Examining Gamecocks’ needs for 2020
June 25, 2018
Just think where South Carolina’s 2019 class was at this time a year ago. At the end of last June, the Gamecocks didn’t list a single commitment for the Class of 2019. Three-star linebacker Ahdarrious Gee, who is no longer part of the class, was first to commit.
Gee committed in late July. The second and third additions, Rodricus Fitten and Jaylen Nichols, didn’t commit until September and December, respectively.
With that in mind, South Carolina’s 2020 haul is ahead of the curve. Three-star running back Mecose Todd hopped on board in February, followed by 3-star guard Tyshawn Wannamaker, who committed in April. Four-star tackle Issiah Walker announced in May.
After taking a look at who’s left for the Gamecocks in 2019, it’s time to peek ahead to the 2020 class.
The quarterback
We’ll assume that South Carolina signs one quarterback in the Class of 2020. And it would appear that Gamecocks quarterbacks coach Dan Werner has zeroed in on 3-star dual-threat Luke Doty, the No. 6-ranked prospect from the state of South Carolina’s loaded 2020 crop.
Doty, who’s from Myrtle Beach, is one of six 2020 quarterbacks with an offer from South Carolina, according to 247Sports. One of the other five is already committed to Notre Dame. A couple of the others — D.J. Uiagalelei and Jack Miller — are national-type recruits.
In addition to South Carolina, Doty (6-2, 190) lists offers from several ACC and SEC programs, including Auburn, N.C. State, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Virginia Tech.
Clemson, the team he grew up rooting for, has offered a couple of 2020 quarterbacks, though Doty isn’t one of them. Uiagalelei and Chandler Morris, the son of former offensive coordinator Chad Morris, have been offered by the Tigers.
Doty, who also visited Auburn, Clemson and North Carolina for camp this month, plans to make a commitment after his junior season at Myrtle Beach High School.
Will Muschamp (left) had some face time with Alex Huntley (right) in June.
In-state bigs
As noted above, Doty is the sixth-best in-state prospect, according to the 247Sports composite. The five ahead of him are defensive linemen.
The No. 1-ranked prospect, 5-star defensive tackle Demonte Capehart, is committed to Clemson. Assuming that ship has sailed, South Carolina’s focus turns to the others, including 4-star defensive end Jordan Burch and 4-star defensive tackle Alex Huntley, the teammates from Hammond School in Columbia, where Muschamp’s oldest son, Jackson, plays quarterback.
Four-star defensive end Tonka Hemingway and 4-star defensive tackle Xavier McIver round out the five. All five have Gamecocks offers.
Presumed priority
Quarterback and defensive line — those positions are usually at the top of every college football coach’s wish list in any given recruiting cycle, not just Muschamp’s for 2020.
But given the composition of South Carolina’s current roster, running back is expected to be a priority for the Gamecocks in the 2020 cycle. Mon Denson, Rico Dowdle, A.J. Turner and Ty’Son Williams are all juniors right now, so we’ll operate under the assumption that all four will have exhausted their eligibility once the calendar flips to 2020.
What happens between now and then will dictate how many running backs are signed with that class, but this much seems certain right now: Todd won’t be the last commitment at the position.
South Carolina has offered six of the 10 top-ranked running backs in the country, including 5-star Zachary Evans, who’s the No. 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2020.
June 25, 2018
Just think where South Carolina’s 2019 class was at this time a year ago. At the end of last June, the Gamecocks didn’t list a single commitment for the Class of 2019. Three-star linebacker Ahdarrious Gee, who is no longer part of the class, was first to commit.
Gee committed in late July. The second and third additions, Rodricus Fitten and Jaylen Nichols, didn’t commit until September and December, respectively.
With that in mind, South Carolina’s 2020 haul is ahead of the curve. Three-star running back Mecose Todd hopped on board in February, followed by 3-star guard Tyshawn Wannamaker, who committed in April. Four-star tackle Issiah Walker announced in May.
After taking a look at who’s left for the Gamecocks in 2019, it’s time to peek ahead to the 2020 class.
The quarterback
We’ll assume that South Carolina signs one quarterback in the Class of 2020. And it would appear that Gamecocks quarterbacks coach Dan Werner has zeroed in on 3-star dual-threat Luke Doty, the No. 6-ranked prospect from the state of South Carolina’s loaded 2020 crop.
Doty, who’s from Myrtle Beach, is one of six 2020 quarterbacks with an offer from South Carolina, according to 247Sports. One of the other five is already committed to Notre Dame. A couple of the others — D.J. Uiagalelei and Jack Miller — are national-type recruits.
In addition to South Carolina, Doty (6-2, 190) lists offers from several ACC and SEC programs, including Auburn, N.C. State, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Virginia Tech.
Clemson, the team he grew up rooting for, has offered a couple of 2020 quarterbacks, though Doty isn’t one of them. Uiagalelei and Chandler Morris, the son of former offensive coordinator Chad Morris, have been offered by the Tigers.
Doty, who also visited Auburn, Clemson and North Carolina for camp this month, plans to make a commitment after his junior season at Myrtle Beach High School.
Will Muschamp (left) had some face time with Alex Huntley (right) in June.
In-state bigs
As noted above, Doty is the sixth-best in-state prospect, according to the 247Sports composite. The five ahead of him are defensive linemen.
The No. 1-ranked prospect, 5-star defensive tackle Demonte Capehart, is committed to Clemson. Assuming that ship has sailed, South Carolina’s focus turns to the others, including 4-star defensive end Jordan Burch and 4-star defensive tackle Alex Huntley, the teammates from Hammond School in Columbia, where Muschamp’s oldest son, Jackson, plays quarterback.
Four-star defensive end Tonka Hemingway and 4-star defensive tackle Xavier McIver round out the five. All five have Gamecocks offers.
Presumed priority
Quarterback and defensive line — those positions are usually at the top of every college football coach’s wish list in any given recruiting cycle, not just Muschamp’s for 2020.
But given the composition of South Carolina’s current roster, running back is expected to be a priority for the Gamecocks in the 2020 cycle. Mon Denson, Rico Dowdle, A.J. Turner and Ty’Son Williams are all juniors right now, so we’ll operate under the assumption that all four will have exhausted their eligibility once the calendar flips to 2020.
What happens between now and then will dictate how many running backs are signed with that class, but this much seems certain right now: Todd won’t be the last commitment at the position.
South Carolina has offered six of the 10 top-ranked running backs in the country, including 5-star Zachary Evans, who’s the No. 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2020.