Regrading South Carolina 2013 recruiting: Gamecocks’ class featured two studs
Jan. 17, 2017
Steve Spurrier’s 2013 signing class brought to South Carolina two of the school’s all-time best players.
However, the Gamecocks’ 20-man class included just one other player who became a dependable starter and contributor.
Here is SEC Country’s re-ranking of South Carolina’s 2013 signing class.
Kelsey Griffin, 4-star DT
During his first three seasons, Griffin had 20 tackles in 26 games. As a senior, he had 32 tackles and played in all 13 games, three of which he started.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Larenz Bryant, 4-star OLB
Bryant missed almost the first half of his senior season because of a hamstring injury. For his career, he played in 41 games but made only two starts. Most of his contributions were on special teams.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
David Williams, 4-star APB
Over three seasons, Williams rushed 187 times for 794 yards and 5 touchdowns. When preseason camp opened in 2016, he occupied the top spot on the depth chart. Williams was demoted by the second practice. This past season, his last at South Carolina, he started two of the nine games he appeared in.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
D.J. Park, 4-star G
Park played primarily on special teams during his first two seasons. In 2016, he opened as the No. 1 right tackle but made only two other starts. He’ll return in 2017 with a chance to win another job.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Na’Ty Rodgers, 3-star OT
Rodgers redshirted during his only year at South Carolina. After spending two seasons in junior college, he landed at Houston, where he started the first seven games in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Connor Mitch, 3-star, PS-QB
Mitch won the starting quarterback job before the 2015 opener. He was 9-of-22 passing for 122 yards with a touchdown in the win over North Carolina, but injured a hip in the process. A couple of weeks later, against Kentucky, a shoulder injury ended Mitch’s season. Mitch transferred to James Madison, where he was a backup in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Skai Moore, 3-star OLB
Among the 2013 signees, Moore has been the most productive defensive player. He led the Gamecocks in tackles in each of his first three seasons. A neck injury forced him to miss all of 2016, and he’s expected to return to the starting lineup in 2017.
SEC Country re-rank: 5-star
Devin Washington, 3-star WDE
Injuries prevented Washington from playing. His career ended last spring when he opted to take a medical hardship, though he did graduate from South Carolina in December.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
David Johnson, 3-star WDE
In two seasons, Johnson played in 19 games. Coach Will Muschamp dismissed Johnson from the team in February of 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Pharoh Cooper, 3-star ATH
South Carolina got the ball to Cooper in just about every way imaginable. He rewarded the Gamecocks by earning All-SEC first-team honors as a wide receiver as a sophomore and junior. As a junior, he also picked up the all-purpose player recognition. Cooper, a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, caught 14 passes during his rookie year in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 5-star
Bryce King, 3-star C
After taking a redshirt in 2013, King told South Carolina coaches the following spring that he was transferring to Mars Hill, where he has started 30 games.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Alan Knott, 3-star G
Knott entered 2016 third among returning Gamecocks and first among all players on offense with 17 career starts. Suspended for the opener, Knott resumed duties as starting center for the final 12 games.
SEC Country re-rank: 4-star
Gerald Turner, 3-star ILB
Turner hardly played before he transferred to Charleston Southern at the end of the 2014 season. In 2016, he appeared in six games, making one start as a defensive lineman.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Jamari Smith, 3-star APB
Smith played cornerback, running back and wide receiver. In his best game, he had 103 yards rushing against Coastal Carolina as a true freshman. Smith, who graduated in December, is believed to have enrolled at North Carolina A&T for his graduate season.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
J.P. Vonashek, 3-star OT
Vonashek was on campus for just a few months before leaving the team for personal reasons.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Ali Groves, 3-star S
After taking a redshirt as a freshman, Groves never played because of shoulder injuries and a concussion. He did graduate from South Carolina in December. Earlier last summer, he was granted a medical hardship waiver.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Ronnie Martin, 3-star CB
Martin signed with South Carolina in 2011 but spent two years in junior college before arriving in Columbia. He played one play before leaving.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Jasper Sasser, 3-star ATH
Sasser was primarily a special teams player during his three seasons on the field. He will not be with the Gamecocks for 2017.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Jonathan Walton, 3-star ILB
Walton didn’t miss a single game during his first three seasons. He was a versatile player for the Gamecocks, starting at multiple positions. As a senior, he started in 10 of 12 games, finishing fourth on the team with 68 tackles.
SEC Country re-rank: 4-star
Mohamed Camara, 3-star OLB
Camara redshirted during his only season on campus.
