South Carolina 2018 recruiting class notes: Expect 5 midyear enrollees
May 11, 2017
Of the seven commitments to the 2018 South Carolina signing class, at least five are on track to graduate in December before enrolling in January.
Offensive tackle Maxwell Iyama (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), defensive end Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.), center Hank Manos (Chapin, S.C.) and wide receiver Darius Rush (Greeleyville, S.C.) are all scheduled to be midyear enrollees.
That means all are expected to sign with South Carolina during the early signing period, which is Dec. 20-22.
SEC Country has yet to confirm the signing plans for the other two 2018 commitments in the Gamecocks class, offensive guard LaMarius Benson (Covington, Ga.) and running back Deshaun Fenwick (Bradenton, Fla.).
Eastside High School, where Benson attends, isn’t on block scheduling, so he can’t graduate early.
On the mend
Johnson, who originally committed to sign with South Carolina in February, continues to recover from labrum surgery that delayed his enrollment until January 2018.
A senior at Lakewood High School, Johnson had no trouble understanding and accepting the plan for his future. It was the present that he had hard time dealing with earlier this year.
“At first, it was kind of depressing, watching all of the other athletes at my school participate in stuff and not being able to actually do track this year,” Johnson said. “As it went on, I started to realize, I’ve got travel down this road in my career and just overcome it, become better.”
On Wednesday, after a rehab session, he detailed the latest in his recovery.
“Every week, every day that goes by, it feels like stronger,” Johnson said. “Every day, it feels like it was before I first had surgery.”
His full range of motion is back, though he’s not to the point yet where he can do a push-up. On Thursday, he hopes to receive clearance to resume running.
Because he’s exempt from most of his final exams, Johnson’s final weeks in a high school classroom are relatively painless. Graduation is June 2.
For now, his focus is getting back to 100 percent. That starts with adding the 10 or so pounds he’s lost since the surgery.
“Just work out, get back in shape, try to get back to where I was before I had surgery,” Johnson said of his plans. “Gain weight and probably get a job over the summer, something to keep me busy, instead of just working out and not doing anything else after I’m done.”
South Carolina assistant coach Mike Peterson stopped by the school earlier this month to speak with Johnson and his coach. In April, Johnson visited Columbia for the Garnet & Black spring game.
Johnson is excited to see what 2017 holds for the Gamecocks.
“They’re going to do pretty good,” he said. “They recruited some pretty good guys this year. They’re going to make a difference in the program, make some better improvements than they did last year.”
May 11, 2017
Of the seven commitments to the 2018 South Carolina signing class, at least five are on track to graduate in December before enrolling in January.
Offensive tackle Maxwell Iyama (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), defensive end Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.), center Hank Manos (Chapin, S.C.) and wide receiver Darius Rush (Greeleyville, S.C.) are all scheduled to be midyear enrollees.
That means all are expected to sign with South Carolina during the early signing period, which is Dec. 20-22.
SEC Country has yet to confirm the signing plans for the other two 2018 commitments in the Gamecocks class, offensive guard LaMarius Benson (Covington, Ga.) and running back Deshaun Fenwick (Bradenton, Fla.).
Eastside High School, where Benson attends, isn’t on block scheduling, so he can’t graduate early.
On the mend
Johnson, who originally committed to sign with South Carolina in February, continues to recover from labrum surgery that delayed his enrollment until January 2018.
A senior at Lakewood High School, Johnson had no trouble understanding and accepting the plan for his future. It was the present that he had hard time dealing with earlier this year.
“At first, it was kind of depressing, watching all of the other athletes at my school participate in stuff and not being able to actually do track this year,” Johnson said. “As it went on, I started to realize, I’ve got travel down this road in my career and just overcome it, become better.”
On Wednesday, after a rehab session, he detailed the latest in his recovery.
“Every week, every day that goes by, it feels like stronger,” Johnson said. “Every day, it feels like it was before I first had surgery.”
His full range of motion is back, though he’s not to the point yet where he can do a push-up. On Thursday, he hopes to receive clearance to resume running.
Because he’s exempt from most of his final exams, Johnson’s final weeks in a high school classroom are relatively painless. Graduation is June 2.
For now, his focus is getting back to 100 percent. That starts with adding the 10 or so pounds he’s lost since the surgery.
“Just work out, get back in shape, try to get back to where I was before I had surgery,” Johnson said of his plans. “Gain weight and probably get a job over the summer, something to keep me busy, instead of just working out and not doing anything else after I’m done.”
South Carolina assistant coach Mike Peterson stopped by the school earlier this month to speak with Johnson and his coach. In April, Johnson visited Columbia for the Garnet & Black spring game.
Johnson is excited to see what 2017 holds for the Gamecocks.
“They’re going to do pretty good,” he said. “They recruited some pretty good guys this year. They’re going to make a difference in the program, make some better improvements than they did last year.”