period ends, and recruiting ramps up for GamecocksJan. 13, 2017
How important is DL Javon Kinlaw of Jones County JC, MS to USC head coach Will Muschamp? Important enough that Muschamp and defensive line coach Lance Thompson made Kinlaw one of their first stops on Thursday, Jan. 12, the first day of the new contact period and the day before he heads west to Southern Cal for his official visit. “They’re pretty much just trying to win me over,” said Kinlaw, who was once committed to the Gamecocks. He is once again favoring the Gamecocks over Southern Cal, calling the strength of that lead a six on a scale of ten. “It’s just all about communication. That’s what it is, that’s what it is for me.” Kinlaw said the USC coaches are the only ones he expects to see tomorrow. Kinlaw said Southern Cal and Alabama are also recruiting him hard and he hears from both regularly. Part of his reason for decommitting from USC was because he wanted to take other official visits, something he didn’t get the chance to do in high school, so he’s ready for the experience of checking out new areas. “I don’t know what I expect to see,” he said. “I just want to see if I can build good relationships with the coaches. I don’t really know what I expect to see.” Kinlaw will take his official visit to Alabama next weekend and USC will get his final official visit the last weekend of the month. He will announce his decision on January 31st.
DE Devonte Wyatt of Decatur, GA is a former USC commitment who currently is a Georgia commitment, but the strength of that commitment will be tested this weekend when he makes his official visit to USC. Originally, Wyatt was going to Georgia this weekend and USC next weekend. But he’s changed that and will be in Columbia with his parents Friday, Jan. 13. “I moved it up because I wanted to go to South Carolina first,” Wyatt said. “South Carolina was the first one to give me an offer. I’m not looking for too much, just want to feel like I’m at home.” Wyatt said while he is committed to Georgia, USC is right there. “They are really even to me,” he said. And could he flip to the Gamecocks this weekend? “It’s possible. They don’t have to show me nothing too much.” Wyatt also is scheduled to visit Florida January 28th.
DE Jaylen Twyman of Washington, DC will make his first ever visit to USC this weekend for an official visit with the Gamecocks. Twyman is being recruited by defensive line coach Lance Thompson, and the two are in regular contact. “We are always talking about me being a difference maker at a program and all that good stuff,” Twyman said. “He likes me for the short side of the field, a three technique and over the nose. All over the line basically. They are a great program with down to earth coaches. And of course it’s in the best conference in college football.” Twyman said he became interested in the Gamecocks after his research revealed a number of defensive linemen that the Gamecocks have put into the NFL in recent years. Twyman said his mom and possibly a few other members of his family will make the drive down with him on Friday. And he has some specific things he’d like to see and experience while on the visit. “I want to feel the love thru the coaching staff and more so the players,” he said. “I want to make sure it’s a family environment before I make any moves.” Twyman has seen the itinerary for the weekend and it includes attending the men’s basketball game Saturday against Ole Miss and eating breakfast at Will Muschamp’s home on Sunday morning. Twyman said he’s not going into this visit with any preconceived notion for committing. He also has visited Pitt and is scheduled to visit Missouri January 20th. There is not a leader. This season Twyman had 91 tackles, 8 sacks and 1 interception.
USC target OL Tony Gray of Loganville, GA announced a top five of USC, Florida State, Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn. He has set an official visit to USC for this weekend. He goes to Florida next weekend.
The dead period ended Wednesday night and official visits will resume this weekend. Here’s a rundown of scheduled visits for uncommitted prospects this weekend and the list is subject to change: DE Brad Johnson, OL Jordan Rhodes, DE Jaylen Twyman, DE Devonte Wyatt and OL Tony Gray. Most of the Gamecock commitments not enrolled in school also will visit this weekend.
USC commitment DB Jamyest Williams of Loganville, GA will take an official visit to Georgia January 21st but is fully committed to USC according to what he told GoGamecocks.com Friday. “100 percent,” Williams said of his commitment. Asked if there was any chance he could flip to the Bulldogs, Williams answered, “Nah, not right … nah. No sir.” Williams has not set his official visit date with Georgia. He will visit USC the final weekend of the month.
USC commitment Kyshaun Bryan of Fort Lauderdale was offered this week by Oregon State. Despite reports that USC is not taking another scholarship running back for this class, and the fact he hasn’t heard from USC in weeks, Bryan said he is not decommitting.
USC commitment DB Zay Brown told SECCountry he will visit Arkansas State January 21 and USC the last weekend of January.
USC is taking a look at former North Carolina cornerback Mike Hughes, who was a standout at Garden City JC, KS this past season. “Yes sir they have been recruiting me pretty hard,” Hughes confirmed over the weekend. He did not say if he will take an official visit to USC. He has taken officials to East Carolina and TCU. Hughes is a native of New Bern, NC. He played in 12 games as a true freshman at UNC. He was suspended for one game after his arrest for a count of misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury after an incident at a UNC fraternity house in October of 2015. He agreed to 100 hours of community service and restitution to clear his record. He left the Tar Heels in February for what was termed “personal reasons.” This past season Hughes had 47 tackles with 2 interceptions and 6 passes broken up. He has three years to play two at his next stop.
