Muschamp and staff turning up the heat in advance of Signing Day
Jan. 06, 2016
Pendleton DE Brad Johnson has two teams at the top of his list at this point. “Virginia Tech and South Carolina are right there in my top tier, and Tennessee is right behind,” Johnson said. “They (USC and VT) are pretty close, pretty much tied. I took an official visit to Virginia Tech and I’m going to take both officials and get an equal view on both the schools and see what both have to offer, and see if there’s anything that weighs more heavily on one side than the other. I feel like it will come down to Virginia Tech and South Carolina but Tennessee also is an option.” Johnson took his official visit to Virginia Tech earlier this month right before reporting for the Shrine Bowl and was impressed by what he saw in Blacksburg. Johnson estimated he’s visited USC unofficially about ten times over the past two years for games, junior days and camps. He will take his official visit with the Gamecocks January 13th. Johnson is scheduled to visit Tennessee January 21st and he said Texas A&M or Mississippi State could get a visit January 28th. This season Johnson had about 50 tackles with 13 sacks and
DE Javon Kinlaw of Jones County JC, MS has a top three of USC, Alabama and Southern Cal and is scheduled to visit each in January with the Gamecocks set for the final visit. Tennessee also continues to work him and he’s not ruled out an official visit with the Vols as well. Recruiters continue to stay in daily contact with Kinlaw who decommitted from USC in November. Gamecock defensive line coach Lance Thompson, Kinlaw said, is in touch every day and he also talks regularly with head coach Will Muschamp. “I can just pick up the phone and call him,” Kinlaw said. He said he also hears a lot from Alabama head coach Nick Saban, though he said he’s not as accessible as Muschamp. “I can’t pick up the phone and call him, they have to set up the time,” he explained. “It’s just like having a conversation with a regular person. We talk about football and life, a real casual conversation. I take it as talking to another coach. His reputation doesn’t really mean anything to me.” Kinlaw told GamecockCentral late last week he’s back favoring USC. He will announce his final decision January 31st.
USC is looking to add to its current group of three committed offensive linemen and the Gamecocks have landed an official visit from Jordan Tucker of Roswell, GA. The former Tennessee commitment said he will visit USC January 21st, the week after he takes a visit to Louisville. He does not have a third visit established. The Gamecocks did not start to recruit Tucker with intensity until mid-December and they have picked up the pace with him to get a shot at landing him. “I know that they are pretty young all around and are on the come up,” Tucker said. “I like how they play as a young team. I’m pretty interested.” Tucker also has offers from Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and Maryland. He decommitted from Tennessee in mid-October.
USC commitment DB Jamyest Williams of Loganville, GA plans to visit Georgia this month. Williams told the Macon Telegraph he is still firm with his Gamecock commitment but realizes football is a business and he should check out Georgia again. He has not set a date for the Georgia visit. He will visit USC the final weekend in January.
USC commitment DB Hamsah Nasirildeen said at the US Army Game check-in Sunday he’s 70% with USC on his commitment at this point. He said Florida State is the only other school he’s still considering. Nasirildeen is scheduled for his official visit to USC January 13th. He has already visited Florida State officially.
DL Romello Martin of Brooklyn had set an official visit to USC for January 21st but now has to retake the SAT that weekend and won’t make it to Columbia then. He said the visit could take place the weekend before. He has been in touch with recruiter Lance Thompson and said the Gamecocks remain interested and he’s expecting Thompson to visit later this month. Martin said he is still scheduled to visit Ole Miss January 28th and he’s also hearing from Florida, Miami, Louisville and Penn State.
RB Caleb Kinlaw of Pearl River JC, MS is planning to walk-on at USC this spring and he’s hoping to start school next week. First, he has to make it thru USC admissions. Kinlaw had an update on that Tuesday night: “I just got word that they’re waiting for 2 of my transcripts that I have to get sent there and I should be admitted by the 6th.”
USC target OL Tony Gray of Loganville, GA will visit Florida January 20th.
DB Yusuf Corker of Stockbridge, GA committed to Kentucky over USC, Tennessee and Michigan State. But an official visit to USC this month is still possible.
