Gamecocks make cut for WR Marquez Ezzard, more on LB Dax Hollifield plus confirmed visitors for Saturday
April 28, 2017
South Carolina makes the cut
Four-star athlete Marquez Ezzard unveiled his top 8 on Thursday night. Included on the list was South Carolina, along with a handful of other SEC schools, including Auburn and Georgia.
Ezzard, who profiles as a wide receiver for the Gamecocks, is listed at 6-foot-1.5, 213 pounds. The No. 19-rated athlete is from Stockbridge (Ga.) High School, so the Dawgs have the natural in-state edge on the field.
However, Ohio State has had plenty of success recruiting the state of Georgia. Just this week, 4-star defensive end Brenton Cox committed to the Buckeyes. Cox, the No. 43 overall prospect in the class of 2018, is a classmate of Ezzard’s at Stockbridge.
South Carolina has its work cut out in its pursuit of Ezzard, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that he continues to list it as a school receiving consideration.
Running linebackers
Four-star linebacker Dax Hollifield, a priority recruit for South Carolina in the 2018 cycle, finished third in two region track events on Thursday: 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
For Hollifield, who is in the neighborhood of 6-2, 230 pounds, the results are good. Word of his performance came through shortly after word got out that 2017 signee Davonne Bowen ran a 10.96 in the 100-meter dash during his region track meet on Thursday.
Acquiring Hollifield in 2018 would be considered a big win for South Carolina, because he’s been identified by coach Will Muschamp & Co. as a potential centerpiece for the class. It’s a similar type of feel they had for 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas and 4-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner. Thomas, of course, committed to Clemson earlier this month and Joyner is set to announce his decision on Father’s Day.
Time will tell if South Carolina is able to land Hollifield. Though six other schools are listed among the favorites, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are believed to be the biggest threat.
Below are some thoughts from Shelby (N.C.) High School football coach Lance Ware, who was asked about Hollifield’s recruiting profile.
“The biggest thing is it hasn’t changed his work ethic. He’s humble. That’s the thing I’m most impressed with, because you’re talking about a 16-, 17-year-old kid who’s getting all of the attention in the country from everybody and it hasn’t affected his player work ethic one bit.
“If anything, it’s made him work even harder, which helps the whole program and everybody around him and that’s attributed to him and how he’s been raised, his mentality. He’s never satisfied or thinks he’s made it. He’s always working to get better.”
According to the 247Sports composite, Hollifield is ranked as the No. 4 inside linebacker in the class of 2018. Even though the Gamecocks signed four linebackers in 2017, the roster includes three returning scholarship players at the position, two of whom will be gone in 2018.
SpursUp day visitors
Below is the running list of confirmed visitors for Saturday. More names are expected to be added:
2018 OL Lamarius Benson (Covington, Ga.)
2018 OL Hank Manos (Chapin, S.C.)
2018 WR Darius Rush (Greeleyville, S.C.)
2018 S RJ Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
2018 TE Tommy Tremble (Alpharetta, Ga.)
2019 CB Jammie Robinson (Cordele, Ga.)
2018 WR Dennis Smith (Gaffney, S.C.)
2018 LB Dax Hollifield (Shelby, N.C.)
2018 CB Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
2019 DT Rashad Cheney (Atlanta, Ga.)
April 28, 2017
South Carolina makes the cut
Four-star athlete Marquez Ezzard unveiled his top 8 on Thursday night. Included on the list was South Carolina, along with a handful of other SEC schools, including Auburn and Georgia.
Ezzard, who profiles as a wide receiver for the Gamecocks, is listed at 6-foot-1.5, 213 pounds. The No. 19-rated athlete is from Stockbridge (Ga.) High School, so the Dawgs have the natural in-state edge on the field.
However, Ohio State has had plenty of success recruiting the state of Georgia. Just this week, 4-star defensive end Brenton Cox committed to the Buckeyes. Cox, the No. 43 overall prospect in the class of 2018, is a classmate of Ezzard’s at Stockbridge.
South Carolina has its work cut out in its pursuit of Ezzard, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that he continues to list it as a school receiving consideration.
Running linebackers
Four-star linebacker Dax Hollifield, a priority recruit for South Carolina in the 2018 cycle, finished third in two region track events on Thursday: 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
For Hollifield, who is in the neighborhood of 6-2, 230 pounds, the results are good. Word of his performance came through shortly after word got out that 2017 signee Davonne Bowen ran a 10.96 in the 100-meter dash during his region track meet on Thursday.
Acquiring Hollifield in 2018 would be considered a big win for South Carolina, because he’s been identified by coach Will Muschamp & Co. as a potential centerpiece for the class. It’s a similar type of feel they had for 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas and 4-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner. Thomas, of course, committed to Clemson earlier this month and Joyner is set to announce his decision on Father’s Day.
Time will tell if South Carolina is able to land Hollifield. Though six other schools are listed among the favorites, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are believed to be the biggest threat.
Below are some thoughts from Shelby (N.C.) High School football coach Lance Ware, who was asked about Hollifield’s recruiting profile.
“The biggest thing is it hasn’t changed his work ethic. He’s humble. That’s the thing I’m most impressed with, because you’re talking about a 16-, 17-year-old kid who’s getting all of the attention in the country from everybody and it hasn’t affected his player work ethic one bit.
“If anything, it’s made him work even harder, which helps the whole program and everybody around him and that’s attributed to him and how he’s been raised, his mentality. He’s never satisfied or thinks he’s made it. He’s always working to get better.”
According to the 247Sports composite, Hollifield is ranked as the No. 4 inside linebacker in the class of 2018. Even though the Gamecocks signed four linebackers in 2017, the roster includes three returning scholarship players at the position, two of whom will be gone in 2018.
SpursUp day visitors
Below is the running list of confirmed visitors for Saturday. More names are expected to be added:
2018 OL Lamarius Benson (Covington, Ga.)
2018 OL Hank Manos (Chapin, S.C.)
2018 WR Darius Rush (Greeleyville, S.C.)
2018 S RJ Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
2018 TE Tommy Tremble (Alpharetta, Ga.)
2019 CB Jammie Robinson (Cordele, Ga.)
2018 WR Dennis Smith (Gaffney, S.C.)
2018 LB Dax Hollifield (Shelby, N.C.)
2018 CB Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
2019 DT Rashad Cheney (Atlanta, Ga.)
