Gamecocks keeping more prospects at home for 2014
INSTATE SIGNEES
(x-2014 are commitments)
Year
USC
Clemson
2001
8
13
2002
10
5
2003
10
5
2004
15
10
2005
7
8
2006
4
6
2007
5
10
2008
7
10
2009
11
5
2010
7
9
2011
10
13
2012
4
11
2013
3
5
x-2014
8
7*
Numbers include only those who played high school the prior year
Sources: Rivals.com, The State archives
*Includes grayshirt commitment
South Carolina’s signing class will have more of a home-grown feel this year.
Eight of the Gamecocks’ 18 commitments are from the Palmetto State for 2014, a year with a deeper overall instate talent pool.
“I like our instate players. It’s a good group,” said Steve Spurrier Jr., USC’s recruiting coordinator. “It’s good to have the best players you can sign instate every year.”
Nineteen of the state’s top 25 in 247Sports’ Composite rankings are headed to SEC or ACC schools, compared with nine from the 2013 class.
Two others in the top 25 are headed to Oklahoma State and Wisconsin. Others outside that top group are committed to Louisville, Indiana, Georgia Tech and Duke.
“There’s’ a lot of talent at the top and it’s really deep,” said Keith Niebuhr, recruiting analyst for 247Sports. “When you have guys in the 20 to 25 range still going to SEC schools, there are not a lot of states that can say that.”
The top five includes three prospects poised to leave the state: Spring Valley linebacker Christian Miller (Alabama); Stratford quarterback Jacob Park (Georgia); and Saluda defensive tackle Dexter Wideman (Florida State).
Latta offensive lineman Donell Stanley and Gaffney wide receiver Shaq Davidson – two top South Carolina targets this cycle – headline the Gamecocks’ class instate and overall.
It’s a solid instate group but without a national name such as Jadeveon Clowney (2011) and Marcus Lattimore (2010), Niebuhr said.
“Christian Miller is a legit five-star talent,” Niebuhr said. “Jacob Park may have as much upside as any quarterback in the class. Guys like Donell Stanely and Dexter Wideman are terrific interior players. The state of South Carolina has a little bit of everything. It’s always good there. It may just lack a little bit of star power.”
This year will mark the first time since 2009 that USC signs more instate players than Clemson. Both schools are expected to sign around 20 prospects Wednesday. The smaller-than-normal classes for the Gamecocks and Tigers are among of the reasons local talent is leaving the state, Niebuhr said.
“Maybe in a normal year Blake Bone could go to South Carolina or Clemson, but they have light numbers,” Niebuhr said of the Kentucky-bound receiver from Woodruff.
USC could add one more instate prospect when Wideman decides on signing day whether he’ll choose the Gamecocks or stick with the Seminoles. A change of heart from the Saluda standout would give USC four four-star prospects from instate in this class.
“It’s a good group,” Niebuhr said. “If they can flip Wideman, that would be significant. He’s a really good player.”
It’s important to keep as many top players at home as possible, Spurrier said.
“We always want to try to sign five to 10,” he said. “We want players from this state on our team. In the long run, it makes a difference. They understand about this state and about South Carolina. We do our best to really evaluate those guys and sign as many as we can.”
TOP 25 IN SOUTH CAROLINA
As ranked by 247Sports’ Composite listing, which factors in all networks.
Prospect, Pos.
High School
Commitment
1. Christian Miller, LB
Spring Valley
Alabama
2. Jacob Park, QB
Stratford
Georgia
3. Donell Stanley, OL
Latta
USC
4. Dexter Wideman, DL
Saluda
Florida State
5. Shaq Davidson, WR
Gaffney
USC
6. Poona Ford, DL
Hilton Head
Undecided
7. Mason Rudolph, QB
Northwestern
Oklahoma St.
8. Cannon Smith, OL
Hammond
Clemson
9. Kevin Crosby, TE
Bam.-Ehrhardt
USC
10. Jae’lon Oglesby, RB
Daniel
Clemson
11. Nolan Kelleher, OL
Wando
Florida
12. Zeek Rodney, DL
South Pointe
Wake Forest
13. Darin Smalls, DB
Summerville
USC
14. Quadarius Fair, WR
Northwestern
S.C. State
15. Blake Bone, WR
Woodruff
Kentucky
16. Malik Young, OL
Woodmont
USC
17. Kendall Joseph, LB
Belton Honea Path
Clemson
18. Caleb Kinlaw, RB
Goose Creek
Wisconsin
19. C.J. Fuller, DB
Easley
Clemson
20. Kalan Ritchie, TE/DE
Goose Creek
USC
21. Naquez Pringle, DL
Carvers Bay
Undecided
22. Joe Blue, FB
Dillon
USC
23. Taylor Hearn, OL
Williston-Elko
Clemson
24. Messiah Rice, OL
Orange.-Wilkinson
East Carolina
25. Tyshun Samuel, WR
Chapman
USC
INSTATE SIGNEES
(x-2014 are commitments)
Year
USC
Clemson
2001
8
13
2002
10
5
2003
10
5
2004
15
10
2005
7
8
2006
4
6
2007
5
10
2008
7
10
2009
11
5
2010
7
9
2011
10
13
2012
4
11
2013
3
5
x-2014
8
7*
Numbers include only those who played high school the prior year
Sources: Rivals.com, The State archives
*Includes grayshirt commitment
South Carolina’s signing class will have more of a home-grown feel this year.