Former USC commitment OL TJ Moore of Charlotte committed to Florida.
DE Robert Beal, a Norcross, GA native attending IMG Academy in Florida, is a Georgia commitment but still has one more official visit to spend, and he told reporters at the Under Armour All American Game he’s looking at USC or Nebraska for that visit. He has been to Georgia, Alabama, Florida State and NC State. Beal, a former Notre Dame commitment, also said he’s 100% with his commitment to Georgia.
2018 QB Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester took a major step forward in his recruiting by chopping his list of 26 offers down to a final five of USC, NC State, Louisville, Georgia and Virginia Tech. Joyner will take junior day and unofficial visits to these five over the next few months leading up to his announcement date of June 17th. His five finalists all are recruiting him strictly as a quarterback, and they have something else in common that is attractive to Joyner. “They all are improving and they are getting better recruits every single year,” Joyner said Friday night. “I’m use to a spread kind of offense and getting the quarterback involved in the game some. Georgia might be a little different but I know Georgia is looking to change their offense and just to give their offense that flexibility. Many of them have the spread kind of offense and kind of get the quarterback involved.” As for USC, Joyner said the contact remains constant from the Gamecock and he watched them in their bowl. Of course he zoned in on the offense which had it’s second most productive game of the season with 481 yards. “They looked pretty sharp,” he said. “They started out kind of slow but they got rolling. You can see when they get rolling the things they can do. This was the game the offense helped the defense out. They scored 39 points but you still have to win a ballgame. I can see myself fitting in with South Carolina’s offense, and NC State’s offense as well. I like the way they (USC) throw the ball. They have a lot of threats and they’ve got some guys coming in. And the team itself is pretty young.” Joyner is scheduled for junior day visits at Virginia January 15th and Georgia February 18th. The end of February he plans to visit USC and he is looking to visit Louisville possibly in January, and if not, March for sure. And he said he can get to NC State anytime. Joyner said there is no favorite at this point. Joyner was the Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina this season after passing for 3642 yards and 44 touchdowns and rushing for 1089 yards and 12 touchdowns.
2018 RB Master Teague of Murfreesboro, TN had a monster season despite missing some time with injuries. He rushed for 2031 yards and 24 touchdowns, and averaged 8.4 yards per carry. USC was one of his early offers and he visited during the season. He’s recently added offers from Kentucky and Texas-San Antonio. His other offers include Louisville, Duke, Georgia Tech, Memphis and Middle Tennessee. Teague said USC’s early, strong interest in him has put the Gamecocks in solid position with him. “They seem to have a great plan for me,” Teague said. “Coach Bentley was able to show me a three to four year plan that was athletic as well as academic. Their offense is very similar to what we do at my high school. Bentley sees me as being able to step right in and being able to contribute in a big way. They definitely have a head start on some of the schools since we have been getting know each other for a while now.” Teague said he will attend some junior days in the months ahead but nothing has been scheduled at this point. And he’s still keeping an open mind when it comes to thinking about favorites.
2018 WR Demarcus Gregory of Byrnes, who has offers from USC, North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest, plans to make his choice known May 27th. Gregory said there is no leader at this point and is getting mixed attention from the two major in-state programs. “South Carolina has been talking to me every day and Clemson been checking up on me here and there,” Gregory said. “USC says that if I come I’ll have a chance to start as a freshman if I compete, and they just say they are going to keep in touch. They are a good school and have a good staff.” This season Gregory had over 40 catches for more than 500 yards.
2018 LB Dax Hollifield of Shelby, NC has long been on USC’s radar, and vice-versa, and he said the Gamecocks continue to make a strong push for him. “I plan on going to Virginia Tech and USC for a junior day this January and USC is still recruiting me really hard. Them, Virginia Tech and North Carolina are by far the three that are recruiting me the hardest.”
2018 WR Sam James of Richmond Hill, GA has USC among his early offers along with Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Central Michigan and Georgia Southern. He’s also hearing from Kentucky. This season James had 42 catches for 917 yards and 8 touchdowns.
