The Landrum Cardinals are off to a 3-1 start to the season, and a large part of their success has been senior 2-way football player and three-sport star Titus Poore – a name that you have likely heard during football season over the last 4 years just as many times as his former teammates Colton Link and Braden Mashtare.
Titus is a Landrum legacy, being the grandson of well-known football and basketball PA announcer Jimmy “Hambone” Camp, who is a lifetime resident of the town and an alum of LHS. His father, Brannon Poore, who is now Pastor of The Well Church and owns JB Trees – a small landscaping business, also played football for the Cardinals. His mother, Heather, who is Camp’s daughter and currently teaches at Byrnes, is also a native of the town. That is just a surface-level look at just how deep Titus’ Landrum roots run as well as just where his love for sports comes from.
“I have had a ball in my hand for as long as I can remember. I have been playing on teams since I was three years old. I got into sports because of my dad and grandpa. My grandpa ‘Hambone’, who I call PaBone, got his nickname when he played little league baseball. He loves all sports and has coached baseball for years. He’s been the announcer at Landrum since before I was born, and I love hearing my grandpa announce my name because I know he loves it. He used to watch me when I was little, and started playing catch with me when I was less than a year old. He let me be the bat boy when he was the middle school baseball coach while I was in elementary school. He took me to my first Gamecock baseball game and my first NFL game. He is now my Youth Minister and we talk about life and sports several times a week”, said Poore.
While Hambone was his biggest influence, Titus’ dad is also one of the key reasons he became such a natural athlete and servant leader.
“My dad is the football guy. He played for nine years and probably would have been able to play longer if not for some bad decisions. My dad came from a rough background. He grew up with a single mom living in a trailer with no positive male influence. He started doing drugs when he was eleven years old and went to jail nine times before he was twenty. Football was the only thing that kept him in school. Fortunately, he had some coaches that cared about him and my grandpa was his student minister in high school. Jesus changed my dad’s life when he was twenty years old and he has worked hard to overcome challenges and be where he is today. He teaches me and pours into me everyday as we do life together whether at church, home, or on the field/court. He has coached me in every sport and is there to support me and my teammates”, said Poore.
Playing three sports, Titus says it is difficult to pick which one he enjoys most. But, baseball and football have been where he has excelled the most.
“It’s always been whatever sport I’m playing is my favorite at the time. Since I’ve gotten older baseball and football have come ahead of basketball but it would be hard for me to pick a favorite out of those two. My most fond memory in sports is from baseball. I had a 13 strikeout game against Abbeville at home my sophomore year. Their coach (Daniel Little) was at Landrum my 7th and 8th grade year, so it was a fun game”, he said.
Playing all three major sports has given Poore a very unique opportunity to be mentored by several coaches who are of high character– current Landrum head football coach Brent Bridges, former LHS HC and current Broom assistant Jason Farmer, Cardinal baseball head coach Justin Henson, and basketball head coach Lyn Smith, the influences of which cannot be denied.
“Coach Bridges challenges me to compete, be a better teammate and leader, and to be the best wherever I’m at on the field. Farmer taught me structure, personal responsibility, and to have high expectations while also demonstrating his Christian values – teaching there is more to life than just football. I love Coach Henson’s motivation and intensity in games and passion for the sport. His love for baseball shines and he cares about the program as a whole. It’s not about his career or any one season, but about setting the standard for Landrum baseball while developing a team mindset in all of us. Coach Smith has a great ability to create a bond and family feel with the team. He has high expectations, but we know he cares about us as people. He sacrifices so much time and promotes us on social media for all sports.”
If Titus’ heart for others hasn’t been made apparent by how highly he speaks of his family and coaches, perhaps Coach Bridges and Henson can better convince you.
“He is just a great all-around young man. He is involved in so much outside of sports, including a lot of volunteer service. I love how coachable he is. Titus really tries to do everything exactly how you tell him to. Sometimes, we have to remind him to react and let his athletic abilities take over. He is the type of young man that I would want my daughter to date if I had one. He is a great example, especially to the youth, which by the way he helps to coach our 6G youth team”, said Bridges.
“Titus has become our ace over the last few years, but we originally did not plan for him to be such a big part of our pitching staff. We faced some circumstances his sophomore year where we needed someone to step up and he turned into that guy. The best part about coaching him is how hard he works. He is a three-sport athlete and finds time to work on his craft for each of them, regardless of which is in season. Titus’ attitude is what I like most about him. He is positive even when it is easy to give up. He is also a leader on and off the field. He volunteers to give back whether it is helping with our youth baseball program or going to volunteer at the elementary school”, said Henson.
Poore also stated that one of his favorite things to do outside of sports is to volunteer – and just like when it comes to his accolades in sports, not for the recognition.
“I’m active in my church and I try to volunteer in my community. I’ve been helping out at Operation Hope on Wednesday afternoons for the last few weeks and I hope I can continue to do that. This got me in a little trouble with a broken pitching hand at the beginning of last baseball season but I love to ride four wheelers and dirt bikes. I know it’s still sports related but I like being an assistant coach on my siblings’ sports teams. To be honest, I love sports so my life is mostly spent doing something related to athletics but I try to do it all to the glory of God”, said Poore.
As mentioned earlier, Titus’ connections to his hometown and to Landrum High run deep. Not only that, but he is just one branch on the family tree that is destined to make an impact in the school and community for many years to come. That is part of what he most enjoys about suiting up to play on any given gameday.
“I’ve lived in Landrum my whole life. I play for the same school my grandparents graduated from and my parents graduated from. My great uncle was on the 1975 state championship baseball team. My dad and my uncle played football for Landrum. My grandma and aunts were Landrum cheerleaders. My grandpa coached at Landrum. My brother, Ezekiel (“Z”), is in the 8th grade and plays all three sports. He is gonna do big things in football. My other brother, Asher, is in the 6th grade and still plays little league sports, but he’s a beast and is probably gonna be bigger than all of us. My little sister, EllaRae, is in 2nd grade and already a baller in softball and basketball. Needless to say, I love my family and I’m thankful for the support and sacrifices that they make for me to play sports. I also love Landrum. I hope my kids play for Landrum one day. We have a great small town atmosphere. I can feel the community and support”, said Poore.
Titus and his family are definitely leaving a legacy in sports, but clearly that is not the legacy he is most concerned with based on his future plans and wisdom for future generations.
“I plan to major in physical education and go into coaching, currently with an offer to play baseball at Erskine, although I would love an offer for football or baseball from my dream school and dad’s alma mater North Greenville. I would one day like to raise a family in Landrum and continue to pour back into my community. But my advice for aspiring youth and athletes is this – always put Jesus first and work second. You have to be willing to do what no one else is willing to do. Put in the work even when you don’t want to. Keep a positive attitude, be a good teammate, and keep your grades up” said Poore.
You can catch Titus and his Cardinals in action this Friday night as they host West Oak in their penultimate non-region game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.
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