South Carolina-Clemson: Past recruiting battles between Gamecocks and Tigers
November 22, 2017
On occasion, the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry spills over onto the recruiting trail. Several players in the 2017 game seriously considered both schools before signing.
SEC Country looks back to when those players were prospects.
South Carolina-Clemson in 2013
South Carolina reserve offensive lineman
D.J. Park’s recruitment was bound to be a South Carolina-Clemson decision and he landed on the Gamecocks while visiting for a basketball game, about a month before Signing Day.
South Carolina starting safety
D.J. Smith’s top 3 was rounded out by Tennessee, but the Vols presented the biggest competition, finishing as the runner-up. Smith committed a month before Signing Day during a television appearance on Fox Sports Carolinas.
Much like Park, it was pretty much a given that Donell Stanley would stay in state for his college career. The U.S. Army All-American from Latta High School committed in the fall of his senior season.
Clemson recruited K.C. Crosby as a linebacker, but his interest was on the offensive side of the ball. That, among other reasons, ultimately led to his commitment in June, before his senior year.
South Carolina-Clemson in 2015
Clemson starting quarterback
Kelly Bryant broke onto the recruiting scene after an impressive freshman season at Abbeville High School, before eventually transferring to Wren. South Carolina was first to offer but never really were in play. Florida, with coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, presented more of a threat by the time Bryant was close to committing.
In June before his senior year, Zack Bailey spent a few days on Clemson’s campus during the Dabo Swinney Football Camp. The Tigers appeared to have seized momentum. A day or two after the trip’s conclusion, he was back on campus at South Carolina. He committed to the Gamecocks that August.
Even though Kaleb Chalmers grew up rooting for South Carolina, it didn’t take long for Clemson to take the lead in his recruitment. Chalmers was a Tiger for about a year before he was dismissed from the team. After a junior college stint, he’s now wrapping up his first season as a Gamecock.
South Carolina-Clemson in 2016
Clemson backup left guard
After several years of losing out on in-state offensive linemen, Clemson finally won a battle, grabbing John Simpson out of Fort Dorchester High School on Signing Day. Florida was also seriously in the mix, perhaps more than South Carolina.
It was another South Carolina-Clemson battle for Nyles Pinckney, who announced his commitment to the Tigers during a late-summer ceremony at Whale Branch Early College High School. Pinckney remained firm with his commitment through his senior season.
Clemson came roaring out of the gates as the team to beat for Bryan Edwards, thanks in part to some family connections. But the decision to slow play him allowed South Carolina to swoop in and land a commitment. The Tigers came in during his senior season and pushed for him as a safety, but Edwards opted to stick with his original plan and recommitted to play wide receiver for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina-Clemson in 2017
South Carolina starting nickelback
Early on, it looked like Clemson was the team to beat for Jamyest Williams, but the Tigers had a few other defensive backs on their recruiting board. The battle came down to South Carolina and Georgia.
The son of a former Clemson volleyball player, OrTre Smith fell into the slow-play category, which helped Muschamp and South Carolina gain favorable position. He committed to the Gamecocks at the start of his senior season at Wando High School.
Shi Smith arrived early on the scene and looked to be Clemson’s, but Amari Rodgers emerged as the Tigers’ top prospect from the 2-position. Like South Carolina did with the other two wide receivers expected to start on Saturday, Smith received priority treatment from Gamecocks coaches.
Clemson recruited Javon Kinlaw when he was in the 2016 class at Goose Creek High School, but that eventually came to a standstill when his academic status became an issue. Kinlaw, of course, committed to Muschamp, enrolled at a junior college for a year, then signed with South Carolina.
Brad Johnson didn’t have an offer from Clemson, but that’s because he would not commit on the spot when the Tigers defensive staff was ready to welcome him to the program. Johnson eventually signed with South Carolina on Signing Day.
The South Carolina-Clemson battle for Will Register began during the summer before his junior year at Chapin High School. But his lifelong ties to the Gamecocks were too tough to pass up. He committed in June of 2015, shortly after both schools offered.
November 22, 2017
On occasion, the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry spills over onto the recruiting trail. Several players in the 2017 game seriously considered both schools before signing.
SEC Country looks back to when those players were prospects.
South Carolina-Clemson in 2013
South Carolina reserve offensive lineman
D.J. Park’s recruitment was bound to be a South Carolina-Clemson decision and he landed on the Gamecocks while visiting for a basketball game, about a month before Signing Day.
- 4-star prospect, No. 13 OG (Dillon, S.C.)
