Grading the 2017 South Carolina signing class: Skill players, secondary are big strengths
Feb, 02, 2017
Offensive skill players
South Carolina had to call an audible when Jake Bentley reclassified to the 2016 class from 2017. The Gamecocks quickly jumped on 3-star prospect Jay Urich, and he made a commitment shortly thereafter. Duke made a last-second push before the announcement. Tennessee tried to jump on board with an offer late in the fall. And, weeks before signing, North Carolina reached out to gauge interest.
Urich began his high school career as a wide receiver before moving to quarterback, so he has the athleticism that offensive coordinator Kurt Roper looks for in a quarterback. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Urich has the size, too. Plus, he checks all of the boxes as it relates to leadership and off-the-field qualities sought in a quarterback.
Weighed against the other position groups, the wide receiver haul is one of the strongest in South Carolina’s 2017 class, if not the strongest. In Shi Smith, the Gamecocks have another shifty, quick-in-short-spaces playmaker who could be utilized on jet sweeps and out of the slot. He also adds value in the return game.
OrTre Smith (6-3, 215) and Chad Terrell (6-3, 205) have the ability to show up in the downfield passing game. They’re also potential red-zone threats. Both are comparable to South Carolina sophomore Bryan Edwards.
Tight end Will Register probably won’t make an immediate impact like the wide receivers — there’s much more depth at the position — but he could be a contributor as early as 2018. Register can attach to the line as a traditional tight end and flex out off the line, like Hayden Hurst and K.C. Crosby did a lot of in 2016.
After adding Ty’Son Williams as a transfer walk-on late last summer and Caleb Kinlaw earlier this year, South Carolina delayed its pursuit of longtime commitment Kyshaun Bryan, who signed with Iowa.
Grade: A-
Offensive line
Among the five signees, the only one believed to have a realistic shot at cracking the two-deep in 2017 is JUCO placement Dennis Daley, who spent the last two seasons at Georgia Military College. Once he arrives later this year, Daley will have a chance to compete for the vacant left tackle spot.
Jordon Carty and Jordan Rhodes have a lot of upside as tackle prospects. They’re relatively new to the game, so they’ll need a little bit of time to get acclimated to this level of football, which isn’t uncommon with most freshman offensive linemen.
Longtime commitments Summie Carlay and Eric Douglas were rock solid with their commitments to the Gamecocks, so, at the least, you’re getting two guys with the kind of makeup you want when trying to foster a winning culture. Carlay might profile as an interior guy, at center, to be specific. Douglas mentioned a willingness to play left guard or wherever else he’s needed.
Grade: C+
Defensive line
South Carolina arrived to National Signing Day with one public defensive line commitment, 4-star recruit M.J. Webb, whom Muschamp once likened to former Florida end Jonathan Bullard. Webb, like Bullard, is a hand-on-the-ground end who generally lines up on the left side of the defensive line. Webb is the type of prospect who potentially could hold up against the run on early downs, then slide inside for pass-rushing situations.
Four-star JUCO addition Javon Kinlaw, who will play tackle, also could be a threat to push the pocket from the interior. Plus, he’s 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. He’ll have four years left to play three for the Gamecocks once he arrives later this summer.
Two edge presences were added in 4-star prospect Brad Johnson and 3-star recruit Aaron Sterling, a former Alabama commitment. Both have the potential to be difference-makers for South Carolina’s pass rush.
Grade: B+
Linebackers
Even though it lacks star power, the South Carolina linebacker haul is a good one, led by Sherrod Greene and Davonne Bowen.
Greene, the No. 29-ranked outside linebacker, is expected to be an inside linebacker when he arrives later this summer. Bowen, who’s listed as the No. 47 outside linebacker, adds athleticism and ability to blitz off the edge.
Damani Staley and Eldridge Thompson profile similarly to Bowen. Staley is ranked several spots behind Bowen at No. 73. Thompson, a junior college addition who will have three years of eligibility remaining, is the No. 6-ranked JUCO outside linebacker.
With Skai Moore, Bryson Allen-Williams and T.J. Brunson back in 2017, there’s an opportunity for all four of the new additions to work into the two-deep. At the least, they can contribute early on special teams.
Grade: B
Defensive backs
South Carolina began National Signing Day with commitments from cornerbacks Jamyest Williams and Tavyn Jackson and safety Zay Brown. Safety Jaylin Dickerson and JUCO cornerback Kaleb Chalmers already are enrolled. Defensive back Keisean Nixon signed in December during the JUCO signing period.
The Gamecocks ended National Signing Day with signed National Letters of Intent from Brown, Jackson and, last but not least, Williams, who announced that he would stick with the commitment he made in August. And that is, perhaps, the biggest news of the day for Muschamp & Co.
Chalmers and Jackson profile at cornerback. Brown and Dickerson are safeties. Nixon and Williams could play both cornerback and safety, plus nickel.
Not only did South Carolina upgrade immediately with the JUCO additions, but they’ve also established a strong foundation for the future. Just imagine how good this group would have been had Hamsah Nasirildeen not flipped to Florida State.
