Drama-filled signing day ahead for Gamecocks, new staff
Feb. 02, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
At least nine targets are still considering the Gamecocks
A couple of committed prospects could sign elsewhere
Strong finish would give Carolina momentum for 2017
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article57976978.html#storylink=cpy
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and his staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail for the past several weeks. They will find out on Wednesday if all of their hard work has paid off.
The Gamecocks have at least nine targets who are announcing on National Signing Day, and they could still send out other offers, including one to Newberry athlete Yafari Werts.
South Carolina could also have commitments sign elsewhere. Fort Dorchester wide receiver Diondre Champaigne could be headed to junior college, while Louisiana offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry is considering Mississippi State.
Outside of the 2014 class, USC in recent years has had little to no drama on signing day, but Wednesday could be filled with plenty of twists and turns.
“That happens when you’ve got a new staff because they come in with a new board and new guys because all of these guys worked at other places and they have relationships with other guys,” said Ryan Bartow, a National Recruiting Insider for 247Sports. “You reformulate your board and then you go at it for the last six weeks trying to flip guys and get them in the boat.”
USC already has added commitments from five players who were committed elsewhere when Muschamp was hired: defensive tackle Kobe Smith, wide receiver Kiel Pollard, tight end Evan Hinson, linebacker TJ Brunson and defensive end Dennis Wonnum.
Defensive tackles Karamo Dioubate and Aaron Thompson and wide receivers Randrecous Davis, Jeriko Morris and Korey Banks are USC targets who are either committed to other schools or have decommitted from other schools and will announce Wednesday.
Bartow added that USC’s ability to get in the mix with so many guys in a short amount of time has been impressive.
“First of all, the fan base has to look at it realistically and say if you can get anybody in six weeks it’s a borderline miracle,” he said. “You’re building two- to three-year relationships with these kids, and you’re going to a different program and trying to do what other programs have done in multiple years in condensed time. Getting a guy like Kobe Smith or Keir Thomas committed late, I think those are steals. Those are tremendous players at a position of need.”
South Carolina’s class is currently ranked in the 30s by Rivals and 247Sports, but USC could make a jump if it is able to hit on several of its remaining targets.
Woody Wommack, a Southeast recruiting analyst for Rivals, said if the Gamecocks finish strong it would not only be a boost on the field but would also give USC momentum for 2017 recruiting and beyond.
“Obviously it’s tough because when you look at the SEC and the way things shake out in terms of the team rankings they’re still down near the bottom of the pack,” he said. “But if they can move up and show people that they’re on the right track I think it would be a big boost for them, especially for future classes.”
NINE TO WATCH
Announcement schedule of USC targets:
Korey Banks
WR, Tyrone, Ga., 7:30 a.m.
USC vs. UNC and Alabama
Stephon Taylor
DT, New Orleans, 9:30 a.m.
USC vs. Texas and FSU
Randrecous Davis
WR, Atlanta, 10 a.m.
USC vs. Miami
Jacoby Hill
DE, Atlanta, 10 a.m.
USC vs. Indiana and Memphis
Jeriko Morris
WR, Crystal Springs, Miss., 10 a.m.
USC vs. Southern Miss.
Aaron Thompson
DT, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 11 a.m.
USC vs. Maryland
Malcolm Roach
DL, Baton Rouge, La. 1:30 p.m.
USC vs. Texas
Hank Tuipulotu
TE, Fort Mill, 2 p.m.
USC vs. BYU
Karamo Dioubate
DT, Philadelphia, Unscheduled
USC vs. Michigan State, Temple
THE STATE
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article57976978.html#storylink=cpy
Feb. 02, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
At least nine targets are still considering the Gamecocks
A couple of committed prospects could sign elsewhere
Strong finish would give Carolina momentum for 2017
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article57976978.html#storylink=cpy
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and his staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail for the past several weeks. They will find out on Wednesday if all of their hard work has paid off.
The Gamecocks have at least nine targets who are announcing on National Signing Day, and they could still send out other offers, including one to Newberry athlete Yafari Werts.
South Carolina could also have commitments sign elsewhere. Fort Dorchester wide receiver Diondre Champaigne could be headed to junior college, while Louisiana offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry is considering Mississippi State.
Outside of the 2014 class, USC in recent years has had little to no drama on signing day, but Wednesday could be filled with plenty of twists and turns.
“That happens when you’ve got a new staff because they come in with a new board and new guys because all of these guys worked at other places and they have relationships with other guys,” said Ryan Bartow, a National Recruiting Insider for 247Sports. “You reformulate your board and then you go at it for the last six weeks trying to flip guys and get them in the boat.”
USC already has added commitments from five players who were committed elsewhere when Muschamp was hired: defensive tackle Kobe Smith, wide receiver Kiel Pollard, tight end Evan Hinson, linebacker TJ Brunson and defensive end Dennis Wonnum.
Defensive tackles Karamo Dioubate and Aaron Thompson and wide receivers Randrecous Davis, Jeriko Morris and Korey Banks are USC targets who are either committed to other schools or have decommitted from other schools and will announce Wednesday.
Bartow added that USC’s ability to get in the mix with so many guys in a short amount of time has been impressive.
“First of all, the fan base has to look at it realistically and say if you can get anybody in six weeks it’s a borderline miracle,” he said. “You’re building two- to three-year relationships with these kids, and you’re going to a different program and trying to do what other programs have done in multiple years in condensed time. Getting a guy like Kobe Smith or Keir Thomas committed late, I think those are steals. Those are tremendous players at a position of need.”
South Carolina’s class is currently ranked in the 30s by Rivals and 247Sports, but USC could make a jump if it is able to hit on several of its remaining targets.
Woody Wommack, a Southeast recruiting analyst for Rivals, said if the Gamecocks finish strong it would not only be a boost on the field but would also give USC momentum for 2017 recruiting and beyond.
“Obviously it’s tough because when you look at the SEC and the way things shake out in terms of the team rankings they’re still down near the bottom of the pack,” he said. “But if they can move up and show people that they’re on the right track I think it would be a big boost for them, especially for future classes.”
NINE TO WATCH
Announcement schedule of USC targets:
Korey Banks
WR, Tyrone, Ga., 7:30 a.m.
USC vs. UNC and Alabama
Stephon Taylor
DT, New Orleans, 9:30 a.m.
USC vs. Texas and FSU
Randrecous Davis
WR, Atlanta, 10 a.m.
USC vs. Miami
Jacoby Hill
DE, Atlanta, 10 a.m.
USC vs. Indiana and Memphis
Jeriko Morris
WR, Crystal Springs, Miss., 10 a.m.
USC vs. Southern Miss.
Aaron Thompson
DT, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 11 a.m.
USC vs. Maryland
Malcolm Roach
DL, Baton Rouge, La. 1:30 p.m.
USC vs. Texas
Hank Tuipulotu
TE, Fort Mill, 2 p.m.
USC vs. BYU
Karamo Dioubate
DT, Philadelphia, Unscheduled
USC vs. Michigan State, Temple
THE STATE
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article57976978.html#storylink=cpy
