Students passing by say hello, give him a fist bump or pat him on the back.
After all, this is the kid who recently signed a national letter of intent to play football at Auburn in the fall, becoming what current coaches say may be the first Wando football player to sign with an Southeastern Conference (SEC) school.
He's big time.
After all, the defensive lineman has won just about every award you can think of. He's all-region, all-Lowcountry, all-state, a Shrine Bowl captain, the U.S. International Bowl MVP and a Parade All-American.
But ask President about all that recognition, and he just shrugs.
"It feels good," he says in a soft-spoken voice. "I just try to stay humble."
He's taking it all in stride, while interestingly enough, the football star didn't even watch football growing up. His first love was basketball, which was fitting, as his older brother Jermal was a standout player at College of Charleston.
In fact, President says he didn't really think he had a chance to play college football until Wando Head Coach Jimmy Nunan told him so after his freshman year.
"He's a solid young man," Nunan said. "He's a great product of his household, and Wando. He has always had God-given physical ability. But to see his mental growth and to see his work ethic realization, only with those things has he realized his potential."
Eric Bendig, an assistant coach who played football at Wando before moving on to Presbyterian College, says he thinks President has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
"If he works like he has, there's no doubt he'll play as early as he wants to play," Bendig said.
"I expect big things as far as what he's going to do down the road."
While a lot of factors contribute to whether or not a freshman like President will see ample playing time at a big school like Auburn, President doesn't seem phased. He says he's just going to show up, work hard and play his game.
And he also says he isn't nervous about playing in front of, oh, somewhere in the neighborhood of 87,450 fans.
"It'll be nice to hear them say 'President' in that stadium," he says with a grin, noting the first time that happens will probably give him chills.
Being courted by other schools, like Clemson, made for a tough decision.
But he ultimately chose Auburn because, "It felt like home."
And according to his Wando coaches, President is somewhat of a homebody. Nunan said when President is not working on his football game, his conditioning or his schoolwork, he's at home.
"One thing Gimel was looking for was a small college town with the true college atmosphere," Nunan said. "That's one of the qualities he and his folks held high."
While Bendig says he expects being a freshman at Auburn to cause a little culture shock for the soon-to-be Wando grad. He also says he expects President to overcome that quickly, and to do what he's going there to do. And he also says President has left a major mark on the Wando football program.
"He's set the bar high with the fact that he's going to play in the biggest conference in the country," Bendig said. "His mark is going to be (the idea that) if you consistently work over the course of your career, you can gain elite status like he has."
Along with that elite status has come quite a few fans, especially younger kids who look up to President.
And one of the things President says he's learned from his Wando coaches is to set a good example.
While he may be getting some friendly jabs from peers who say he should have gone to Clemson, he shakes it off, and remains confident with his decision.
"I just keep on working," he said. "I just want to play and make a name for myself."
(Jennifer Wilson can be reached at jshelton@moultrienews.com. Read more stories online at www.moultrienews.com)
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