I thought the staff did a very nice job addressing its needs, even though it did not look like the need would be met at LB, two commitments came through on or near signing day that really solidified that group.
QB- Connor Mitch was our 2nd choice after Christian Hackenberg and fits what SOS likes to do to a tee. He is a system QB that is accustomed to throwing the ball to a spot and trusting his WRs to be there. Mitch enrolling early will help him get a jump on learning the system. He will redshirt this fall, and then compete with Nosovitch and Dylan in 2014.
RB- David Williams is a great one. One SEC RB coach called him the top back in the class of 2013. He is a homerun threat, and at 6'1 200 pounds, that makes him special. Jamari Smith measured 5'10 185. I also know Shawn Elliott has mentioned that Smith could play a variety of positions, including defense. Smith will start at RB, but I envision him being mved to CB next spring, where he will have a shot to compete as a starter.
WR/TE- Not a HUGE need, like SOS Jr. said, would have taken a great one. Wish we could have landed JaQuay Williams, but we didn't. I do appreciate Junir Spurrier not setting and taking a DL Moore, DeMarrio Bennett, DeAngelo Smith or Lamar Scruggs type. In the past he has done this. I think he is maturing.
OL- Best group in the class. One of the top OL classes in the country, no doubt. NaTy Rodgers has NFL blood lines and is an UA All American. DJ Park is the big road grater and mauler we have been missing at OG since ROk Watkins was forced to move to OT. In 2014, I expect to see Park starting at RG. Alan Knott was a steal, I know coach Elliott thinks KNott was the top OL in the state of GA this year. JP Vonashek was a great pickup. almost 6'7 285 pounds and raw,with huge upside. Turned down FSU and UGA, among a host of other big time offers. Bryce King is a future center prospect and just a big ole mean country boy. An Impressive group.
DE- In Covington, Turner,and Washington, Carolina has 3 excellent developmental prospects. I know for a fact Lawing was very high on Covington and thinks he could be a lot like CLiff Matthews after a redshirt. Turner is more of a Melvin Ingram type and could play a number of positions, but I was told this summer he measured 6'2 255 pounds and ran a legit 4.6 40. Gerald Turner is a football player. Plain and simple.
As for Devin, what more can I add. Great ambassador, future captain and leader. Hard worker, high character guy.
DT- the staff wanted one great one and got him in Kelsey Griffin. I think Griffin is the best pure DT to come into our program since I can't remember when. He reminds me of a taller,faster Langston Moore. remember, last summer at a combine, Griffin clocked a laser times 4.7 in the 40 at 6'2 290 pounds.
LB- This was the position that had me and a lot of other people concerned. Well, all is well that ends well. I think adding Skai Moore and Walton solidify that spot.
A big key will be where David Johnson plays. I know the plan is to "start" him at MIKE, but how long will he stay there? If he can stay at LB and not grow into a DL, then I really like this class. Johnson is a lot like Turner, he is a big-time football player. Larenz Bryant is a great one and I think Skai Moore isn't far behind. Moore could play WILL or SPUR. Great athleticism and ability to play in space.
Walton is a solid late pick up. I think he is more of a developmental player due to his level of competition, but beating Auburn on an Alabama kid is a rarity. I do like Walton's athleticism. If he can't play LB, he will be a special teamer and someone that could be a help at FB. With the lack of numbers, the staff needed at least one mid-year juco, and failed to land one. They finished well, but I still think better planning would have netted more immediate help from a junior college player.
Mo Camara, one of the steals of the class, is a perfect fit for the SPUR position.
DB- I love Pharoh Cooper. Another great evaluation by Brad Lawing. Cooper was the best player on the field at the Shrine Bowl. While he will get a look at CB, he is a natural FS and will be a bigger version of DJ Swearinger, minus the gold teeth. Cooper can also help as a return man. Both Ali Groves and Ronnie Martin are speed burners. Groves is a 3.8 student and could have enrolled early.
FS Jasper Sasser is a big kid that can run. He is a pure safety with good ball skills.
Overall grade for this class- B+. If it had not been for a few key misses at a couple of skill positions like WR and CB, this could have been a near top 10 class. For instance, if Carolina had kept Langley, and landed JaQuay WIlliams and Tommie Harris, I think this would have been an A+ class.
Kudos to GA Mangus, Shawn Elliott, and Grady Brown. I was happy to see Brown's hard work in S Fla pay off with Moore's commitment. I also look forward to seeing what Deke Adams can do on the recruiting trail in NC and GA, and in VA with DeShawn Hand.
I also would like to say that I see more and more kids say positive and glowing remarks about coach Botkin. I have misjudged him and his ability to build relationships with recruits. I hope he can use this momentum, establish himself in his territory and be more of an asset in the upcoming recruiting cycles.
2014 is set up to be a great class. Carolina needs to sign 16-20 kids. I know that is a longshot right now, but hopefully some guys that see no opportunity for playing time will move on. to places they can contribute.
Right now I really like our chances with the following guys
WR Shaq Davidson
OL Donnell Stanley
DE Dexter Wideman
DT Poona Ford
TE Kalen Ritchie
TE KC Crosby
OL Bentley Spain
LB Bryson Allen-Williams
WR Terry Googer
CB Darrin Smalls
QB Drew Barker
LB DeShaun Davis
DL Peyton Newell
there are many other guys like Orlando Brown, Andrew Williams and DeShawn Hand the Gamecocks have staying power with. I haven't even mentioned any names from the Northeast, and we all know GA Mangus is on the case.