Grade: A
Feb, 02, 2017
Offensive skill players
South Carolina had to call an audible when Jake Bentley reclassified to the 2016 class from 2017. The Gamecocks quickly jumped on 3-star prospect Jay Urich, and he made a commitment shortly thereafter. Duke made a last-second push before the announcement. Tennessee tried to jump on board with an offer late in the fall. And, weeks before signing, North Carolina reached out to gauge interest.
Urich began his high school career as a wide receiver before moving to quarterback, so he has the athleticism that offensive coordinator Kurt Roper looks for in a quarterback. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Urich has the size, too. Plus, he checks all of the boxes as it relates to leadership and off-the-field qualities sought in a quarterback.
Weighed against the other position groups, the wide receiver haul is one of the strongest in South Carolina’s 2017 class, if not the strongest. In Shi Smith, the Gamecocks have another shifty, quick-in-short-spaces playmaker who could be utilized on jet sweeps and out of the slot. He also adds value in the return game.
OrTre Smith (6-3, 215) and Chad Terrell (6-3, 205) have the ability to show up in the downfield passing game. They’re also potential red-zone threats. Both are comparable to South Carolina sophomore Bryan Edwards.
Tight end Will Register probably won’t make an immediate impact like the wide receivers — there’s much more depth at the position — but he could be a contributor as early as 2018. Register can attach to the line as a traditional tight end and flex out off the line, like Hayden Hurst and K.C. Crosby did a lot of in 2016.
After adding Ty’Son Williams as a transfer walk-on late last summer and Caleb Kinlaw earlier this year, South Carolina delayed its pursuit of longtime commitment Kyshaun Bryan, who signed with Iowa.
Grade: A-
Offensive line
Among the five signees, the only one believed to have a realistic shot at cracking the two-deep in 2017 is JUCO placement Dennis Daley, who spent the last two seasons at Georgia Military College. Once he arrives later this year, Daley will have a chance to compete for the vacant left tackle spot.
Jordon Carty and Jordan Rhodes have a lot of upside as tackle prospects. They’re relatively new to the game, so they’ll need a little bit of time to get acclimated to this level of football, which isn’t uncommon with most freshman offensive linemen.
Longtime commitments Summie Carlay and Eric Douglas were rock solid with their commitments to the Gamecocks, so, at the least, you’re getting two guys with the kind of makeup you want when trying to foster a winning culture. Carlay might profile as an interior guy, at center, to be specific. Douglas mentioned a willingness to play left guard or wherever else he’s needed.
Grade: C+
Defensive line
South Carolina arrived to National Signing Day with one public defensive line commitment, 4-star recruit M.J. Webb, whom Muschamp once likened to former Florida end Jonathan Bullard. Webb, like Bullard, is a hand-on-the-ground end who generally lines up on the left side of the defensive line. Webb is the type of prospect who potentially could hold up against the run on early downs, then slide inside for pass-rushing situations.
Four-star JUCO addition Javon Kinlaw, who will play tackle, also could be a threat to push the pocket from the interior. Plus, he’s 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. He’ll have four years left to play three for the Gamecocks once he arrives later this summer.
Two edge presences were added in 4-star prospect Brad Johnson and 3-star recruit Aaron Sterling, a former Alabama commitment. Both have the potential to be difference-makers for South Carolina’s pass rush.
Grade: B+
Linebackers
Even though it lacks star power, the South Carolina linebacker haul is a good one, led by Sherrod Greene and Davonne Bowen.
Greene, the No. 29-ranked outside linebacker, is expected to be an inside linebacker when he arrives later this summer. Bowen, who’s listed as the No. 47 outside linebacker, adds athleticism and ability to blitz off the edge.
Damani Staley and Eldridge Thompson profile similarly to Bowen. Staley is ranked several spots behind Bowen at No. 73. Thompson, a junior college addition who will have three years of eligibility remaining, is the No. 6-ranked JUCO outside linebacker.
With Skai Moore, Bryson Allen-Williams and T.J. Brunson back in 2017, there’s an opportunity for all four of the new additions to work into the two-deep. At the least, they can contribute early on special teams.
Grade: B
Defensive backs
South Carolina began National Signing Day with commitments from cornerbacks Jamyest Williams and Tavyn Jackson and safety Zay Brown. Safety Jaylin Dickerson and JUCO cornerback Kaleb Chalmers already are enrolled. Defensive back Keisean Nixon signed in December during the JUCO signing period.
The Gamecocks ended National Signing Day with signed National Letters of Intent from Brown, Jackson and, last but not least, Williams, who announced that he would stick with the commitment he made in August. And that is, perhaps, the biggest news of the day for Muschamp & Co.
Chalmers and Jackson profile at cornerback. Brown and Dickerson are safeties. Nixon and Williams could play both cornerback and safety, plus nickel.
Not only did South Carolina upgrade immediately with the JUCO additions, but they’ve also established a strong foundation for the future. Just imagine how good this group would have been had Hamsah Nasirildeen not flipped to Florida State.
Grade: A