Coach Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina football program have been on the upswing lately, and it is due in large part to recent recruiting successes. The Gamecocks have been taking care of business on the recruiting trail, and that has translated into a unprecedented run on the gridiron with 21 wins in the last two seasons.
Looking back on the last five recruiting cycles, it is evident that the program is building into an annual SEC East contender. Winning breeds more issues, and the Gamecocks have continued to rise to overcome as they march towards their ultimate goal: an SEC championship.
Let's power rank the last five recruiting classes.
The 2007 South Carolina football team was 6-6 and was not selected for a bowl game. Not a fantastic time for USC nor Steve Spurrier.
Going into the 2008 recruiting cycle, the coaches needed to find players that were ready to play and that could provide SEC-type depth.
The 2008 recruiting class was a smaller one for the Gamecocks, with only 22 commitments, but it still finished at No. 22 in the recruiting rankings. It fulfilled the needs the coaches set out for.
The standouts within this class were:
This class may not have been the best, as some players never reached their full potential, but this class helped mold who the Gamecocks are today.
In looking back at the recruiting classes for the Gamecocks, the 2009 class was when the South Carolina football program turned the page.
In 2008, the Gamecocks finished a mere 7-6, but the coaches hit the recruiting trails hard to land a solid class that finished at No. 12 in the Rivals.com recruiting rankings.
Here's a look at a few of the standout players for this class:
The selected names above could have played their collegiate football for just about anyone, but they believed in Steve Spurrier and what he said about doing something special at USC.
The players in the 2009 class helped to pave the way for the future of South Carolina football, as they have done something special the last two years and have their sights on more for USC.
Hard to capture truly what this class is all about, as they have yet to take a snap, but by the looks of the players, they will make South Carolina football sustainable.
These players are some of the most talented Columbia, S.C has seen and are ready to continue the Gamecocks' march towards an SEC championship. There is no going backwards, as the 2012 class is reloading for Coach Spurrier.
This class is headlined by the following players:
Keep a eye on South Carolina's Mr. Football, Shaq Roland. He will be working to fill the void left by the departing Alshon Jeffery at wide out.
Also, watch out for running back Mike Davis, who expects to fill the void when Marcus Lattimore heads to the NFL, and defensive backs Jordan Diggs and Chaz Elder.
With any recruiting class, some players will rise up, and others you thought were game-changers will fade away amongst the crowd.
The thing that jumps out when looking at this class is how it addressed depth issues for the Gamecocks which is good news for the future of South Carolina football.
The 2011 recruiting class helped to propel the South Carolina Gamecocks on the national stage, as they proved that USC football is legit.
The Gamecocks were coming on a 2010 football season that yielded an SEC Eastern Conference crown. The recruiting trial produced results, as USC was able to land the nation's top prospect in Jadeveon Clowney.
This bumped the Gamecocks up to the No. 18 spot in the Rivals recruiting rankings. This class had 32 players and is the foundation for the "New Carolina."
A few of key players from this class are:
This class is loaded with potential, some of it yet to be produced, but surely, this class is the foundation for what South Carolina is to become. Safe to say, this is not your daddy's Gamecocks anymore as you look at this class with its huge upside.
South Carolina football going into the 2012 football season is what it is because of the 2010 recruiting class.
Some of the key players out of this class are:
This class helped get the Gamecocks an SEC East crown in 2010, then assisted in an 11-win campaign in 2011. What will 2012 yield with Lattimore back from his injury and Shaw with experience?
That question is yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure: The 2010 class defines who USC currently is and where they are going.
With respect to that last comment, watch out, BCS, as the Gamecocks program has been building over the last five years to make some serious noise, so go ahead and underestimate them
Link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1118914-south-carolina-football-recruiting-power-ranking-the-last-5-recruiting-seasons?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1118914-south-carolina-football-recruiting-power-ranking-the-last-5-recruiting-seasons
Looking back on the last five recruiting cycles, it is evident that the program is building into an annual SEC East contender. Winning breeds more issues, and the Gamecocks have continued to rise to overcome as they march towards their ultimate goal: an SEC championship.