2018 WR Kearis Jackson of Fort Valley, GA was offered by USC.
S&F
Jan. 06, 2016
Pendleton DE Brad Johnson has two teams at the top of his list at this point. “Virginia Tech and South Carolina are right there in my top tier, and Tennessee is right behind,” Johnson said. “They (USC and VT) are pretty close, pretty much tied. I took an official visit to Virginia Tech and I’m going to take both officials and get an equal view on both the schools and see what both have to offer, and see if there’s anything that weighs more heavily on one side than the other. I feel like it will come down to Virginia Tech and South Carolina but Tennessee also is an option.” Johnson took his official visit to Virginia Tech earlier this month right before reporting for the Shrine Bowl and was impressed by what he saw in Blacksburg. Johnson estimated he’s visited USC unofficially about ten times over the past two years for games, junior days and camps. He will take his official visit with the Gamecocks January 13th. Johnson is scheduled to visit Tennessee January 21st and he said Texas A&M or Mississippi State could get a visit January 28th. This season Johnson had about 50 tackles with 13 sacks and
DE Javon Kinlaw of Jones County JC, MS has a top three of USC, Alabama and Southern Cal and is scheduled to visit each in January with the Gamecocks set for the final visit. Tennessee also continues to work him and he’s not ruled out an official visit with the Vols as well. Recruiters continue to stay in daily contact with Kinlaw who decommitted from USC in November. Gamecock defensive line coach Lance Thompson, Kinlaw said, is in touch every day and he also talks regularly with head coach Will Muschamp. “I can just pick up the phone and call him,” Kinlaw said. He said he also hears a lot from Alabama head coach Nick Saban, though he said he’s not as accessible as Muschamp. “I can’t pick up the phone and call him, they have to set up the time,” he explained. “It’s just like having a conversation with a regular person. We talk about football and life, a real casual conversation. I take it as talking to another coach. His reputation doesn’t really mean anything to me.” Kinlaw told GamecockCentral late last week he’s back favoring USC. He will announce his final decision January 31st.
USC is looking to add to its current group of three committed offensive linemen and the Gamecocks have landed an official visit from Jordan Tucker of Roswell, GA. The former Tennessee commitment said he will visit USC January 21st, the week after he takes a visit to Louisville. He does not have a third visit established. The Gamecocks did not start to recruit Tucker with intensity until mid-December and they have picked up the pace with him to get a shot at landing him. “I know that they are pretty young all around and are on the come up,” Tucker said. “I like how they play as a young team. I’m pretty interested.” Tucker also has offers from Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and Maryland. He decommitted from Tennessee in mid-October.
USC commitment DB Jamyest Williams of Loganville, GA plans to visit Georgia this month. Williams told the Macon Telegraph he is still firm with his Gamecock commitment but realizes football is a business and he should check out Georgia again. He has not set a date for the Georgia visit. He will visit USC the final weekend in January.
USC commitment DB Hamsah Nasirildeen said at the US Army Game check-in Sunday he’s 70% with USC on his commitment at this point. He said Florida State is the only other school he’s still considering. Nasirildeen is scheduled for his official visit to USC January 13th. He has already visited Florida State officially.
DL Romello Martin of Brooklyn had set an official visit to USC for January 21st but now has to retake the SAT that weekend and won’t make it to Columbia then. He said the visit could take place the weekend before. He has been in touch with recruiter Lance Thompson and said the Gamecocks remain interested and he’s expecting Thompson to visit later this month. Martin said he is still scheduled to visit Ole Miss January 28th and he’s also hearing from Florida, Miami, Louisville and Penn State.
RB Caleb Kinlaw of Pearl River JC, MS is planning to walk-on at USC this spring and he’s hoping to start school next week. First, he has to make it thru USC admissions. Kinlaw had an update on that Tuesday night: “I just got word that they’re waiting for 2 of my transcripts that I have to get sent there and I should be admitted by the 6th.”
USC target OL Tony Gray of Loganville, GA will visit Florida January 20th.
DB Yusuf Corker of Stockbridge, GA committed to Kentucky over USC, Tennessee and Michigan State. But an official visit to USC this month is still possible.