South Carolina starting safety
D.J. Smith’s top 3 was rounded out by Tennessee, but the Vols presented the biggest competition, finishing as the runner-up. Smith committed a month before Signing Day during a television appearance on Fox Sports Carolinas.
- 4-star prospect, No. 20 CB (Marietta, Ga.)
Much like Park, it was pretty much a given that Donell Stanley would stay in state for his college career. The U.S. Army All-American from Latta High School committed in the fall of his senior season.
- 4-star recruit, No. 10 OG (Latta, S.C.)
Clemson recruited K.C. Crosby as a linebacker, but his interest was on the offensive side of the ball. That, among other reasons, ultimately led to his commitment in June, before his senior year.
- 4-star recruit, No. 10 TE (Bamberg, S.C.)
South Carolina-Clemson in 2015
Clemson starting quarterback
Kelly Bryant broke onto the recruiting scene after an impressive freshman season at Abbeville High School, before eventually transferring to Wren. South Carolina was first to offer but never really were in play. Florida, with coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, presented more of a threat by the time Bryant was close to committing.
- 3-star recruit, No. 13 QB (Piedmont, S.C.)
In June before his senior year, Zack Bailey spent a few days on Clemson’s campus during the Dabo Swinney Football Camp. The Tigers appeared to have seized momentum. A day or two after the trip’s conclusion, he was back on campus at South Carolina. He committed to the Gamecocks that August.
- 4-star recruit, No. 17 OG (Summerville, S.C.)
Even though Kaleb Chalmers grew up rooting for South Carolina, it didn’t take long for Clemson to take the lead in his recruitment. Chalmers was a Tiger for about a year before he was dismissed from the team. After a junior college stint, he’s now wrapping up his first season as a Gamecock.
- 3-star prospect, No. 45 CB (Greenwood, S.C.)
South Carolina-Clemson in 2016
Clemson backup left guard
After several years of losing out on in-state offensive linemen, Clemson finally won a battle, grabbing John Simpson out of Fort Dorchester High School on Signing Day. Florida was also seriously in the mix, perhaps more than South Carolina.
- 4-star prospect, No. 7 OG (North Charleston, S.C.)
It was another South Carolina-Clemson battle for Nyles Pinckney, who announced his commitment to the Tigers during a late-summer ceremony at Whale Branch Early College High School. Pinckney remained firm with his commitment through his senior season.
- 4-star recruit, No. 34 DT (Beaufort, S.C.)
Clemson came roaring out of the gates as the team to beat for Bryan Edwards, thanks in part to some family connections. But the decision to slow play him allowed South Carolina to swoop in and land a commitment. The Tigers came in during his senior season and pushed for him as a safety, but Edwards opted to stick with his original plan and recommitted to play wide receiver for the Gamecocks.
- 4-star recruit, No. 42 WR (Conway, S.C.)
South Carolina-Clemson in 2017
South Carolina starting nickelback
Early on, it looked like Clemson was the team to beat for Jamyest Williams, but the Tigers had a few other defensive backs on their recruiting board. The battle came down to South Carolina and Georgia.
- 4-star prospect, No. 8 CB (Loganville, Ga.)
The son of a former Clemson volleyball player, OrTre Smith fell into the slow-play category, which helped Muschamp and South Carolina gain favorable position. He committed to the Gamecocks at the start of his senior season at Wando High School.
- 4-star prospect, No. 19 WR (Mount Pleasant, S.C.)
Shi Smith arrived early on the scene and looked to be Clemson’s, but Amari Rodgers emerged as the Tigers’ top prospect from the 2-position. Like South Carolina did with the other two wide receivers expected to start on Saturday, Smith received priority treatment from Gamecocks coaches.
- 4-star recruit, No. 10 WR (Union, S.C.)
Clemson recruited Javon Kinlaw when he was in the 2016 class at Goose Creek High School, but that eventually came to a standstill when his academic status became an issue. Kinlaw, of course, committed to Muschamp, enrolled at a junior college for a year, then signed with South Carolina.
- 4-star prospect, No. 2 SDE (Goose Creek, S.C.)
Brad Johnson didn’t have an offer from Clemson, but that’s because he would not commit on the spot when the Tigers defensive staff was ready to welcome him to the program. Johnson eventually signed with South Carolina on Signing Day.
- 4-star recruit, No. 21 WDE (Pendleton, S.C.)
The South Carolina-Clemson battle for Will Register began during the summer before his junior year at Chapin High School. But his lifelong ties to the Gamecocks were too tough to pass up. He committed in June of 2015, shortly after both schools offered.
- 3-star recruit, No. 16 TE (Chapin, S.C.)
