South Carolina football 2018 mock signing class 4.0: Gamecocks defense
November 14, 2017
The South Carolina football team’s 2018 recruiting class has commitments from seven prospects who profile to play on defense.
With just more than a month before the first signing period of the 2018 cycle, the Gamecocks are in the mix for several prospects, including 4-star linebacker Channing Tindall and 4-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge.
However, neither prospect is expected to sign in December, though Tindall plans to announce a commitment before the calendar flips to 2018.
Defensive end (4)
3-star prospects Kingsley Enagbare (Atlanta), Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), Dorian Gerald (College of the Canyons) and Jarrett Jackson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Enagbare has flirted with Notre Dame, but it’s unlikely that too much transpires between him and the Irish. Along with Johnson, Enagbare is believed to be firm with his commitment to South Carolina.
Gerald, a former Tennessee commitment, made a change to his recruitment on Sunday after the Vols parted ways with coach Butch Jones. South Carolina will not have him in for this weekend’s scheduled official visit, because of his team’s bowl game. Louisville is also in the mix.
South Carolina is also battling Louisville for Jackson, who’s been committed to the Cardinals since August. He took an official visit to Columbia this past weekend.
Defensive tackle (2)
3-star recruit Jabari Ellis (Georgia Military College) and 4-star prospect Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.)
Ellis is among the firmest commitments to South Carolina’s 2018 class. For now, he’s the only pledge who profiles primarily as a defensive tackle.
But Sandidge seems likely to join him. He’s been to three games at South Carolina this season and also saw the Gamecocks’ opener in Charlotte and the final SEC road trip to Georgia.
Linebacker (2)
3-star recruit Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.) and 4-star prospect Channing Tindall (Columbia, S.C.)
Like Ellis, Jones’ commitment is rock solid.
Tindall was once believed to be a rock-solid lock for the Gamecocks. That, however, is no longer the case. Georgia is believed to be the team to beat.
Though the Dawgs are perceived as the leaders of the pack, we’ll continue to list him in this space. Tindall could be back at Williams-Brice for a game at some point over the next two weeks. Keep an eye on the final weekend of the month, because he could opt to head to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
Cornerback (2)
4-star prospect Marlon Character Jr. (Northwest Mississippi C.C.) and 4-star recruit Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Character has yet to make it to South Carolina for a game, but there’s not a whole lot to worry about there in terms of the strength of his commitment.
Horn, who’s remaining committed to Tennessee, has been to multiple games in Columbia this season. The Gamecocks could have the best shot at flipping that commitment from the Vols.
Safety (2)
3-star recruit Jonathan Gipson (Hoschton, Ga.) and 3-star prospect R.J. Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
There was some concern about Roderick, regarding the health of his back, but he appears to be on track since returning during the final week of the regular season.
Both he and Gipson remain firm.
November 14, 2017
The South Carolina football team’s 2018 recruiting class has commitments from seven prospects who profile to play on defense.
With just more than a month before the first signing period of the 2018 cycle, the Gamecocks are in the mix for several prospects, including 4-star linebacker Channing Tindall and 4-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge.
However, neither prospect is expected to sign in December, though Tindall plans to announce a commitment before the calendar flips to 2018.
Defensive end (4)
3-star prospects Kingsley Enagbare (Atlanta), Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.), Dorian Gerald (College of the Canyons) and Jarrett Jackson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Enagbare has flirted with Notre Dame, but it’s unlikely that too much transpires between him and the Irish. Along with Johnson, Enagbare is believed to be firm with his commitment to South Carolina.
Gerald, a former Tennessee commitment, made a change to his recruitment on Sunday after the Vols parted ways with coach Butch Jones. South Carolina will not have him in for this weekend’s scheduled official visit, because of his team’s bowl game. Louisville is also in the mix.
South Carolina is also battling Louisville for Jackson, who’s been committed to the Cardinals since August. He took an official visit to Columbia this past weekend.
Defensive tackle (2)
3-star recruit Jabari Ellis (Georgia Military College) and 4-star prospect Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.)
Ellis is among the firmest commitments to South Carolina’s 2018 class. For now, he’s the only pledge who profiles primarily as a defensive tackle.
But Sandidge seems likely to join him. He’s been to three games at South Carolina this season and also saw the Gamecocks’ opener in Charlotte and the final SEC road trip to Georgia.
Linebacker (2)
3-star recruit Ernest Jones IV (Waycross, Ga.) and 4-star prospect Channing Tindall (Columbia, S.C.)
Like Ellis, Jones’ commitment is rock solid.
Tindall was once believed to be a rock-solid lock for the Gamecocks. That, however, is no longer the case. Georgia is believed to be the team to beat.
Though the Dawgs are perceived as the leaders of the pack, we’ll continue to list him in this space. Tindall could be back at Williams-Brice for a game at some point over the next two weeks. Keep an eye on the final weekend of the month, because he could opt to head to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
Cornerback (2)
4-star prospect Marlon Character Jr. (Northwest Mississippi C.C.) and 4-star recruit Jaycee Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Character has yet to make it to South Carolina for a game, but there’s not a whole lot to worry about there in terms of the strength of his commitment.
Horn, who’s remaining committed to Tennessee, has been to multiple games in Columbia this season. The Gamecocks could have the best shot at flipping that commitment from the Vols.
Safety (2)
3-star recruit Jonathan Gipson (Hoschton, Ga.) and 3-star prospect R.J. Roderick (Summerville, S.C.)
There was some concern about Roderick, regarding the health of his back, but he appears to be on track since returning during the final week of the regular season.
Both he and Gipson remain firm.