OrTre’s impact, Javon Kinlaw predictions and more recruiting notes
Jan. 27, 2017
OrTre brings more
South Carolina recruiting-South Carolina-South Carolina football-OrTre Smith
OrTre Smith (Hale McGranahan/SEC Country)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Another year of Will Muschamp at Carolina brings another major receiving threat in the end zone — say hello to OrTre Smith, the 6-foot-3 Class of 2017 receiver who enrolled in December.
After Bryan Edwards had a big debut after enrolling early in 2016, OrTre Smith tries to follow the same path. Smith, a wide receiver from Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Wando, is the top-ranked offensive commit for the Gamecocks. Selected to play in the Army All-American Game, Smith did not take part in it because of ankle surgery.
The consensus 4-star prospect should only boost the Gamecocks’ receiver unit — one with talent (between Edwards and Deebo Samuel) and promise (Chavis Dawkins, Randrecous Davis, Korey Banks), but short on experience.
Kinlaw incoming?
With National Signing Day now just days away, anxiety starts to take hold for recruitniks.
Fortunately, we have some good news on that front — specifically in the trenches …
“Three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for four-star defensive end Javon Kinlaw came in on Thursday and each of them had the Goose Creek native picking the home state South Carolina Gamecocks,” reports The Big Spur’s Connor Tapp. “All 12 expert predictions for Kinlaw’s college choice have the 6-6, 305-pound lineman choosing Carolina.”
Kinlaw, a one-time Carolina commit, returning to the fold would provide a major boost on the defensive line.
If Muschamp is able to keep the Goose Creek native in-state and out of the hands of almighty Alabama, that would be considered a major “get” for the Gamecocks head coach.
More on de-commitments
South Carolina has had seven prospects de-commit from the 2017 haul, starting with 4-star junior college wide receiver Stephen Guidry. He’s flip-flopped from his commitment to LSU but is expected to sign with the Tigers.
Hale McGranahan outlines all of the attrition the Gamecocks’ Class of 2017 has incurred over the past couple of months — from Guidry all the way to recent flip from Hamsah Nasirildeen.
Though Feb. 1 looms large for top commit Jamyest Williams, the Gamecocks are in play for other top prospects such as the aforementioned Kinlaw, Devonte Wyatt and Brad Johnson.
I’d urge any fans who follow recruiting to not sweat the commits, flips and losses too much — come Feb. 2, the Gamecocks are likely to be sitting pretty with at least a top 25, maybe even top 20/top 15 class if they catch some breaks.
Got $1.35M lying around?
Then, have I got an investment for you!
South Carolina’s all-time winningest coach is finally leaving the Palmetto State … and putting his Woodcreek Farms home on the market.
“Finally got it listed,” Steve Spurrier told The State on Thursday. “It hasn’t sold yet, but, hopefully, it will pretty soon.”
With the last of Spurrier clan leaving Columbia (son Scott heading to USF), it only makes sense for the Old Ball Coach to pack it up for good.
“We’ve got a lot of friends up there,” Spurrier said of South Carolina. “We will go in and out and so forth. I’ll be back. Gosh, I thoroughly enjoyed the good years there, and we had some good ones.”
It’s still a little weird to look back at those final years of the HBC in Columbia — especially with it ending so poorly, with Clemson winning the national championship this season as the nightmarish cherry on top.
Alas, I’m sure as more time passes (and the Gamecocks hopefully improve), Carolina fans will come to look more and more fondly upon Spurrier’s time at USC.
Jan. 27, 2017
OrTre brings more
South Carolina recruiting-South Carolina-South Carolina football-OrTre Smith
OrTre Smith (Hale McGranahan/SEC Country)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Another year of Will Muschamp at Carolina brings another major receiving threat in the end zone — say hello to OrTre Smith, the 6-foot-3 Class of 2017 receiver who enrolled in December.
After Bryan Edwards had a big debut after enrolling early in 2016, OrTre Smith tries to follow the same path. Smith, a wide receiver from Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Wando, is the top-ranked offensive commit for the Gamecocks. Selected to play in the Army All-American Game, Smith did not take part in it because of ankle surgery.
The consensus 4-star prospect should only boost the Gamecocks’ receiver unit — one with talent (between Edwards and Deebo Samuel) and promise (Chavis Dawkins, Randrecous Davis, Korey Banks), but short on experience.
Kinlaw incoming?
With National Signing Day now just days away, anxiety starts to take hold for recruitniks.
Fortunately, we have some good news on that front — specifically in the trenches …
“Three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for four-star defensive end Javon Kinlaw came in on Thursday and each of them had the Goose Creek native picking the home state South Carolina Gamecocks,” reports The Big Spur’s Connor Tapp. “All 12 expert predictions for Kinlaw’s college choice have the 6-6, 305-pound lineman choosing Carolina.”
Kinlaw, a one-time Carolina commit, returning to the fold would provide a major boost on the defensive line.
If Muschamp is able to keep the Goose Creek native in-state and out of the hands of almighty Alabama, that would be considered a major “get” for the Gamecocks head coach.
More on de-commitments
South Carolina has had seven prospects de-commit from the 2017 haul, starting with 4-star junior college wide receiver Stephen Guidry. He’s flip-flopped from his commitment to LSU but is expected to sign with the Tigers.
Hale McGranahan outlines all of the attrition the Gamecocks’ Class of 2017 has incurred over the past couple of months — from Guidry all the way to recent flip from Hamsah Nasirildeen.
Though Feb. 1 looms large for top commit Jamyest Williams, the Gamecocks are in play for other top prospects such as the aforementioned Kinlaw, Devonte Wyatt and Brad Johnson.
I’d urge any fans who follow recruiting to not sweat the commits, flips and losses too much — come Feb. 2, the Gamecocks are likely to be sitting pretty with at least a top 25, maybe even top 20/top 15 class if they catch some breaks.
Got $1.35M lying around?
Then, have I got an investment for you!
South Carolina’s all-time winningest coach is finally leaving the Palmetto State … and putting his Woodcreek Farms home on the market.
“Finally got it listed,” Steve Spurrier told The State on Thursday. “It hasn’t sold yet, but, hopefully, it will pretty soon.”
With the last of Spurrier clan leaving Columbia (son Scott heading to USF), it only makes sense for the Old Ball Coach to pack it up for good.
“We’ve got a lot of friends up there,” Spurrier said of South Carolina. “We will go in and out and so forth. I’ll be back. Gosh, I thoroughly enjoyed the good years there, and we had some good ones.”
It’s still a little weird to look back at those final years of the HBC in Columbia — especially with it ending so poorly, with Clemson winning the national championship this season as the nightmarish cherry on top.
Alas, I’m sure as more time passes (and the Gamecocks hopefully improve), Carolina fans will come to look more and more fondly upon Spurrier’s time at USC.