2013 may not be our best class, but we get some great players at positions of need and some under-rated prospects. Hopefully we land another great LB or 2, but take a look at 2014...
Top 8 in SC (all 4 stars):
1. Shaq Davidson (96) WR - we lead
2. Donell Stanley (95) OT - we lead
3. Christian Miller (94) OLB - legacy we should land
4. Dexter Wideman (93) DT - we're in good shape
5. Jacob Park (93) QB - We lead for a better prospect (, but still recruiting Park too (just in case)
6. Cannon Smith (93) TE - Tater, but we're loaded here and Kevin Crosby is more versatile
7. Naquez Pringle (92) DT - We're in good shape
8. Kevin Crosby (90) TE - We lead
By position:
QB: Drew Barker (94) - We currently lead for the 6th best Pro-Style QB and need to hope Ohio State doesn't push for him and that they can turn their current #1 target and Clemson commit, DeShaun Watson.
RB: Derrell Scott (94) - #1 APB in 2014 class, we lead and have his best friend in the fold in Pharoah Cooper
OT: Donnell Stanley (95), Bentley Spain (96) - We lead for both and in on some good ones...Orlando Brown (6'8.5, 339 lbs.)
WR: Shaq Davidson (96) - Top WR in SC, #5 overall in 2014. In decent shape for 4 star Terry Googer if I remember correctly, but with no commits in 2013 at WR, this will be a position of need in 2014 so I hope we get Shaq and some other good ones to go along with him. Jaelen Strong is another good possibility that was reclassified to the 2014 class and is good friends with 2013 RB David Williams. Isaiah Ford (87) is a good 3 star as is Braxton Berrios (89).
Interior OL: Not aware of any 4 star interior OL's we're in on, but I think we did good with this and the last class and are more in need at OT.
TE: Kevin Crosby (90) 7th best TE in 2014 class. We lead. Also, Kalan Ritchie (88) is the 11th best TE and we're head-to-head vs. Clemsuc. Milan Richard (90) top 3-4 but he's going to UGA.
DE: DeShawn Hand (100) - Top player overall in 2014, longshot but has us in top 10. Never know with what Clowney might accomplish next year could only help. Probably in the best shape for Anthony Moten (92?). We got a few good ones in 2013, but would love to see another great one ala Hand.
DT: Wideman (93), Pringle (92) - would be great haul if we could land both which is definitely possible. Peyton Newell (92) has us in top 5 out of KS. Poona Ford also appears to be a good one, but has not been rated yet.
LB: Christian Robinson (94), OLB/DE Bryson Allen-Williams (91) - We lead for both. Dillon Bates (91) top 4. D'ronzjiah Mathews (90) we lead. Also lead for 3 star Joe Blue (87) who will hopefully be another Shaq Wilson (similar size / instincts). Raekwon McMillan has been on campus and although a long shot, there's a Lloyd Christmas fightin' chance.
CB: Marlon Humphrey (99) - #1 CB in 2014 class has us in top 3 but it would be a near miracle to get this top recruit out of the state of Alabama. Dominique Brown (90) we could probably land if we push, but only other offer currently is from FIU. Best shots are probably unrated prospects Nic Ruffin (Atlanta) and Darrin Smalls (Summerville, SC) right now. Add in Step Durham (UR) in his top 5.
S: Not in top for any great ones that I can see, other than Ronnie Clark (93) in Alabama, but I doubt he leaves the state. Some good ones will pop up as it's very early.
Overall, if we get our top QB (& 6th best QB nationally) - Barker, the top APB in 2014 - Scott, the top WR in state and #5 nationally - Shaq, the #5 & #6 OT's nationally - (Spain, Stanley), and the 7th best TE nationally then that would be an awesome haul on offense and we lead for all of those currently.
On defense we could land an outstanding DL class in Pringle, Wideman (#8 & #12 nationally by 247). Great LB class in Miller, Allen-Williams, & Blue (#5 OLB, #14 OLB, & #20 ILB nationally). And i have no doubt we'll get a good DE or 2 in this class as the world watches Clowney wreak havoc next year. And I also think we land some great DB's with Grady Brown having time enough in his recruiting area to work the ones he wants, but we also have some great young talent there already.
