Recruiting class retrospective: A look back at South Carolina’s 2011 class
July 28, 2016
We take a look at the careers of the players in those classes and provide a simple grading scale on their stock: up, even or down. First up: The very impressive 2011 recruiting class.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
The Skinny: Clowney was pretty good at football. He was the No. 1 recruit in the nation with a perfect ranking in the 247Sports Composite. He would be named the SEC freshman of the year and landed on freshman All-American teams immediately, but it was just the start. He was nominated for an ESPY in 2012 after he popped Michigan running back Vincent Smith so hard that Smith still might be feeling it. Clowney was a first-team All-American and the SEC defensive player of the year as a sophomore then left early following his junior year. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans after he had 47 tackles for loss and 24 career sacks.
Stock: Up
OT Brandon Shell
The Skinny: Shell started a whopping 47 straight games at South Carolina split between the two tackle spots. He was in the lineup from early on in his redshirt freshman season, earning All-SEC freshman honors, and never looked back, proving a steady force up front and a consistent starter. He was picked in the fifth round by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Stock: Up
DT Kelcy Quarles
The Skinny: Quarles helped form a formidable defensive line with Clowney during their careers at USC. He started 17 games in his first two seasons before turning in an All-American season in 2013, when he recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He played in 35 games with 28 starts, while making 23.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks. He left early for the NFL and went undrafted, but is currently with the Indianapolis Colts.
Stock: Up
DT Phillip Dukes
The Skinny: Dukes became a spot starter, making five of them in 43 games. He finished his playing days at South Carolina with 64 tackles, 9.5 of which came for a loss.
Stock: Even
S Sheldon Royster
The Skinny: After taking a redshirt year in 2011, Royster was finished at South Carolina and went to Rutgers. He never played at Rutgers and reportedly left the program after the 2013 season.
Stock: Down
WR Damiere Byrd
The Skinny: Byrd wasted no time in getting involved at USC, starting a couple games as a true freshman. He would go on to start 20 of 47 games in his career with 68 receptions for 1,265 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Award, a prestigious academic award. He currently is with the Carolina Panthers.
Stock: Up
OT Kaleb Broome
The Skinny: After he began his post-high school career at Georgia Military College, Broome came to Columbia. He enrolled early, but never took off after being considered one of the best junior college recruits in the country.
Stock: Down
RB Shon Carson
The Skinny: Carson had his best seasons as a sophomore and senior, rushing for 256 and 297 yards, respectively. He had five career touchdowns and also was used on special teams as a kick returner.
Stock: Down
WR Shamier Jeffery
The Skinny: The younger brother of Alshon Jeffery, Shamier had 15 catches for 112 yards in his career.
Stock: Down
CB Brison Williams
The Skinny: Williams had a really nice career for the Gamecocks after a stint at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. He made 37 career starts – mostly at safety – with 142 tackles and seven picks.
Stock: Up
QB Tanner McEvoy
The Skinny: The highly athletic McEvoy came in as an athlete, but settled in at quarterback in 2011. He redshirted for a year, but then transferred out prior to fall camp in 2012, where he would play at Arizona Western. He played safety for Wisconsin in 2013 before moving back to QB to start 13 games … before winding up at safety again in 2015 to complete a very interesting career.
Stock: Down
CB Ahmad Christian
The Skinny: Christian spent three years at South Carolina before transferring to Utah, where he was a senior in 2015. He had 18 tackles, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble in his best year at USC in 2012.
Stock: Even
OT Mike Matulis
The Skinny: Matulis earned freshman All-American honors after becoming the starting right tackle. He struggled to stay healthy in the following seasons before starting 10 games as a senior at left guard.
Stock: Even
LB Marcquis Roberts
The Skinny: Robert spent two years at South Carolina before he had a chance to make an impact, as he was hurt both in 2011 and 2012. He was ready to go after that, starting eight games in 2013 and six the following year. He transferred to Kansas for the 2015 season as a graduate student. There, he recorded 71 tackles and will be a senior this season.
Stock: Even
LB Cedrick Cooper
The Skinny: Cooper had three seasons influenced by injury at South Carolina, but his senior year was solid. He started a handful of games that season, recording a sack.
Stock: Even
OL Kyle Harris
The Skinny: Harris was good enough early to play in three games as a true freshman, but an injury stole his next season and that would be it for him at USC. He transferred to a junior college before spending two seasons at Arkansas State.
Stock: Down
LB Edward Muldrow
The Skinny: Muldrow redshirted as a true freshman at South Carolina, but departed after that. He spent time at the junior college level before landing at West Virginia, where he became a starter.
Stock: Down
S Kadetrix Marcus
The Skinny: Marcus earned playing time as a freshman and was in and out of the starting lineup in his final two years. He had eight starts in 42 games with 56 tackles.
Stock: Even
TE Rory Anderson
The Skinny: Anderson had his share of injuries, but when he was healthy, he was a steady performer. He caught 61 passes for 954 yards and nine touchdowns, playing in 48 games during his four-year career.
