Looking ahead to Gamecocks 2018 WR targets
Feb. 18, 2017
Below is a look at how the wide receiver depth could shake out for the 2018 season.
The returning roster
The following assumes everyone plays in 2017 and there is no attrition to the NFL or transfer departures.
Terry Googer, redshirt senior
Deebo Samuel, redshirt senior
Korey Banks, junior
Chavis Dawkins, junior
Bryan Edwards, junior
Randrecous Davis, redshirt sophomore
OrTre Smith, sophomore
Shi Smith, sophomore
Chad Terrell, sophomore
When Muschamp arrived to South Carolina in December of 2015, the Gamecocks’ wide receiver corps was in need of a serious rebuild. So far, so good. Samuel became an All-SEC-caliber player. Edwards had a productive freshman season, complementing Samuel.
The Smiths and Terrell, all 2017 signees, and a healthy Davis give the Gamecocks options behind Samuel and Edwards. And it helps that 2016 signees Banks and Dawkins have another year of experience.
The options
With no seniors on the 2017 roster, wide receiver isn’t a high priority for South Carolina in the 2018 recruiting class. About 20 offers have been dispensed; SEC Country projects 2 or 3 will sign with the Gamecocks.
In-state prospects Demarcus Gregory (Duncan), Sam Pinckney (Greenwood), Darius Rush (Greeleyville) and Dennis Smith (Gaffney) are among wideout prospects receiving offers.
RELATED: How many offensive players will the Gamecocks take in 2018
Rush confirmed plans to visit South Carolina on Feb. 25 for junior day. Pinckney and Smith also are expected. Pinckney lists offers from Appalachian State and Georgia State, and he was to visit Florida State this weekend. Duke is Smith’s only other Power 5 offer.
From this perspective, 3-star Marquez Ezzarrd (Stockbridge, Ga.) should be rated higher and ranked higher than his designation as the No. 34 athlete in the country. His offer list speaks to that. South Carolina had him earlier this month for junior day. Georgia, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, is the favorite.
Matthew Hill, a 4-star prospect from Snellville, Ga., lists offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee. He visited South Carolina for a fall game.
Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, a 3-star prospect from Alcoa, Tenn., is considering a visit to South Carolina for next weekend’s junior day. The Tennessee campus is about 20 minutes from his hometown, so the Vols are presumed to be the favorite.
Jatavious Harris, a 3-star prospect from Milledgeville, Ga., scored his South Carolina offer in December. He also got an offer Miami. Since then, a host of Power 5 programs made known their interest, including Florida, Tennessee and Louisville.
Feb. 18, 2017
Below is a look at how the wide receiver depth could shake out for the 2018 season.
The returning roster
The following assumes everyone plays in 2017 and there is no attrition to the NFL or transfer departures.
Terry Googer, redshirt senior
Deebo Samuel, redshirt senior
Korey Banks, junior
Chavis Dawkins, junior
Bryan Edwards, junior
Randrecous Davis, redshirt sophomore
OrTre Smith, sophomore
Shi Smith, sophomore
Chad Terrell, sophomore
When Muschamp arrived to South Carolina in December of 2015, the Gamecocks’ wide receiver corps was in need of a serious rebuild. So far, so good. Samuel became an All-SEC-caliber player. Edwards had a productive freshman season, complementing Samuel.
The Smiths and Terrell, all 2017 signees, and a healthy Davis give the Gamecocks options behind Samuel and Edwards. And it helps that 2016 signees Banks and Dawkins have another year of experience.
The options
With no seniors on the 2017 roster, wide receiver isn’t a high priority for South Carolina in the 2018 recruiting class. About 20 offers have been dispensed; SEC Country projects 2 or 3 will sign with the Gamecocks.
In-state prospects Demarcus Gregory (Duncan), Sam Pinckney (Greenwood), Darius Rush (Greeleyville) and Dennis Smith (Gaffney) are among wideout prospects receiving offers.
RELATED: How many offensive players will the Gamecocks take in 2018
Rush confirmed plans to visit South Carolina on Feb. 25 for junior day. Pinckney and Smith also are expected. Pinckney lists offers from Appalachian State and Georgia State, and he was to visit Florida State this weekend. Duke is Smith’s only other Power 5 offer.
From this perspective, 3-star Marquez Ezzarrd (Stockbridge, Ga.) should be rated higher and ranked higher than his designation as the No. 34 athlete in the country. His offer list speaks to that. South Carolina had him earlier this month for junior day. Georgia, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, is the favorite.
Matthew Hill, a 4-star prospect from Snellville, Ga., lists offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee. He visited South Carolina for a fall game.
Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, a 3-star prospect from Alcoa, Tenn., is considering a visit to South Carolina for next weekend’s junior day. The Tennessee campus is about 20 minutes from his hometown, so the Vols are presumed to be the favorite.
Jatavious Harris, a 3-star prospect from Milledgeville, Ga., scored his South Carolina offer in December. He also got an offer Miami. Since then, a host of Power 5 programs made known their interest, including Florida, Tennessee and Louisville.