Top 8 in SC (all 4 stars):
1. Shaq Davidson (96) WR - we lead
2. Donell Stanley (95) OT - we lead
3. Christian Miller (94) OLB - legacy we should land
4. Dexter Wideman (93) DT - we're in good shape
5. Jacob Park (93) QB - We lead for a better prospect (, but still recruiting Park too (just in case)
6. Cannon Smith (93) TE - Tater, but we're loaded here and Kevin Crosby is more versatile
7. Naquez Pringle (92) DT - We're in good shape
8. Kevin Crosby (90) TE - We lead
By position:
QB: Drew Barker (94) - We currently lead for the 6th best Pro-Style QB and need to hope Ohio State doesn't push for him and that they can turn their current #1 target and Clemson commit, DeShaun Watson.
RB: Derrell Scott (94) - #1 APB in 2014 class, we lead and have his best friend in the fold in Pharoah Cooper
OT: Donnell Stanley (95), Bentley Spain (96) - We lead for both and in on some good ones...Orlando Brown (6'8.5, 339 lbs.)
WR: Shaq Davidson (96) - Top WR in SC, #5 overall in 2014. In decent shape for 4 star Terry Googer if I remember correctly, but with no commits in 2013 at WR, this will be a position of need in 2014 so I hope we get Shaq and some other good ones to go along with him. Jaelen Strong is another good possibility that was reclassified to the 2014 class and is good friends with 2013 RB David Williams. Isaiah Ford (87) is a good 3 star as is Braxton Berrios (89).
Interior OL: Not aware of any 4 star interior OL's we're in on, but I think we did good with this and the last class and are more in need at OT.
TE: Kevin Crosby (90) 7th best TE in 2014 class. We lead. Also, Kalan Ritchie (88) is the 11th best TE and we're head-to-head vs. Clemsuc. Milan Richard (90) top 3-4 but he's going to UGA.
DE: DeShawn Hand (100) - Top player overall in 2014, longshot but has us in top 10. Never know with what Clowney might accomplish next year could only help. Probably in the best shape for Anthony Moten (92?). We got a few good ones in 2013, but would love to see another great one ala Hand.
DT: Wideman (93), Pringle (92) - would be great haul if we could land both which is definitely possible. Peyton Newell (92) has us in top 5 out of KS. Poona Ford also appears to be a good one, but has not been rated yet.
LB: Christian Robinson (94), OLB/DE Bryson Allen-Williams (91) - We lead for both. Dillon Bates (91) top 4. D'ronzjiah Mathews (90) we lead. Also lead for 3 star Joe Blue (87) who will hopefully be another Shaq Wilson (similar size / instincts). Raekwon McMillan has been on campus and although a long shot, there's a Lloyd Christmas fightin' chance.
CB: Marlon Humphrey (99) - #1 CB in 2014 class has us in top 3 but it would be a near miracle to get this top recruit out of the state of Alabama. Dominique Brown (90) we could probably land if we push, but only other offer currently is from FIU. Best shots are probably unrated prospects Nic Ruffin (Atlanta) and Darrin Smalls (Summerville, SC) right now. Add in Step Durham (UR) in his top 5.
S: Not in top for any great ones that I can see, other than Ronnie Clark (93) in Alabama, but I doubt he leaves the state. Some good ones will pop up as it's very early.
Overall, if we get our top QB (& 6th best QB nationally) - Barker, the top APB in 2014 - Scott, the top WR in state and #5 nationally - Shaq, the #5 & #6 OT's nationally - (Spain, Stanley), and the 7th best TE nationally then that would be an awesome haul on offense and we lead for all of those currently.
On defense we could land an outstanding DL class in Pringle, Wideman (#8 & #12 nationally by 247). Great LB class in Miller, Allen-Williams, & Blue (#5 OLB, #14 OLB, & #20 ILB nationally). And i have no doubt we'll get a good DE or 2 in this class as the world watches Clowney wreak havoc next year. And I also think we land some great DB's with Grady Brown having time enough in his recruiting area to work the ones he wants, but we also have some great young talent there already.
