from Berry] was the first half was preseason, and we are in the season now,” Phoenix told Andscape. “So every game here counts. Not saying the other ones didn’t count, but these are the ones that hopefully get us to achieve our ultimate goal. We just know we got to play one game at a time, one week at a time, and we’ll be where we want to go.”

Phoenix has been integral in South Carolina State finding immediate success under Berry, who is also in his first season with the Bulldogs. They are off to their best seven-game start since the 2019 season.

Phoenix currently leads the MEAC in passing yards (1,791) and pass completion percentage (62.6%), and is second in the conference in passing touchdowns (14) behind Walker Harris of North Carolina Central.

Berry’s relationship with Phoenix began in 2020 when Berry accepted the head coaching job at Benedict. Phoenix was one of more than a dozen Benedict players Berry inherited from the previous coach. Despite having a new head coach and incoming coaching staff and adjusting to the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, Phoenix caught Berry’s eye.

Berry saw Phoenix on the field working out with his receivers and noticed Phoenix passed the eye test as a 6-foot-3 quarterback who was constantly in the weight room working to get stronger.

“When I got a chance to start talking with the young man, I think one of his best gifts is that he’s very cerebral and smart. He’s a student of the game,” Berry said. “He has a great football mind. But all in all, I just thought he was a complete dual-threat quarterback. … His skill set is not only throwing the ball but being able to run the ball as well.”

Benedict didn’t play in 2020, but once the Tigers returned to football practice for the 2021 season, Berry had his starting quarterback. In his first season under Berry, Phoenix threw for 1,891 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping Benedict more than triple its win total from the 2019 season. 

After leading Benedict to its first conference championship in 2022, he transferred to Murray State University looking to play higher-level competition at the Division I level. However, the move didn’t go smoothly: He played three games at Murray State, finishing the 2023 season with seven completions for 137 yards and one touchdown before entering the transfer portal a second time.

At South Carolina State, Berry was looking for a quarterback to build his program around, so he went into the transfer portal seeking a signal-caller who would fit his vision for the offense. After learning Phoenix had played only three games at Murray State and was eligible for an extra year of eligibility, Berry and Phoenix reconnected.

Berry said he knew Phoenix’s ability to quickly pick up new offensive concepts would be an asset.

“I think it’s divine intervention,” Berry said. “When you really look at it, it just worked out perfectly, because it only fit right for him to come here. … Anywhere else he would have to learn a new offense. But coming here, he was able to learn the same offense that he had already run and had success with, and he has some familiarity with not only some of the players, but the coaching staff as well. So it really was a win-win for both of us.”

For Phoenix, his one-season detour to Murray State became an opportunity for personal growth.

“I just got smarter in the game of football and [gained] patience. I had to sit still for a while,” Phoenix said of his time at Murray State. “I didn’t play that much, so it really humbled me. … It made me just look at myself differently and approach life and the game differently. I have no opportunity to waste, and I take advantage of every opportunity, so that’s how I live my life.”

According to Berry, there hasn’t been any drop-off in Phoenix’s game. As a mobile quarterback, Phoenix believes South Carolina State’s run-pass option offense suits his skill set.

Combined with the speed and separation South Carolina State’s wide receivers are able to get on the opposing team, the Bulldogs’ offense has excelled in the conference. South Carolina State has three receivers who are ranked among the top five in the conference for receiving yards: Caden High (No. 1), Justin Smith-Brown (No. 2) and Einaj Carter (No. 4). The three receivers have also combined for 10 receiving touchdowns on the year.

“I ask for their best,” Phoenix said of his wide receivers. “I know every time we’re not going to get on the same page, my balls are not going to be perfect, but I just ask them to give me your best, and I’ll do my best. We fight for each other, go hard for each other. And I appreciate them boys.

“I got so many weapons. I just sit back and just distribute, and once I do that, it’s dangerous, because you can’t double nobody.”

High and Phoenix spent most of the offseason running routes and building chemistry.

“He knows the playbook like the back of his hand,” High said. “So just working with somebody who is as dedicated to the sport like you, it’s just always easy. We always gain extra work on the field, and we just kick it off the field as well, which translates to on-field success.”

High and Berry describe Phoenix as a lead-by-example type of player who isn’t overly vocal but makes sure his teammates – and especially the Bulldogs’ offense – are on the same page. Berry and Phoenix have had some up-and-down moments, but their relationship has always yielded success.

“He trusts me, and I trust him,” Berry said. “And we end up having a good relationship. … He’s doing some really good things. He still has not played his best ball yet, and he’s put up a lot of numbers. But he hasn’t played his best game, and when he does, you’re going to see something special.”

In three seasons at Benedict, Berry compiled a 27-7 record and won two consecutive SIAC championships. For Berry, bringing Phoenix and 13 other players from Benedict to South Carolina State wasn’t solely about their talent, it was about culture.

“[The culture is] super-energetic, passionate. You gotta be disciplined,” Phoenix said. “[Berry] says what he means and means what he says. You gotta truly be bought into the process. Just come ready to work. You gotta be ready for your opportunity.”

Phoenix and High won conference titles at Benedict and they are hoping to bring that success to South Carolina State, which hasn’t won a conference championship since 2021.

“I like to think winning is contagious,” High said. “So if you’re around winners yourself, they’re going to turn you into a winner. Just having a winning spirit and just speaking winning into existence helps a lot of my teammates perform at their best level.”

According to Phoenix, the Bulldogs aren’t looking ahead or past any MEAC opponents. They’re focused on each conference game knowing they can’t afford to lose a single one. Despite the team’s early success, Phoenix believes there’s a lot more for the Bulldogs to accomplish.

‘We’ve been doing good. We still haven’t played our best ball yet, which is crazy, and once we do that, it’s going to be scary,” Phoenix said. “I feel like we’re meshing. We’re communicating well, but once everybody gets on board, it’s gonna be dangerous.”