Former USC commitment OL TJ Moore of Charlotte committed to Florida.
DE Robert Beal, a Norcross, GA native attending IMG Academy in Florida, is a Georgia commitment but still has one more official visit to spend, and he told reporters at the Under Armour All American Game he’s looking at USC or Nebraska for that visit. He has been to Georgia, Alabama, Florida State and NC State. Beal, a former Notre Dame commitment, also said he’s 100% with his commitment to Georgia.
2018 QB Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester took a major step forward in his recruiting by chopping his list of 26 offers down to a final five of USC, NC State, Louisville, Georgia and Virginia Tech. Joyner will take junior day and unofficial visits to these five over the next few months leading up to his announcement date of June 17th. His five finalists all are recruiting him strictly as a quarterback, and they have something else in common that is attractive to Joyner. “They all are improving and they are getting better recruits every single year,” Joyner said Friday night. “I’m use to a spread kind of offense and getting the quarterback involved in the game some. Georgia might be a little different but I know Georgia is looking to change their offense and just to give their offense that flexibility. Many of them have the spread kind of offense and kind of get the quarterback involved.” As for USC, Joyner said the contact remains constant from the Gamecock and he watched them in their bowl. Of course he zoned in on the offense which had it’s second most productive game of the season with 481 yards. “They looked pretty sharp,” he said. “They started out kind of slow but they got rolling. You can see when they get rolling the things they can do. This was the game the offense helped the defense out. They scored 39 points but you still have to win a ballgame. I can see myself fitting in with South Carolina’s offense, and NC State’s offense as well. I like the way they (USC) throw the ball. They have a lot of threats and they’ve got some guys coming in. And the team itself is pretty young.” Joyner is scheduled for junior day visits at Virginia January 15th and Georgia February 18th. The end of February he plans to visit USC and he is looking to visit Louisville possibly in January, and if not, March for sure. And he said he can get to NC State anytime. Joyner said there is no favorite at this point. Joyner was the Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina this season after passing for 3642 yards and 44 touchdowns and rushing for 1089 yards and 12 touchdowns.
2018 RB Master Teague of Murfreesboro, TN had a monster season despite missing some time with injuries. He rushed for 2031 yards and 24 touchdowns, and averaged 8.4 yards per carry. USC was one of his early offers and he visited during the season. He’s recently added offers from Kentucky and Texas-San Antonio. His other offers include Louisville, Duke, Georgia Tech, Memphis and Middle Tennessee. Teague said USC’s early, strong interest in him has put the Gamecocks in solid position with him. “They seem to have a great plan for me,” Teague said. “Coach Bentley was able to show me a three to four year plan that was athletic as well as academic. Their offense is very similar to what we do at my high school. Bentley sees me as being able to step right in and being able to contribute in a big way. They definitely have a head start on some of the schools since we have been getting know each other for a while now.” Teague said he will attend some junior days in the months ahead but nothing has been scheduled at this point. And he’s still keeping an open mind when it comes to thinking about favorites.
2018 WR Demarcus Gregory of Byrnes, who has offers from USC, North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest, plans to make his choice known May 27th. Gregory said there is no leader at this point and is getting mixed attention from the two major in-state programs. “South Carolina has been talking to me every day and Clemson been checking up on me here and there,” Gregory said. “USC says that if I come I’ll have a chance to start as a freshman if I compete, and they just say they are going to keep in touch. They are a good school and have a good staff.” This season Gregory had over 40 catches for more than 500 yards.
2018 LB Dax Hollifield of Shelby, NC has long been on USC’s radar, and vice-versa, and he said the Gamecocks continue to make a strong push for him. “I plan on going to Virginia Tech and USC for a junior day this January and USC is still recruiting me really hard. Them, Virginia Tech and North Carolina are by far the three that are recruiting me the hardest.”
2018 WR Sam James of Richmond Hill, GA has USC among his early offers along with Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Central Michigan and Georgia Southern. He’s also hearing from Kentucky. This season James had 42 catches for 917 yards and 8 touchdowns.
2018 WR Kearis Jackson of Fort Valley, GA was offered by USC.
S&F
