Sizing up a few prospects from Central Florida
December 26, 2017
With the Outback Bowl kicking off in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day, the South Carolina football team will spend about a week in one of the most talent-rich regions of the country.
Within a three-county radius — Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee — there are plenty of college football prospects to be had. And that doesn’t include IMG Academy in Bradenton, which is south of Tampa in Manatee County.
While Dade and Broward Counties remain the epicenter in Florida, those three counties and their cities of Tampa and Lakeland have plenty of players for the 2019 and ’20 classes, many of whom have already landed offers from the Gamecocks.
Four-star defensive tackle Dennis Briggs, one of the remaining few 2018 targets, lists South Carolina among his favorites, along with Florida State, Louisville and Miami. He, however, is from Kissimmee, which is just off I-4 between Tampa and Orlando. The Gamecocks are scheduled to host him for an official visit in January.
Four-star offensive tackle Michael Tarquin attends Belleview High School, which is a little north up I-75 from Tampa, but he is certainly a top target for South Carolina in the 2019 haul. Tarquin (6 feet 5 inches, 290 pounds) has been to Columbia several times and lists the Gamecocks among his favorites, along with Clemson, Miami and Ohio State.
Lakeland High School is home to several other targets, including 4-star tight end Keon Zipperer and 4-star defensive end Latrell Jean. The school also has 2020 running back Demarkcus Bowman.
Four-star 2019 safety Brendan Gant is in Lakeland at Kathleen High School, but he recently committed to Alabama.
Another top defensive back in the area, 4-star cornerback John Dixon, goes to Wharton High School in Tampa. Dixon was one of SpursUp Surveillance’s top performers last summer during Muschamp Camp.
South Carolina was one of the first offers for 2020 outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell (Tampa-Berkeley Prep). The 6-3, 210-pound prospect was another Muschamp Camp standout.
December 26, 2017
With the Outback Bowl kicking off in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day, the South Carolina football team will spend about a week in one of the most talent-rich regions of the country.
Within a three-county radius — Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee — there are plenty of college football prospects to be had. And that doesn’t include IMG Academy in Bradenton, which is south of Tampa in Manatee County.
While Dade and Broward Counties remain the epicenter in Florida, those three counties and their cities of Tampa and Lakeland have plenty of players for the 2019 and ’20 classes, many of whom have already landed offers from the Gamecocks.
Four-star defensive tackle Dennis Briggs, one of the remaining few 2018 targets, lists South Carolina among his favorites, along with Florida State, Louisville and Miami. He, however, is from Kissimmee, which is just off I-4 between Tampa and Orlando. The Gamecocks are scheduled to host him for an official visit in January.
Four-star offensive tackle Michael Tarquin attends Belleview High School, which is a little north up I-75 from Tampa, but he is certainly a top target for South Carolina in the 2019 haul. Tarquin (6 feet 5 inches, 290 pounds) has been to Columbia several times and lists the Gamecocks among his favorites, along with Clemson, Miami and Ohio State.
Lakeland High School is home to several other targets, including 4-star tight end Keon Zipperer and 4-star defensive end Latrell Jean. The school also has 2020 running back Demarkcus Bowman.
Four-star 2019 safety Brendan Gant is in Lakeland at Kathleen High School, but he recently committed to Alabama.
Another top defensive back in the area, 4-star cornerback John Dixon, goes to Wharton High School in Tampa. Dixon was one of SpursUp Surveillance’s top performers last summer during Muschamp Camp.
South Carolina was one of the first offers for 2020 outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell (Tampa-Berkeley Prep). The 6-3, 210-pound prospect was another Muschamp Camp standout.
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