Chris Smith II recaps visit, QB developments and spring game guests
March 31, 2017
Updating CSII
On Thursday, while visiting Columbus, 3-star cornerback Chris Smith II (Atlanta) added Ohio State to an already impressive list of offers.
Smith’s previous college stop was last Saturday at South Carolina.
“It was great,” he said, during an interview with SEC Country the next day at The Opening.
“It was pretty individualized. I got a chance to see everything. I’ve been up there two or three times, but I’ve never got a chance to see the campus, see the library, so the full stuff like that. I got some 1-on-1 time with coach Muschamp and coach (Travaris Robinson), so it was pretty great overall.”
The 5-foot-10.5, 170-pound cornerback from Hapeville Charter believes the Gamecocks are recruiting him the hardest.
“Basically, they said they need me and they could use me a lot,” Smith said. “That was the basic premise of what they were saying (Saturday). They said they liked the way I played and they like the length of my arms, things like that.”
Muschamp and Robinson “show a lot of love.”
“They talk to me all the time. Coach Muschamp texts me all the time. Coach T-Rob texts me all the time,” Smith said. “Every time I go down there I have a great visit. They’re building a good resumé.”
Robinson, in particular, has made quite an impression on Smith, who is listed by the 247Sports composite as the No. 36 cornerback in the Class of 2018.
Smith recently told Jeff Sentell that South Carolina is among the schools that are “up there” for him. Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Oregon are, too.
One of his former high school teammates, 2017 cornerback William Poole III, signed with Georgia in February. That, combined with the in-state appeal, could be tough to overcome, especially if the Dawgs really sink their teeth in.
But it’s not time to count out South Carolina. Plenty caught his eye while he was on campus last weekend.
“Just all the people out there interacting with each other,” he said. “I really liked the facilities and stuff. I did get to see the academic facility. I liked that.
“Just the overall feeling; everybody around there seemed happy and like a family.”
Quarterbacks and visitors
On Thursday, South Carolina hosted two 2019 prospects from Gaffney (S.C.) High School: cornerback Tyron Hopper and wide receiver Reggie Harris Jr.
“The visit was amazing. I didn’t know how beautiful the campus was,” Hopper said. “I love how the practice goes and how all the coaches and the players have a bond. They treat each other like family. The coaches are amazing there.
“I feel like the Gamecocks are gonna be special this year.”
The Gamecocks were first to offer Hopper earlier this month.
It was a busy news day for South Carolina recruiting on Thursday. In particular, there were some interesting developments at quarterback, as offensive coordinator Kurt Roper tries to add more depth at the position.
Word got out of Thomas Sirk’s plans to take an official visit this weekend. The Duke graduate has one year of eligibility remaining and would be a welcome edition. Familiarity with Roper and his system would make Sirk a natural fit. Given the lack of experience on the depth chart behind Jake Bentley, landing Sirk would leave Muschamp with one less thing to worry about this summer.
South Carolina also offered another 2018 quarterback on Thursday — 3-star prospect Chase Wolf — while he was on campus. On Friday, he’ll visit N.C. State. Stops will be made at North Carolina and Duke over the weekend before Wolf heads back home to Cincinnati.
Thursday offers
An initial list of spring game visitors was rolled out on Thursday morning
Below are a few more prospects that are confirmed as visitors for Saturday.
SEC Country has confirmed the following prospects as guests for the spring game. All are prospects in the 2018 cycle with an offer from South Carolina. Several of them are likely to suit up for future spring games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Recruit
Rating
Hometown
Competition
Xavier Thomas
5-star DE
Florence, S.C.
Clemson
Dakereon Joyner
4-star DT-QB
North Charleston, S.C.
N.C. State
Dax Hollifield
4-star ILB
Shelby, N.C.
UNC, Virginia Tech
Bryce Thompson
3-star ATH
Columbia, S.C.
Virginia Tech
Alim McNeill
4-star DT
Raleigh, N.C.
Virginia Tech
Jerome Carvin
3-star OT
Cordova, Tenn.
Tennessee, Louisville
Sam Pinckney
3-star WR
Greenwood, S.C.
FSU, LSU
Channing Tindall
3-star LB
Columbia, S.C.
Auburn, Georgia
Jabari Ellis
JUCO DT
Santee, S.C.
East Carolina
March 31, 2017
Updating CSII
On Thursday, while visiting Columbus, 3-star cornerback Chris Smith II (Atlanta) added Ohio State to an already impressive list of offers.
