South Carolina 2018 football mock signing class 3.0: Defense stands to benefit from possible flips
October 17, 2017
The South Carolina football team’s 2018 recruiting class has commitments from seven prospects that profile to play on defense.
With three full months left before National Signing Day, the Gamecocks are still in the mix for a handful of the country’s top 2018 prospects, including 4-star linebackers Channing Tindall and Dax Hollifield.
South Carolina is in strong position to sign both, along with a few other potential stars.
Defensive end (2)
3-star Kingsley Enagbare (Atlanta), 3-star Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), 3-star Dorian Gerald (College of the Canyons)
Johnson originally signed with South Carolina this past February and is on track to enroll next January, after taking a grayshirt this fall.
Enagbare committed to South Carolina over Georgia and Georgia Tech. Though he recently added an offer from Notre Dame, it’s unlikely that he changes his course.
With Tennessee’s decline this season, 3-star junior college prospect Dorian Gerald is a candidate to flip, especially if Butch Jones loses his job. Gerald visited for the Arkansas game and is expected to return for an official visit in November.
South Carolina recruiting-Rick Sandidge
Defensive tackle (2)
3-star Jabari Ellis (Georgia Military College), 4-star Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.)
South Carolina lost a commitment from 3-star JUCO prospect Dantrell Barkley, but the Gamecocks still have Jabari Ellis, who remains firm with his commitment.
Barkley’s removal from the class helps clear space for a group that’s already tight on space.
Sandidge, who may not take an official visit to South Carolina, lives close enough to visit whenever he’d like, so there’s not much to worry about that way. It would be nice for the Gamecocks to get him back to campus at least one more time this fall for a game. He did visit for Kentucky.
Linebacker (3)
3-star Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.), 4-star Dax Hollifield (Shelby, N.C.), 4-star Channing Tindall (Columbia, S.C.)
Though it’s no guarantee that Hollifield and Tindall end up in this class, both are very well aware of the opportunity to compete for early playing time. And both know they’re highly coveted by South Carolina’s staff.
With Jones already in the boat, the Gamecocks 2018 linebacker class is off to a nice start.
Cornerback (2)
4-star Marlon Character Jr. (Northwest Mississippi C.C.), 4-star Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Character, the top-rated defensive player in South Carolina’s class, is classified as a safety, but he expects to get his first look as cornerback when he arrives to Columbia in January.
Horn, another Tennessee commitment who could be jumping ship soon, has played safety during his senior season. Alabama and Clemson are also in the mix.
Safety (2)
3-star Jonathan Gipson (Hoschton, Ga.), 3-star R.J. Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
The Gamecocks have a nice pair of safety commitments in Gipson and Roderick, who could play free and strong safety, respectively.
Roderick, who’s been dealing with a back injury, played in the first four games of his senior season. But he’s since shut things down and will try to heal before enrolling in January.
October 17, 2017
The South Carolina football team’s 2018 recruiting class has commitments from seven prospects that profile to play on defense.
With three full months left before National Signing Day, the Gamecocks are still in the mix for a handful of the country’s top 2018 prospects, including 4-star linebackers Channing Tindall and Dax Hollifield.
South Carolina is in strong position to sign both, along with a few other potential stars.
Defensive end (2)
3-star Kingsley Enagbare (Atlanta), 3-star Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), 3-star Dorian Gerald (College of the Canyons)
Johnson originally signed with South Carolina this past February and is on track to enroll next January, after taking a grayshirt this fall.
Enagbare committed to South Carolina over Georgia and Georgia Tech. Though he recently added an offer from Notre Dame, it’s unlikely that he changes his course.
With Tennessee’s decline this season, 3-star junior college prospect Dorian Gerald is a candidate to flip, especially if Butch Jones loses his job. Gerald visited for the Arkansas game and is expected to return for an official visit in November.
South Carolina recruiting-Rick Sandidge
Defensive tackle (2)
3-star Jabari Ellis (Georgia Military College), 4-star Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.)
South Carolina lost a commitment from 3-star JUCO prospect Dantrell Barkley, but the Gamecocks still have Jabari Ellis, who remains firm with his commitment.
Barkley’s removal from the class helps clear space for a group that’s already tight on space.
Sandidge, who may not take an official visit to South Carolina, lives close enough to visit whenever he’d like, so there’s not much to worry about that way. It would be nice for the Gamecocks to get him back to campus at least one more time this fall for a game. He did visit for Kentucky.
Linebacker (3)
3-star Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.), 4-star Dax Hollifield (Shelby, N.C.), 4-star Channing Tindall (Columbia, S.C.)
Though it’s no guarantee that Hollifield and Tindall end up in this class, both are very well aware of the opportunity to compete for early playing time. And both know they’re highly coveted by South Carolina’s staff.
With Jones already in the boat, the Gamecocks 2018 linebacker class is off to a nice start.
Cornerback (2)
4-star Marlon Character Jr. (Northwest Mississippi C.C.), 4-star Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Character, the top-rated defensive player in South Carolina’s class, is classified as a safety, but he expects to get his first look as cornerback when he arrives to Columbia in January.
Horn, another Tennessee commitment who could be jumping ship soon, has played safety during his senior season. Alabama and Clemson are also in the mix.
Safety (2)
3-star Jonathan Gipson (Hoschton, Ga.), 3-star R.J. Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
The Gamecocks have a nice pair of safety commitments in Gipson and Roderick, who could play free and strong safety, respectively.
Roderick, who’s been dealing with a back injury, played in the first four games of his senior season. But he’s since shut things down and will try to heal before enrolling in January.