DL Romello Martin of Brooklyn had set an official visit to USC for January 21st but now has to retake the SAT that weekend and won’t make it to Columbia then. He has been in touch with recruiter Lance Thompson and said the Gamecocks remain interested and he’s expecting Thompson to visit later this month. Martin said he is still scheduled to visit Ole Miss January 28th and he’s also hearing from Florida, Miami, Louisville and Penn State.
RB Caleb Kinlaw of Pearl River JC, MS is planning to walk-on at USC this spring and he’s hoping to start school this week. First, he has to make it thru USC admissions. “I got word that they’re waiting for 2 of my transcripts that I have to get sent there and I should be admitted,” Kinlaw said last week. Kinlaw is a former Shrine Bowler from Goose Creek who started his college career at Wisconsin.
USC announced freshmen OL Summie Carlay, DB Jaylin Dickerson, WR OrTre Smith & DL MJ Webb have enrolled. Per TheBigSpur, USC JUCO DB commit Keisean Nixon may not be able to enroll until the summer due to an academic issue.
TE Cameron Butler of Ridge View currently is committed to Colorado State and is scheduled for a visit there this weekend. But he’s getting some interest from USC and would be open to more from the Gamecocks. Butler said he went to two games at USC this season. Butler also has offers from Appalachian State, Georgia State, Old Dominion, Liberty, Coastal Carolina and Mercer. This season Butler had 41 catches for 490 yards and 1 touchdown. He also was named to the Shrine Bowl.
Long snapper Ben Reeder of JL Mann was offered a preferred walk-on spot at USC. He’s not yet made a decision on that and is still talking with Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia about possible scholarship opportunities.
2018 QB Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester will visit Virginia Tech this coming weekend as previously set, and he will visit USC the next weekend, a visit that had not previously been set.
2018 WR Jordyn Adams will leave Blythewood at the end of this semester for his new school in Greenville, NC where his father is the defensive line coach for East Carolina. Adams played quarterback for the Bengals last season but said he wants to play strictly receiver at his next school because that will be his college position. Where he will play receiver remains up in the air though Adams said Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are the schools recruiting him the hardest at this point. He is planning to visit Clemson for a junior day January 28th and is also planning junior day stops at North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Adams also has an offer from USC but said the Gamecocks aren’t on him as strongly as the others. “Not a lot” he said about the contact he’s getting from USC. “Me and coach McClendon talk probably weekly. He texts me weekly but like mail wise and things like that and DMs from the recruiting Twitter page and stuff like that, not a lot compared to the other schools.” Adams also has offers from Ole Miss, East Carolina, Southern Miss, Maryland, Tulane, Kentucky, Missouri and Wake Forest. He does not have a favorite at this point. Adams said baseball also remains an important element in his decision and the quality of the program will be an important factor in his final decision.
Powdersville 2018 RB EJ Humphrey (5-10 170) is starting to see recruiters look his way after a season of 1685 rushing yards, 2061 all purpose yards and 30 touchdowns. “I’ve been receiving a lot of attention from South Carolina, Virginia Tech, NC State, North Carolina, and Coastal Carolina amongst others.” Humphrey said the Gamecocks have been active in showing interest at this point and he’s hoping for more from them. “I have spoken on several occasion with coach Bentley and he has advised me and my coach Robert Mustar that I am high in their list,” Humphrey said. “They are not going to take any running back in 2017 and will take two in 2018. What South Carolina likes about me is my vision and speed, and I have good hands. I love South Carolina. I have a sister who graduated from there last December and one who still attends South Carolina, so my family and I are very familiar with the campus and Columbia.” Humphrey visited USC and Appalachian State during the season. He is going to North Carolina February 4th for a basketball game and he is planning to go to USC, Virginia Tech and Coastal for junior day events.
2018 South Pointe LB Eli Adams picked up offer from Maryland. He also has offers from USC and East Carolina.
USC offered 2018 WR Russell Brown of Lehigh Acres, FL, 2018 LB Dallas Gant of Toledo and 2018 TE Brevin Jordan of Las Vegas, 2018 DB Tre' Douglas of McDonough, GA and 2018 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson of Las Vegas.
Basketball News:
One of the nation’s top prospects in the 2019 basketball class, 6-7 Christian Brown of AC Flora, was at Clemson for the North Carolina game. USC also is one of his offers and the Gamecocks are keeping up their interest as well. “Coach Frank (Martin) has come to a couple of games,” Brown said. "He’s not recruiting hard but he has shown interest. I have been told USC really doesn’t recruit hard until the junior year.” Central Florida and VCU are the latest offers for Brown. He also has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas and Oklahoma State, among others.
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