Smith’s previous college stop was last Saturday at South Carolina.
“It was great,” he said, during an interview with SEC Country the next day at The Opening.
“It was pretty individualized. I got a chance to see everything. I’ve been up there two or three times, but I’ve never got a chance to see the campus, see the library, so the full stuff like that. I got some 1-on-1 time with coach Muschamp and coach (Travaris Robinson), so it was pretty great overall.”
The 5-foot-10.5, 170-pound cornerback from Hapeville Charter believes the Gamecocks are recruiting him the hardest.
“Basically, they said they need me and they could use me a lot,” Smith said. “That was the basic premise of what they were saying (Saturday). They said they liked the way I played and they like the length of my arms, things like that.”
Muschamp and Robinson “show a lot of love.”
“They talk to me all the time. Coach Muschamp texts me all the time. Coach T-Rob texts me all the time,” Smith said. “Every time I go down there I have a great visit. They’re building a good resumé.”
Robinson, in particular, has made quite an impression on Smith, who is listed by the 247Sports composite as the No. 36 cornerback in the Class of 2018.
Smith recently told Jeff Sentell that South Carolina is among the schools that are “up there” for him. Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Oregon are, too.
One of his former high school teammates, 2017 cornerback William Poole III, signed with Georgia in February. That, combined with the in-state appeal, could be tough to overcome, especially if the Dawgs really sink their teeth in.
But it’s not time to count out South Carolina. Plenty caught his eye while he was on campus last weekend.
“Just all the people out there interacting with each other,” he said. “I really liked the facilities and stuff. I did get to see the academic facility. I liked that.
“Just the overall feeling; everybody around there seemed happy and like a family.”
Quarterbacks and visitors
On Thursday, South Carolina hosted two 2019 prospects from Gaffney (S.C.) High School: cornerback Tyron Hopper and wide receiver Reggie Harris Jr.
“The visit was amazing. I didn’t know how beautiful the campus was,” Hopper said. “I love how the practice goes and how all the coaches and the players have a bond. They treat each other like family. The coaches are amazing there.
“I feel like the Gamecocks are gonna be special this year.”
The Gamecocks were first to offer Hopper earlier this month.
It was a busy news day for South Carolina recruiting on Thursday. In particular, there were some interesting developments at quarterback, as offensive coordinator Kurt Roper tries to add more depth at the position.
Word got out of Thomas Sirk’s plans to take an official visit this weekend. The Duke graduate has one year of eligibility remaining and would be a welcome edition. Familiarity with Roper and his system would make Sirk a natural fit. Given the lack of experience on the depth chart behind Jake Bentley, landing Sirk would leave Muschamp with one less thing to worry about this summer.
South Carolina also offered another 2018 quarterback on Thursday — 3-star prospect Chase Wolf — while he was on campus. On Friday, he’ll visit N.C. State. Stops will be made at North Carolina and Duke over the weekend before Wolf heads back home to Cincinnati.
Thursday offers
- 2020 CB Cartavious Bigsby (Hogansville, Ga.)
- 2018 OT Rasheed Walker (Waldorf, Md.)
An initial list of spring game visitors was rolled out on Thursday morning
Below are a few more prospects that are confirmed as visitors for Saturday.
SEC Country has confirmed the following prospects as guests for the spring game. All are prospects in the 2018 cycle with an offer from South Carolina. Several of them are likely to suit up for future spring games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Recruit
Rating
Hometown
Competition
Xavier Thomas
5-star DE
Florence, S.C.
Clemson
Dakereon Joyner
4-star DT-QB
North Charleston, S.C.
N.C. State
Dax Hollifield
4-star ILB
Shelby, N.C.
UNC, Virginia Tech
Bryce Thompson
3-star ATH
Columbia, S.C.
Virginia Tech
Alim McNeill
4-star DT
Raleigh, N.C.
Virginia Tech
Jerome Carvin
3-star OT
Cordova, Tenn.
Tennessee, Louisville
Sam Pinckney
3-star WR
Greenwood, S.C.
FSU, LSU
Channing Tindall
3-star LB
Columbia, S.C.
Auburn, Georgia
Jabari Ellis
JUCO DT
Santee, S.C.
East Carolina
- 2017 TE Will Register (signed)
- 2017 OLB Damani Staley (signed)
- 2018 RB Lavonte Valentine (Melbourne, Fla.)
- 2019 DL William Green (JUCO)