By Hale McGranahan.

ORANGEBURG – Tommy Brown saw it right from the jump.

Since Albert Huggins joined the Orangeburg-Wilkinson football program, he’s backed up his four-star talent with a five-star work ethic.

“I really think that’s the difference,” Brown told TheClemsonInsider last week at the high school.

“There are a lot of good athletes out there with talent. What separates the good from the great is the work ethic and commitment to the game,” he said. “Albert has that. That’s stuff you can’t teach. You’ve got to have (it) within and he has that.”

Rivals, Scout and 247 all list Huggins as the second-best player in the state for 2016.

“His growth in the weight room, his growth in the classroom, his growth as a person, it just shows his commitment to being the best he can be,” Brown said. “He’s always working hard in the classroom, on the field and off the field.”

247 thinks he’s the No. 57 overall player in the country and the No. 10 defensive tackle in the country. Rivals ranks Huggins at 59 overall player in the country and the No. 6 defensive tackle in the country. Scout has him at 109 and 12.

“He’s physical and he’s strong. He’s a technician. He’s always trying to improve his technique. That’s important to him,” Brown said. “I think that’s another thing. A lot of people have raw ability. But, when you have technique — he works on his technique.”

According to Brown, Huggins’ position at the next level isn’t an issue. He appears destined to play tackle in a base 4-3 front seven or end in a 3-4.

“I mean, it depends on what scheme and where he plays,” Brown said. “I really haven’t thought about it. To him, it doesn’t matter. He just wants to play. Wherever he needs to play, he’ll play.”