Stock: Up
WR K.J. Brent
The Skinny: Brent had 14 catches in his three years playing for the Gamecocks before he transferred to Wake Forest for his graduate transfer season. He had 42 catches for 538 yards in his one season with the Demon Deacons.
Stock: Even
DT Deon Green
The Skinny: Green’s early years at USC were hampered by injuries. He played in just a couple games before transferring to SMU.
Stock: Down
DE Mason Harris
The Skinny: Harris played sparingly as a reserve during his time at South Carolina before transferring to Kennesaw State as a grad transfer.
Stock: Down
DB Martay Mattox
The Skinny: Mattox enrolled early and got snaps in the defensive backfield to open his career. But he redshirted then transferred to a junior college. He finished his career at UNC-Charlotte as a safety.
Stock: Down
RB Brandon Wilds
The Skinny: You wouldn’t have expected Wilds to do much as a true freshman with Marcus Lattimore in the backfield, but a bevy of injuries led him to play right away. He burst onto the scene and then had a nice junior season before leading the team in rushing as a senior.
Stock: Up
OT Will Sport
The Skinny: Sport’s career progressed from special teams player to key player in his final two seasons, as he started the final 22 games of his career.
Stock: Up
DT Gerald Dixon Jr.
The Skinny: A starter in each of his final two seasons at South Carolina, Dixon Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps to play at South Carolina. He had a solid career on the defensive line.
Stock: Up
LB Angelo Watley
The Skinny: Watley redshirted as a freshman, but was arrested and charged with grand larceny, credit card theft and second-degree violent burglary the following spring. He was dismissed.
Stock: Down
DE Gerald Dixon
The Skinny: Bear with me. Yes, this is a second Gerald Dixon in 2011 class. He and Dixon Jr. also are half-brothers. He was a little-known recruit who became a starter as a junior and a spot starter as a senior after bouncing back from an injury.
Stock: Up
—
2011 recruiting class
TE Rory Anderson, WR Damiere Byrd, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SKadetrix Marcus, DTKelcy Quarles, OT Brandon Shell, S Brison Williams (for the second time; he went to prep school in 2010)
The Skinny: The class brought starpower like never before with Clowney, who lived up to the hype. Behind him, Quarles and Shell were very important players and had strong careers for the Gamecocks.
With Byrd, Anderson, Williams and more playing roles and becoming key cogs, the 2011 class was outstanding.
Stock: Up
SECCOUNTRY
July 28, 2016
We take a look at the careers of the players in those classes and provide a simple grading scale on their stock: up, even or down. First up: The very impressive 2011 recruiting class.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
The Skinny: Clowney was pretty good at football. He was the No. 1 recruit in the nation with a perfect ranking in the 247Sports Composite. He would be named the SEC freshman of the year and landed on freshman All-American teams immediately, but it was just the start. He was nominated for an ESPY in 2012 after he popped Michigan running back Vincent Smith so hard that Smith still might be feeling it. Clowney was a first-team All-American and the SEC defensive player of the year as a sophomore then left early following his junior year. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans after he had 47 tackles for loss and 24 career sacks.
Stock: Up
OT Brandon Shell
The Skinny: Shell started a whopping 47 straight games at South Carolina split between the two tackle spots. He was in the lineup from early on in his redshirt freshman season, earning All-SEC freshman honors, and never looked back, proving a steady force up front and a consistent starter. He was picked in the fifth round by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Stock: Up
DT Kelcy Quarles
The Skinny: Quarles helped form a formidable defensive line with Clowney during their careers at USC. He started 17 games in his first two seasons before turning in an All-American season in 2013, when he recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He played in 35 games with 28 starts, while making 23.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks. He left early for the NFL and went undrafted, but is currently with the Indianapolis Colts.
Stock: Up
DT Phillip Dukes
The Skinny: Dukes became a spot starter, making five of them in 43 games. He finished his playing days at South Carolina with 64 tackles, 9.5 of which came for a loss.
Stock: Even
S Sheldon Royster
The Skinny: After taking a redshirt year in 2011, Royster was finished at South Carolina and went to Rutgers. He never played at Rutgers and reportedly left the program after the 2013 season.
Stock: Down
WR Damiere Byrd
The Skinny: Byrd wasted no time in getting involved at USC, starting a couple games as a true freshman. He would go on to start 20 of 47 games in his career with 68 receptions for 1,265 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Award, a prestigious academic award. He currently is with the Carolina Panthers.
Stock: Up
OT Kaleb Broome
The Skinny: After he began his post-high school career at Georgia Military College, Broome came to Columbia. He enrolled early, but never took off after being considered one of the best junior college recruits in the country.
Stock: Down
RB Shon Carson
The Skinny: Carson had his best seasons as a sophomore and senior, rushing for 256 and 297 yards, respectively. He had five career touchdowns and also was used on special teams as a kick returner.
