Jonathan Gipson visits, sets return; the ripple effect from FSU
December 06, 2017
Whenever Will Muschamp lands a commitment, the South Carolina coach drops a #SpursUp on Twitter. Come to SEC Country for the latest news, notes and observations in South Carolina recruiting. For previous editions of SpursUp Surveillance, check out the link.
Hard-hitting DB to return
Jonathan Gipson will return to South Carolina this weekend for his official visit. The 3-star safety from Mill Creek High School (Hoschton, Ga.) is slated to be among the 2018 commitments along with 4-star cornerback target Jaycee Horn, which should give the Gamecocks a total of nine official guests for the weekend.
Gipson, the No. 34 cornerback in the Class of 2018, according to the 247Sports composite, will play safety at South Carolina. He received an up-close look at several of his teammates last month while visiting for the Clemson game.
“The locker room was disappointing, but a lot stood out about the players’ attitude toward the loss,” Gipson said. “They knew that there’s going to be a bounce-back. … Stayed the night. There wasn’t really anything that stood out, because we lost, but I had a good time.”
While in town, he spent plenty of time with Travaris Robinson, South Carolina’s defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach.
“Really, me and coach T-Rob specifically, he just kept it real with me,” Gipson said. “He said that position is just sacred, because you’ve got to be able to do everything. You’ve got to be able to cover, you’ve got to tackle.”
That’s why Muschamp and Robinson want to add him to the Gamecocks secondary. As a sophomore and junior, Gipson played cornerback. This past season, he worked at safety.
“They think I can do both of them at that safety position, to cover and tackle, and run,” Gipson said. “They just need an athletic person. They say to me all the time that I’m very gifted with the football ability, but they really want to clean up my techniques and get me ready.”
Room for impact
South Carolina will lose both starting safeties — Chris Lammons and D.J. Smith — after the Outback Bowl. Steven Montac, a rising senior, will figure into the conversation for a starting spot. Redshirt junior Javon Charleston, a former walk-on, also has seen action his season.
Freshmen Zay Brown and Jaylin Dickerson, both of whom redshirted this season, will figure into the equation in 2018. Former Gardner-Webb safety Jaylan Foster, a walk-on, redshirted in 2017 after transferring.
They’ll be joined by Gipson and 3-star commitment R.J. Roderick. There could be another 2018 addition. Or not.
Gipson, who’s listed 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, said he’ll add some excitement to the position.
“I play with passion, so you can tell the difference in me playing that position, then the other person, so just excitement,” he said. “Cheering my teammates on and also letting my teammates know what I can see from a better view, because the view of the safety position, you see everything.
“It’s like the captain, really. I feel I can bring a lot to that position, to help the defense.”
Horn, one of the 2018 prospects Gipson has been in contact with, will be on campus this weekend, too.
The domino effect from Tallahassee
With Willie Taggart now in place at Florida State, now it’s time to see what kind of ripple effect that has on the recruiting trail, specifically with some of South Carolina’s targets.
Three-star defensive back Israel Mukuamu (Bossier City, La.) has already de-committed from the Seminoles. On Tuesday night, about a day after he was visited by Muschamp and Robinson, Mukuamu sent out an eyebrow-raising tweet.
December 06, 2017
Whenever Will Muschamp lands a commitment, the South Carolina coach drops a #SpursUp on Twitter. Come to SEC Country for the latest news, notes and observations in South Carolina recruiting. For previous editions of SpursUp Surveillance, check out the link.
Hard-hitting DB to return
Jonathan Gipson will return to South Carolina this weekend for his official visit. The 3-star safety from Mill Creek High School (Hoschton, Ga.) is slated to be among the 2018 commitments along with 4-star cornerback target Jaycee Horn, which should give the Gamecocks a total of nine official guests for the weekend.
Gipson, the No. 34 cornerback in the Class of 2018, according to the 247Sports composite, will play safety at South Carolina. He received an up-close look at several of his teammates last month while visiting for the Clemson game.
“The locker room was disappointing, but a lot stood out about the players’ attitude toward the loss,” Gipson said. “They knew that there’s going to be a bounce-back. … Stayed the night. There wasn’t really anything that stood out, because we lost, but I had a good time.”
While in town, he spent plenty of time with Travaris Robinson, South Carolina’s defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach.
“Really, me and coach T-Rob specifically, he just kept it real with me,” Gipson said. “He said that position is just sacred, because you’ve got to be able to do everything. You’ve got to be able to cover, you’ve got to tackle.”
That’s why Muschamp and Robinson want to add him to the Gamecocks secondary. As a sophomore and junior, Gipson played cornerback. This past season, he worked at safety.
“They think I can do both of them at that safety position, to cover and tackle, and run,” Gipson said. “They just need an athletic person. They say to me all the time that I’m very gifted with the football ability, but they really want to clean up my techniques and get me ready.”
Room for impact
South Carolina will lose both starting safeties — Chris Lammons and D.J. Smith — after the Outback Bowl. Steven Montac, a rising senior, will figure into the conversation for a starting spot. Redshirt junior Javon Charleston, a former walk-on, also has seen action his season.
Freshmen Zay Brown and Jaylin Dickerson, both of whom redshirted this season, will figure into the equation in 2018. Former Gardner-Webb safety Jaylan Foster, a walk-on, redshirted in 2017 after transferring.
They’ll be joined by Gipson and 3-star commitment R.J. Roderick. There could be another 2018 addition. Or not.
Gipson, who’s listed 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, said he’ll add some excitement to the position.
“I play with passion, so you can tell the difference in me playing that position, then the other person, so just excitement,” he said. “Cheering my teammates on and also letting my teammates know what I can see from a better view, because the view of the safety position, you see everything.
“It’s like the captain, really. I feel I can bring a lot to that position, to help the defense.”
Horn, one of the 2018 prospects Gipson has been in contact with, will be on campus this weekend, too.
The domino effect from Tallahassee
With Willie Taggart now in place at Florida State, now it’s time to see what kind of ripple effect that has on the recruiting trail, specifically with some of South Carolina’s targets.
Three-star defensive back Israel Mukuamu (Bossier City, La.) has already de-committed from the Seminoles. On Tuesday night, about a day after he was visited by Muschamp and Robinson, Mukuamu sent out an eyebrow-raising tweet.
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