Behind the scenes, South Carolina recruiting prepares for coaching change
Nov. 16, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Official visits shifted to take place after season ends
Current USC staff continues to recruit prospects
Hiring new coach will be made with recruiting in mind
With the South Carolina football program expected to name a new head coach in a few weeks, here are five recruiting story lines related to the pending staff transition.
1. Recruiting is on hold (at least a little)
Shawn Elliott and Ray Tanner denied that there is a directive to not take commitments for the 2016 recruiting class, as FoxSports reported Saturday. There is, however, evidence that timelines are being shifted to December and beyond.
One uncommitted prospect had his official visit rescheduled from the Florida game weekend until after the season with the intention that he can meet USC’s new coach. At least one committed recruit wanted to take his official visit in-season, but that trip was moved to January. Also, another prospect told The State he wanted to commit to USC earlier this month but was encouraged to wait.
2. Recruiting is not on hold
Class of 2016 commitments and prospects continue to hear from their South Carolina recruiters. In a survey of the 16 USC commitments, most responded and revealed that they hear from a USC coach at least once a week, with several receiving text message or social media contact almost daily.
The staff also hosted around 100 prospects this weekend for the Florida game, including several of the commitments. A smaller group will be in for The Citadel game, but another large turnout is expected for the Clemson game Nov. 28.
“Every prospect that we have has a question in recruiting about what’s going to go on here and the situation,” Elliott said. “You’ve got to continue to recruit, go out and send a strong message. You’ve got to say, ‘OK guys, you’ve got to understand, this thing will probably shake out, and I may potentially be the head football coach here, or someone else. But before that all does happen, if you’re committed to the Gamecocks at this point, stand strong until there’s a sense of certainty around here.’ ”
3. Working with the calendar
The timing of the coaching hire is very much tied to the recruiting calendar, Tanner has said.
“If it was to play out like I would like for it to,” Tanner told Phil Kornblut on SportsTalk, “no later than early December we would be moving forward where a coach would have an opportunity for over two months to get in a position to maintain the recruits that we have and to maybe secure some other recruits.”
If a coaching hire is made the week following the Clemson game, the new staff will have about two weeks (including two weekends for official visits) for a full-steam ahead recruiting push before a “dead period” sets in. During the dead period from Dec. 14 through Jan. 13, coaches and prospects cannot have face-to-face contact, but can communicate other ways.
When the dead period ends, it becomes a mad dash to the finish line with three available weekends for official visits. National Signing Day is Feb. 3.
4. Keeping the class together
USC has had two decommitments since Steve Spurrier announced his resignation: linebacker P.J. Blue of Montgomery, Ala., and defensive back Marlon Character of Atlanta. More attrition wouldn’t be a surprise once prospects meet the new coaches and get a feel for how they might fit in with a new system.
A key to the class is quarterback Brandon McIlwain of Newtown, Pa. McIlwain plans to enroll midyear at USC, but he is also a top baseball prospect and could decide to stay in high school and go through the MLB Draft process. He also said last week that keeping recruiter and quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus as part of the new staff is important to him.
5. By the numbers
The Gamecocks can sign a maximum of 25 in the class, and that number can increase depending on how many prospects opt to enroll in January. A new staff could fill up the class completely or leave a few spots open and plan for a larger 2017 class that would include several mid-year enrollees.
As often happens with coaching changes, it wouldn’t be a surprise for a commit or two to follow a new coach from his previous school to USC.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article45102384.html#storylink=cpy
Nov. 16, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Official visits shifted to take place after season ends
Current USC staff continues to recruit prospects
Hiring new coach will be made with recruiting in mind
With the South Carolina football program expected to name a new head coach in a few weeks, here are five recruiting story lines related to the pending staff transition.
1. Recruiting is on hold (at least a little)
Shawn Elliott and Ray Tanner denied that there is a directive to not take commitments for the 2016 recruiting class, as FoxSports reported Saturday. There is, however, evidence that timelines are being shifted to December and beyond.
One uncommitted prospect had his official visit rescheduled from the Florida game weekend until after the season with the intention that he can meet USC’s new coach. At least one committed recruit wanted to take his official visit in-season, but that trip was moved to January. Also, another prospect told The State he wanted to commit to USC earlier this month but was encouraged to wait.
2. Recruiting is not on hold
Class of 2016 commitments and prospects continue to hear from their South Carolina recruiters. In a survey of the 16 USC commitments, most responded and revealed that they hear from a USC coach at least once a week, with several receiving text message or social media contact almost daily.
The staff also hosted around 100 prospects this weekend for the Florida game, including several of the commitments. A smaller group will be in for The Citadel game, but another large turnout is expected for the Clemson game Nov. 28.
“Every prospect that we have has a question in recruiting about what’s going to go on here and the situation,” Elliott said. “You’ve got to continue to recruit, go out and send a strong message. You’ve got to say, ‘OK guys, you’ve got to understand, this thing will probably shake out, and I may potentially be the head football coach here, or someone else. But before that all does happen, if you’re committed to the Gamecocks at this point, stand strong until there’s a sense of certainty around here.’ ”
3. Working with the calendar
The timing of the coaching hire is very much tied to the recruiting calendar, Tanner has said.
“If it was to play out like I would like for it to,” Tanner told Phil Kornblut on SportsTalk, “no later than early December we would be moving forward where a coach would have an opportunity for over two months to get in a position to maintain the recruits that we have and to maybe secure some other recruits.”
If a coaching hire is made the week following the Clemson game, the new staff will have about two weeks (including two weekends for official visits) for a full-steam ahead recruiting push before a “dead period” sets in. During the dead period from Dec. 14 through Jan. 13, coaches and prospects cannot have face-to-face contact, but can communicate other ways.
When the dead period ends, it becomes a mad dash to the finish line with three available weekends for official visits. National Signing Day is Feb. 3.
4. Keeping the class together
USC has had two decommitments since Steve Spurrier announced his resignation: linebacker P.J. Blue of Montgomery, Ala., and defensive back Marlon Character of Atlanta. More attrition wouldn’t be a surprise once prospects meet the new coaches and get a feel for how they might fit in with a new system.
A key to the class is quarterback Brandon McIlwain of Newtown, Pa. McIlwain plans to enroll midyear at USC, but he is also a top baseball prospect and could decide to stay in high school and go through the MLB Draft process. He also said last week that keeping recruiter and quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus as part of the new staff is important to him.
5. By the numbers
The Gamecocks can sign a maximum of 25 in the class, and that number can increase depending on how many prospects opt to enroll in January. A new staff could fill up the class completely or leave a few spots open and plan for a larger 2017 class that would include several mid-year enrollees.
As often happens with coaching changes, it wouldn’t be a surprise for a commit or two to follow a new coach from his previous school to USC.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article45102384.html#storylink=cpy