SECCOUNTRY
Jan. 17, 2017
Steve Spurrier’s 2013 signing class brought to South Carolina two of the school’s all-time best players.
However, the Gamecocks’ 20-man class included just one other player who became a dependable starter and contributor.
Here is SEC Country’s re-ranking of South Carolina’s 2013 signing class.
Kelsey Griffin, 4-star DT
During his first three seasons, Griffin had 20 tackles in 26 games. As a senior, he had 32 tackles and played in all 13 games, three of which he started.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Larenz Bryant, 4-star OLB
Bryant missed almost the first half of his senior season because of a hamstring injury. For his career, he played in 41 games but made only two starts. Most of his contributions were on special teams.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
David Williams, 4-star APB
Over three seasons, Williams rushed 187 times for 794 yards and 5 touchdowns. When preseason camp opened in 2016, he occupied the top spot on the depth chart. Williams was demoted by the second practice. This past season, his last at South Carolina, he started two of the nine games he appeared in.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
D.J. Park, 4-star G
Park played primarily on special teams during his first two seasons. In 2016, he opened as the No. 1 right tackle but made only two other starts. He’ll return in 2017 with a chance to win another job.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Na’Ty Rodgers, 3-star OT
Rodgers redshirted during his only year at South Carolina. After spending two seasons in junior college, he landed at Houston, where he started the first seven games in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Connor Mitch, 3-star, PS-QB
Mitch won the starting quarterback job before the 2015 opener. He was 9-of-22 passing for 122 yards with a touchdown in the win over North Carolina, but injured a hip in the process. A couple of weeks later, against Kentucky, a shoulder injury ended Mitch’s season. Mitch transferred to James Madison, where he was a backup in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Skai Moore, 3-star OLB
Among the 2013 signees, Moore has been the most productive defensive player. He led the Gamecocks in tackles in each of his first three seasons. A neck injury forced him to miss all of 2016, and he’s expected to return to the starting lineup in 2017.
SEC Country re-rank: 5-star
Devin Washington, 3-star WDE
Injuries prevented Washington from playing. His career ended last spring when he opted to take a medical hardship, though he did graduate from South Carolina in December.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
David Johnson, 3-star WDE
In two seasons, Johnson played in 19 games. Coach Will Muschamp dismissed Johnson from the team in February of 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Pharoh Cooper, 3-star ATH
South Carolina got the ball to Cooper in just about every way imaginable. He rewarded the Gamecocks by earning All-SEC first-team honors as a wide receiver as a sophomore and junior. As a junior, he also picked up the all-purpose player recognition. Cooper, a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, caught 14 passes during his rookie year in 2016.
SEC Country re-rank: 5-star
Bryce King, 3-star C
After taking a redshirt in 2013, King told South Carolina coaches the following spring that he was transferring to Mars Hill, where he has started 30 games.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Alan Knott, 3-star G
Knott entered 2016 third among returning Gamecocks and first among all players on offense with 17 career starts. Suspended for the opener, Knott resumed duties as starting center for the final 12 games.
SEC Country re-rank: 4-star
Gerald Turner, 3-star ILB
Turner hardly played before he transferred to Charleston Southern at the end of the 2014 season. In 2016, he appeared in six games, making one start as a defensive lineman.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Jamari Smith, 3-star APB
Smith played cornerback, running back and wide receiver. In his best game, he had 103 yards rushing against Coastal Carolina as a true freshman. Smith, who graduated in December, is believed to have enrolled at North Carolina A&T for his graduate season.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
J.P. Vonashek, 3-star OT
Vonashek was on campus for just a few months before leaving the team for personal reasons.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Ali Groves, 3-star S
After taking a redshirt as a freshman, Groves never played because of shoulder injuries and a concussion. He did graduate from South Carolina in December. Earlier last summer, he was granted a medical hardship waiver.
SEC Country re-rank: N/A
Ronnie Martin, 3-star CB
Martin signed with South Carolina in 2011 but spent two years in junior college before arriving in Columbia. He played one play before leaving.
SEC Country re-rank: 2-star
Jasper Sasser, 3-star ATH
Sasser was primarily a special teams player during his three seasons on the field. He will not be with the Gamecocks for 2017.
SEC Country re-rank: 3-star
Jonathan Walton, 3-star ILB
Walton didn’t miss a single game during his first three seasons. He was a versatile player for the Gamecocks, starting at multiple positions. As a senior, he started in 10 of 12 games, finishing fourth on the team with 68 tackles.
SEC Country re-rank: 4-star
Mohamed Camara, 3-star OLB
Camara redshirted during his only season on campus.
SECCOUNTRY
