5 things to watch as USC finishes its 2018 recruiting class
December 12, 2017
The top storylines for the South Carolina football team as the Gamecocks prepare for the two signing periods that will close out the 2018 recruiting class, the third under head coach Will Muschamp.
1. Twice the fun, twice the drama?
There are two signing periods for football this recruiting cycle, and the first begins a week from now on Dec. 20. The Gamecocks are expected to sign a dozen or so in the first wave, with most of those recruits being January enrollees. That includes Fort Dorchester quarterback and Mr. Football Dakereon Joyner. The traditional National Signing Day is still the first Wednesday of February, which falls on Feb. 7 this year. Any drama is likely to linger to the second date, as a number of uncommitted USC targets plan to carry their recruitment into the new year.
2. The numbers game
South Carolina has 19 commitments with room for four more. That’s because (1) running back Ty’Son Williams is now on scholarship after transferring and paying his own way his first year on campus; and (2) defensive lineman Tyreek Johnson of Sumter was a grayshirt from the previous class and will join the Gamecocks in January. So USC has 23 of the maximum 25 new scholarships available to use on this class. The group makeup can always change with attrition or academic casualties.
3. Flip season
The Gamecocks are positioned to capitalize on the uncertainty created by coaching changes at other schools. USC already added one-time Florida State defensive back commitment Israel Mukuamu to the class. He plans to sign next week. Former Tennessee DB commit Jaycee Horn is fresh off an official visit to Columbia, and the Gamecocks are hoping to get FSU linebacker pledge Rosendo Louis on campus soon. Florida offered USC DB commit Jonathan Gipson, so Muschamp and his assistants will also have to fend off the buzz generated by some of the new coaching staffs.
4. Where the class stands
The Gamecocks’ class is No. 21 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite ranking that factors in all networks. That’s seventh-best in the 14-team SEC. Among the individual networks, the class ranks as high as 19th by Rivals, 22nd by 247Sports and 28th by ESPN. The 19-member class includes a trio of four-star prospects and 16 three-stars, according to 247Sports Composite.
5. Local flavor
South Carolina already has two local offensive linemen in the class (Hank Manos of Chapin and Wyatt Campbell from Lugoff-Elgin). The Gamecocks are still battling for Spring Valley linebacker Channing Tindall and Dutch Fork athlete Bryce Thompson. Tindall says he plans to commit somewhere soon, while Thompson could make his decision and sign next week.
December 12, 2017
The top storylines for the South Carolina football team as the Gamecocks prepare for the two signing periods that will close out the 2018 recruiting class, the third under head coach Will Muschamp.
1. Twice the fun, twice the drama?
There are two signing periods for football this recruiting cycle, and the first begins a week from now on Dec. 20. The Gamecocks are expected to sign a dozen or so in the first wave, with most of those recruits being January enrollees. That includes Fort Dorchester quarterback and Mr. Football Dakereon Joyner. The traditional National Signing Day is still the first Wednesday of February, which falls on Feb. 7 this year. Any drama is likely to linger to the second date, as a number of uncommitted USC targets plan to carry their recruitment into the new year.
2. The numbers game
South Carolina has 19 commitments with room for four more. That’s because (1) running back Ty’Son Williams is now on scholarship after transferring and paying his own way his first year on campus; and (2) defensive lineman Tyreek Johnson of Sumter was a grayshirt from the previous class and will join the Gamecocks in January. So USC has 23 of the maximum 25 new scholarships available to use on this class. The group makeup can always change with attrition or academic casualties.
3. Flip season
The Gamecocks are positioned to capitalize on the uncertainty created by coaching changes at other schools. USC already added one-time Florida State defensive back commitment Israel Mukuamu to the class. He plans to sign next week. Former Tennessee DB commit Jaycee Horn is fresh off an official visit to Columbia, and the Gamecocks are hoping to get FSU linebacker pledge Rosendo Louis on campus soon. Florida offered USC DB commit Jonathan Gipson, so Muschamp and his assistants will also have to fend off the buzz generated by some of the new coaching staffs.
4. Where the class stands
The Gamecocks’ class is No. 21 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite ranking that factors in all networks. That’s seventh-best in the 14-team SEC. Among the individual networks, the class ranks as high as 19th by Rivals, 22nd by 247Sports and 28th by ESPN. The 19-member class includes a trio of four-star prospects and 16 three-stars, according to 247Sports Composite.
5. Local flavor
South Carolina already has two local offensive linemen in the class (Hank Manos of Chapin and Wyatt Campbell from Lugoff-Elgin). The Gamecocks are still battling for Spring Valley linebacker Channing Tindall and Dutch Fork athlete Bryce Thompson. Tindall says he plans to commit somewhere soon, while Thompson could make his decision and sign next week.
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