Stock: Down
WR Shamier Jeffery
The Skinny: The younger brother of Alshon Jeffery, Shamier had 15 catches for 112 yards in his career.
Stock: Down
CB Brison Williams
The Skinny: Williams had a really nice career for the Gamecocks after a stint at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. He made 37 career starts – mostly at safety – with 142 tackles and seven picks.
Stock: Up
QB Tanner McEvoy
The Skinny: The highly athletic McEvoy came in as an athlete, but settled in at quarterback in 2011. He redshirted for a year, but then transferred out prior to fall camp in 2012, where he would play at Arizona Western. He played safety for Wisconsin in 2013 before moving back to QB to start 13 games … before winding up at safety again in 2015 to complete a very interesting career.
Stock: Down
CB Ahmad Christian
The Skinny: Christian spent three years at South Carolina before transferring to Utah, where he was a senior in 2015. He had 18 tackles, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble in his best year at USC in 2012.
Stock: Even
OT Mike Matulis
The Skinny: Matulis earned freshman All-American honors after becoming the starting right tackle. He struggled to stay healthy in the following seasons before starting 10 games as a senior at left guard.
Stock: Even
LB Marcquis Roberts
The Skinny: Robert spent two years at South Carolina before he had a chance to make an impact, as he was hurt both in 2011 and 2012. He was ready to go after that, starting eight games in 2013 and six the following year. He transferred to Kansas for the 2015 season as a graduate student. There, he recorded 71 tackles and will be a senior this season.
Stock: Even
LB Cedrick Cooper
The Skinny: Cooper had three seasons influenced by injury at South Carolina, but his senior year was solid. He started a handful of games that season, recording a sack.
Stock: Even
OL Kyle Harris
The Skinny: Harris was good enough early to play in three games as a true freshman, but an injury stole his next season and that would be it for him at USC. He transferred to a junior college before spending two seasons at Arkansas State.
Stock: Down
LB Edward Muldrow
The Skinny: Muldrow redshirted as a true freshman at South Carolina, but departed after that. He spent time at the junior college level before landing at West Virginia, where he became a starter.
Stock: Down
S Kadetrix Marcus
The Skinny: Marcus earned playing time as a freshman and was in and out of the starting lineup in his final two years. He had eight starts in 42 games with 56 tackles.
Stock: Even
TE Rory Anderson
The Skinny: Anderson had his share of injuries, but when he was healthy, he was a steady performer. He caught 61 passes for 954 yards and nine touchdowns, playing in 48 games during his four-year career.
Stock: Up
WR K.J. Brent
The Skinny: Brent had 14 catches in his three years playing for the Gamecocks before he transferred to Wake Forest for his graduate transfer season. He had 42 catches for 538 yards in his one season with the Demon Deacons.
Stock: Even
DT Deon Green
The Skinny: Green’s early years at USC were hampered by injuries. He played in just a couple games before transferring to SMU.
Stock: Down
DE Mason Harris
The Skinny: Harris played sparingly as a reserve during his time at South Carolina before transferring to Kennesaw State as a grad transfer.
Stock: Down
DB Martay Mattox
The Skinny: Mattox enrolled early and got snaps in the defensive backfield to open his career. But he redshirted then transferred to a junior college. He finished his career at UNC-Charlotte as a safety.
Stock: Down
RB Brandon Wilds
The Skinny: You wouldn’t have expected Wilds to do much as a true freshman with Marcus Lattimore in the backfield, but a bevy of injuries led him to play right away. He burst onto the scene and then had a nice junior season before leading the team in rushing as a senior.
Stock: Up
OT Will Sport
The Skinny: Sport’s career progressed from special teams player to key player in his final two seasons, as he started the final 22 games of his career.
Stock: Up
DT Gerald Dixon Jr.
The Skinny: A starter in each of his final two seasons at South Carolina, Dixon Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps to play at South Carolina. He had a solid career on the defensive line.
Stock: Up
LB Angelo Watley
The Skinny: Watley redshirted as a freshman, but was arrested and charged with grand larceny, credit card theft and second-degree violent burglary the following spring. He was dismissed.
Stock: Down
DE Gerald Dixon
The Skinny: Bear with me. Yes, this is a second Gerald Dixon in 2011 class. He and Dixon Jr. also are half-brothers. He was a little-known recruit who became a starter as a junior and a spot starter as a senior after bouncing back from an injury.
Stock: Up
—
2011 recruiting class
TE Rory Anderson, WR Damiere Byrd, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SKadetrix Marcus, DTKelcy Quarles, OT Brandon Shell, S Brison Williams (for the second time; he went to prep school in 2010)
The Skinny: The class brought starpower like never before with Clowney, who lived up to the hype. Behind him, Quarles and Shell were very important players and had strong careers for the Gamecocks.
With Byrd, Anderson, Williams and more playing roles and becoming key cogs, the 2011 class was outstanding.
Stock: Up
SECCOUNTRY