QB- Connor Mitch was our 2nd choice after Christian Hackenberg and fits what SOS likes to do to a tee. He is a system QB that is accustomed to throwing the ball to a spot and trusting his WRs to be there. Mitch enrolling early will help him get a jump on learning the system. He will redshirt this fall, and then compete with Nosovitch and Dylan in 2014.
RB- David Williams is a great one. One SEC RB coach called him the top back in the class of 2013. He is a homerun threat, and at 6'1 200 pounds, that makes him special. Jamari Smith measured 5'10 185. I also know Shawn Elliott has mentioned that Smith could play a variety of positions, including defense. Smith will start at RB, but I envision him being mved to CB next spring, where he will have a shot to compete as a starter.
WR/TE- Not a HUGE need, like SOS Jr. said, would have taken a great one. Wish we could have landed JaQuay Williams, but we didn't. I do appreciate Junir Spurrier not setting and taking a DL Moore, DeMarrio Bennett, DeAngelo Smith or Lamar Scruggs type. In the past he has done this. I think he is maturing.
OL- Best group in the class. One of the top OL classes in the country, no doubt. NaTy Rodgers has NFL blood lines and is an UA All American. DJ Park is the big road grater and mauler we have been missing at OG since ROk Watkins was forced to move to OT. In 2014, I expect to see Park starting at RG. Alan Knott was a steal, I know coach Elliott thinks KNott was the top OL in the state of GA this year. JP Vonashek was a great pickup. almost 6'7 285 pounds and raw,with huge upside. Turned down FSU and UGA, among a host of other big time offers. Bryce King is a future center prospect and just a big ole mean country boy. An Impressive group.
DE- In Covington, Turner,and Washington, Carolina has 3 excellent developmental prospects. I know for a fact Lawing was very high on Covington and thinks he could be a lot like CLiff Matthews after a redshirt. Turner is more of a Melvin Ingram type and could play a number of positions, but I was told this summer he measured 6'2 255 pounds and ran a legit 4.6 40. Gerald Turner is a football player. Plain and simple.
As for Devin, what more can I add. Great ambassador, future captain and leader. Hard worker, high character guy.
DT- the staff wanted one great one and got him in Kelsey Griffin. I think Griffin is the best pure DT to come into our program since I can't remember when. He reminds me of a taller,faster Langston Moore. remember, last summer at a combine, Griffin clocked a laser times 4.7 in the 40 at 6'2 290 pounds.
LB- This was the position that had me and a lot of other people concerned. Well, all is well that ends well. I think adding Skai Moore and Walton solidify that spot.
A big key will be where David Johnson plays. I know the plan is to "start" him at MIKE, but how long will he stay there? If he can stay at LB and not grow into a DL, then I really like this class. Johnson is a lot like Turner, he is a big-time football player. Larenz Bryant is a great one and I think Skai Moore isn't far behind. Moore could play WILL or SPUR. Great athleticism and ability to play in space.
Walton is a solid late pick up. I think he is more of a developmental player due to his level of competition, but beating Auburn on an Alabama kid is a rarity. I do like Walton's athleticism. If he can't play LB, he will be a special teamer and someone that could be a help at FB. With the lack of numbers, the staff needed at least one mid-year juco, and failed to land one. They finished well, but I still think better planning would have netted more immediate help from a junior college player.
Mo Camara, one of the steals of the class, is a perfect fit for the SPUR position.
DB- I love Pharoh Cooper. Another great evaluation by Brad Lawing. Cooper was the best player on the field at the Shrine Bowl. While he will get a look at CB, he is a natural FS and will be a bigger version of DJ Swearinger, minus the gold teeth. Cooper can also help as a return man. Both Ali Groves and Ronnie Martin are speed burners. Groves is a 3.8 student and could have enrolled early.
FS Jasper Sasser is a big kid that can run. He is a pure safety with good ball skills.
Overall grade for this class- B+. If it had not been for a few key misses at a couple of skill positions like WR and CB, this could have been a near top 10 class. For instance, if Carolina had kept Langley, and landed JaQuay WIlliams and Tommie Harris, I think this would have been an A+ class.
Kudos to GA Mangus, Shawn Elliott, and Grady Brown. I was happy to see Brown's hard work in S Fla pay off with Moore's commitment. I also look forward to seeing what Deke Adams can do on the recruiting trail in NC and GA, and in VA with DeShawn Hand.
I also would like to say that I see more and more kids say positive and glowing remarks about coach Botkin. I have misjudged him and his ability to build relationships with recruits. I hope he can use this momentum, establish himself in his territory and be more of an asset in the upcoming recruiting cycles.
2014 is set up to be a great class. Carolina needs to sign 16-20 kids. I know that is a longshot right now, but hopefully some guys that see no opportunity for playing time will move on. to places they can contribute.
Right now I really like our chances with the following guys
WR Shaq Davidson
OL Donnell Stanley
DE Dexter Wideman
DT Poona Ford
TE Kalen Ritchie
TE KC Crosby
OL Bentley Spain
LB Bryson Allen-Williams
WR Terry Googer
CB Darrin Smalls
QB Drew Barker
LB DeShaun Davis
DL Peyton Newell
there are many other guys like Orlando Brown, Andrew Williams and DeShawn Hand the Gamecocks have staying power with. I haven't even mentioned any names from the Northeast, and we all know GA Mangus is on the case.
