ce of the Long County Blue Tide football team over the last three years and his hard work has finally paid off in the form of a college scholarship. On Wednesday, December 4, he made things official as he signed his national letter of intent to continue his football career with the University of South Carolina. 

Hatfield started racking up college offers late in his junior year and made the commitment to play for the Gamecocks over the summer. He said that it was a pretty easy decision after meeting with their recruiters and weighing his dreams of playing in the NFL. 

“Honestly, I felt like it was the best option, especially with the coaches they have, Coach Clayton White and Coach Torrian Gray,” Hatfield said. “(Coach Gray) is known for taking a low-recruited player like me and developing them into NFL DBs. So, it was the best option and gives me the best opportunity for me and my family. And also Coach (Shane) Beamer is a great coach leading a great team.”

In just four years as the head coach at South Carolina, Beamer has taken the Gamecocks from a bottom half SEC team to a top 15 program. 

Long County head coach Mike Pfiester spoke about Hatfield and his contributions to the Blue Tide since returning to Ludowici his sophomore year. 

“He has been a huge part of the progress we have made as a program,” Pfiester said. “Chris made a commitment to developing his body in the weight room and it has made a tremendous difference to him.”

Hatfield is just the third player in the history of Long County football to sign with a “Power 4” football team, joining 2017 graduates Jamin Davis (Kentucky) and Tariq Carpenter (Georgia Tech). Both of them went on to get drafted in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 

In three years with the Blue Tide, Hatfield recorded 112 tackles, seven pass breakups and 11 interceptions. Eight of those career interceptions came during the 2024 season, a single-season school record. 

Hatfield left a legacy on the field with the Blue Tide but what he really wants to drive home is Coach Pfiester’s mantra of “You can get anywhere from Ludowici.”

“Just ‘cause you are from a small city, a small town, anything can happen,” he said. “Anything can work. Put your mind to it. Work hard. Be humble. Lay down low and just put faith in God. That’s all I can say.”

Hatfield was recently named to the Region 3-AAA first team for the second season in a row and he will now take that with him to Columbia with dreams of making it to the NFL.