South Carolina football’s five most important 2016 signees
Feb. 11, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
These players created significant buzz, momentum for first class
[COLOR= rgb(0, 0, 0)]South Carolina’s 2016 signing class finished with 24 members.[/COLOR]
We rank the top five not in terms of stars, stats or future potential, but by the impact each signee had on Will Muschamp’s first class and its momentum.
5. Kiel Pollard
Wide receiver; 6-0, 232; Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)
Pollard was Muschamp’s most-visible and highest-regarded “flip,” changing his commitment from Arkansas to South Carolina. If that wasn’t impressive enough, USC held off an 11th-hour push from Auburn and Georgia for the state’s Class 6A offensive player of the year.
Muschamp says: “He’s another guy that comes from a winning program. He’s a competitive guy that can play in the slot and on the edge.”
4. Jamarcus King
Defensive back; 6-1, 170; Mobile, Ala. (Blount/Coffeyville CC)
Muschamp and his staff leveraged a prior relationship with the nation’s top junior college defensive back. King, a former Auburn commit, visited USC the first weekend Muschamp was on the job and committed in the week after. He was the first USC commit that had no prior relationship with the previous staff.
Muschamp says: “He has really good coverage skills. He is a long guy that has good top-end speed. We’re expecting him to come in and compete right away.”
3. Bryan Edwards
Wide receiver; 6-3, 200; Conway, S.C. (Conway)
The same day he was announced as USC’s coach, Muschamp visited Edwards in his Conway home. Edwards had decommitted after Steve Spurrier’s departure, and Clemson was pushing for him. Muschamp was able to get the top instate receiver back in the fold for the Gamecocks.
Muschamp says: “He can vertically stretch the field and he is another bigger receiver. We certainly will need him.”
2. Stephon Taylor
Defensive lineman; 6-4, 285; New Orleans, La. (McDonogh 35)
South Carolina landed four important commitments on signing day, with the biggest coming from this four-star defensive tackle. Taylor was someone Muschamp recruited while at Florida and Auburn. What looked like a Texas vs. Florida State battle turned out to be a win for the Gamecocks.
Muschamp says: “He’s a guy I really feel good about. You can’t coach his size, and he’s got good feet and change of direction. He’s got good length in his arms. A guy that has that length and that girth is hard to find.”
1. Brandon McIlwain
Quarterback; 6-0, 198; Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North)
The biggest momentum-builder for the class was McIlwain’s decision to forego a chance at the Major League Baseball Draft and enroll in January with the Gamecocks. That started by Muschamp and staff selling their vision to McIlwain for him and the USC offense. The four-star quarterback and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year is on campus, playing baseball for Chad Holbrook and joining the quarterback battle next month in spring practice.
Muschamp says: “His commitment was huge for us. He’s an athlete that can run the ball and throw the ball extremely well. He’s doing a great job over at baseball, but he will be full-time at football this spring.”
THE STATE
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article59808731.html#storylink=cpy
Feb. 11, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
These players created significant buzz, momentum for first class
[COLOR= rgb(0, 0, 0)]South Carolina’s 2016 signing class finished with 24 members.[/COLOR]
We rank the top five not in terms of stars, stats or future potential, but by the impact each signee had on Will Muschamp’s first class and its momentum.
5. Kiel Pollard
Wide receiver; 6-0, 232; Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)
Pollard was Muschamp’s most-visible and highest-regarded “flip,” changing his commitment from Arkansas to South Carolina. If that wasn’t impressive enough, USC held off an 11th-hour push from Auburn and Georgia for the state’s Class 6A offensive player of the year.
Muschamp says: “He’s another guy that comes from a winning program. He’s a competitive guy that can play in the slot and on the edge.”
4. Jamarcus King
Defensive back; 6-1, 170; Mobile, Ala. (Blount/Coffeyville CC)
Muschamp and his staff leveraged a prior relationship with the nation’s top junior college defensive back. King, a former Auburn commit, visited USC the first weekend Muschamp was on the job and committed in the week after. He was the first USC commit that had no prior relationship with the previous staff.
Muschamp says: “He has really good coverage skills. He is a long guy that has good top-end speed. We’re expecting him to come in and compete right away.”
3. Bryan Edwards
Wide receiver; 6-3, 200; Conway, S.C. (Conway)
The same day he was announced as USC’s coach, Muschamp visited Edwards in his Conway home. Edwards had decommitted after Steve Spurrier’s departure, and Clemson was pushing for him. Muschamp was able to get the top instate receiver back in the fold for the Gamecocks.
Muschamp says: “He can vertically stretch the field and he is another bigger receiver. We certainly will need him.”
2. Stephon Taylor
Defensive lineman; 6-4, 285; New Orleans, La. (McDonogh 35)
South Carolina landed four important commitments on signing day, with the biggest coming from this four-star defensive tackle. Taylor was someone Muschamp recruited while at Florida and Auburn. What looked like a Texas vs. Florida State battle turned out to be a win for the Gamecocks.
Muschamp says: “He’s a guy I really feel good about. You can’t coach his size, and he’s got good feet and change of direction. He’s got good length in his arms. A guy that has that length and that girth is hard to find.”
1. Brandon McIlwain
Quarterback; 6-0, 198; Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North)
The biggest momentum-builder for the class was McIlwain’s decision to forego a chance at the Major League Baseball Draft and enroll in January with the Gamecocks. That started by Muschamp and staff selling their vision to McIlwain for him and the USC offense. The four-star quarterback and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year is on campus, playing baseball for Chad Holbrook and joining the quarterback battle next month in spring practice.
Muschamp says: “His commitment was huge for us. He’s an athlete that can run the ball and throw the ball extremely well. He’s doing a great job over at baseball, but he will be full-time at football this spring.”
THE STATE
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-recruiting/article59808731.html#storylink=cpy