Eight of the Gamecocks’ 18 commitments are from the Palmetto State for 2014, a year with a deeper overall instate talent pool.
“I like our instate players. It’s a good group,” said Steve Spurrier Jr., USC’s recruiting coordinator. “It’s good to have the best players you can sign instate every year.”
Nineteen of the state’s top 25 in 247Sports’ Composite rankings are headed to SEC or ACC schools, compared with nine from the 2013 class.
Two others in the top 25 are headed to Oklahoma State and Wisconsin. Others outside that top group are committed to Louisville, Indiana, Georgia Tech and Duke.
“There’s’ a lot of talent at the top and it’s really deep,” said Keith Niebuhr, recruiting analyst for 247Sports. “When you have guys in the 20 to 25 range still going to SEC schools, there are not a lot of states that can say that.”
The top five includes three prospects poised to leave the state: Spring Valley linebacker Christian Miller (Alabama); Stratford quarterback Jacob Park (Georgia); and Saluda defensive tackle Dexter Wideman (Florida State).
Latta offensive lineman Donell Stanley and Gaffney wide receiver Shaq Davidson – two top South Carolina targets this cycle – headline the Gamecocks’ class instate and overall.
It’s a solid instate group but without a national name such as Jadeveon Clowney (2011) and Marcus Lattimore (2010), Niebuhr said.
“Christian Miller is a legit five-star talent,” Niebuhr said. “Jacob Park may have as much upside as any quarterback in the class. Guys like Donell Stanely and Dexter Wideman are terrific interior players. The state of South Carolina has a little bit of everything. It’s always good there. It may just lack a little bit of star power.”
This year will mark the first time since 2009 that USC signs more instate players than Clemson. Both schools are expected to sign around 20 prospects Wednesday. The smaller-than-normal classes for the Gamecocks and Tigers are among of the reasons local talent is leaving the state, Niebuhr said.
“Maybe in a normal year Blake Bone could go to South Carolina or Clemson, but they have light numbers,” Niebuhr said of the Kentucky-bound receiver from Woodruff.
USC could add one more instate prospect when Wideman decides on signing day whether he’ll choose the Gamecocks or stick with the Seminoles. A change of heart from the Saluda standout would give USC four four-star prospects from instate in this class.
“It’s a good group,” Niebuhr said. “If they can flip Wideman, that would be significant. He’s a really good player.”
It’s important to keep as many top players at home as possible, Spurrier said.
“We always want to try to sign five to 10,” he said. “We want players from this state on our team. In the long run, it makes a difference. They understand about this state and about South Carolina. We do our best to really evaluate those guys and sign as many as we can.”
TOP 25 IN SOUTH CAROLINA
As ranked by 247Sports’ Composite listing, which factors in all networks.
Prospect, Pos.
High School
Commitment
1. Christian Miller, LB
Spring Valley
Alabama
2. Jacob Park, QB
Stratford
Georgia
3. Donell Stanley, OL
Latta
USC
4. Dexter Wideman, DL
Saluda
Florida State
5. Shaq Davidson, WR
Gaffney
USC
6. Poona Ford, DL
Hilton Head
Undecided
7. Mason Rudolph, QB
Northwestern
Oklahoma St.
8. Cannon Smith, OL
Hammond
Clemson
9. Kevin Crosby, TE
Bam.-Ehrhardt
USC
10. Jae’lon Oglesby, RB
Daniel
Clemson
11. Nolan Kelleher, OL
Wando
Florida
12. Zeek Rodney, DL
South Pointe
Wake Forest
13. Darin Smalls, DB
Summerville
USC
14. Quadarius Fair, WR
Northwestern
S.C. State
15. Blake Bone, WR
Woodruff
Kentucky
16. Malik Young, OL
Woodmont
USC
17. Kendall Joseph, LB
Belton Honea Path
Clemson
18. Caleb Kinlaw, RB
Goose Creek
Wisconsin
19. C.J. Fuller, DB
Easley
Clemson
20. Kalan Ritchie, TE/DE
Goose Creek
USC
21. Naquez Pringle, DL
Carvers Bay
Undecided
22. Joe Blue, FB
Dillon
USC
23. Taylor Hearn, OL
Williston-Elko
Clemson
24. Messiah Rice, OL
Orange.-Wilkinson
East Carolina
25. Tyshun Samuel, WR
Chapman
USC