Let's power rank the last five recruiting classes.
The 2007 South Carolina football team was 6-6 and was not selected for a bowl game. Not a fantastic time for USC nor Steve Spurrier.
Going into the 2008 recruiting cycle, the coaches needed to find players that were ready to play and that could provide SEC-type depth.
The 2008 recruiting class was a smaller one for the Gamecocks, with only 22 commitments, but it still finished at No. 22 in the recruiting rankings. It fulfilled the needs the coaches set out for.
The standouts within this class were:
- LB Shaq Wilson
- DB CC Whitlock
- DE Devin Taylor
- RB Kenny Miles
- OL T.J. Johnson
- WR Tori Gurley
This class may not have been the best, as some players never reached their full potential, but this class helped mold who the Gamecocks are today.
In looking back at the recruiting classes for the Gamecocks, the 2009 class was when the South Carolina football program turned the page.
In 2008, the Gamecocks finished a mere 7-6, but the coaches hit the recruiting trails hard to land a solid class that finished at No. 12 in the Rivals.com recruiting rankings.
Here's a look at a few of the standout players for this class:
- ATH Stephon Gilmore
- LB DeVonte Holloman
- WR Alshon Jeffery
- DB D.J. Swearinger
- TE Justice Cunningham
- LB Quin Smith
The selected names above could have played their collegiate football for just about anyone, but they believed in Steve Spurrier and what he said about doing something special at USC.
The players in the 2009 class helped to pave the way for the future of South Carolina football, as they have done something special the last two years and have their sights on more for USC.
Hard to capture truly what this class is all about, as they have yet to take a snap, but by the looks of the players, they will make South Carolina football sustainable.
These players are some of the most talented Columbia, S.C has seen and are ready to continue the Gamecocks' march towards an SEC championship. There is no going backwards, as the 2012 class is reloading for Coach Spurrier.
This class is headlined by the following players:
- OL Brock Stadnik
- RB Mike Davis
- DB Jordan Diggs
- DB Chaz Elder
- WR Shaq Roland
- WR Jody Fuller
- OL Joe Harris
Keep a eye on South Carolina's Mr. Football, Shaq Roland. He will be working to fill the void left by the departing Alshon Jeffery at wide out.
Also, watch out for running back Mike Davis, who expects to fill the void when Marcus Lattimore heads to the NFL, and defensive backs Jordan Diggs and Chaz Elder.
With any recruiting class, some players will rise up, and others you thought were game-changers will fade away amongst the crowd.
The thing that jumps out when looking at this class is how it addressed depth issues for the Gamecocks which is good news for the future of South Carolina football.
The 2011 recruiting class helped to propel the South Carolina Gamecocks on the national stage, as they proved that USC football is legit.
The Gamecocks were coming on a 2010 football season that yielded an SEC Eastern Conference crown. The recruiting trial produced results, as USC was able to land the nation's top prospect in Jadeveon Clowney.
This bumped the Gamecocks up to the No. 18 spot in the Rivals recruiting rankings. This class had 32 players and is the foundation for the "New Carolina."
A few of key players from this class are:
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- WR Damiere Byrd
- DT Phillip Dukes
- WR Shamier Jeffery
- DB Sheldon Royster
- OL Brandon Shell
- TE Rory Anderson
- RB Shon Carson
- QB Tanner McEvoy
- RB Brandon Wilds
This class is loaded with potential, some of it yet to be produced, but surely, this class is the foundation for what South Carolina is to become. Safe to say, this is not your daddy's Gamecocks anymore as you look at this class with its huge upside.
South Carolina football going into the 2012 football season is what it is because of the 2010 recruiting class.
Some of the key players out of this class are:
- RB Marcus Lattimore
- QB Connor Shaw
- WR Ace Sanders
- DB Victor Hampton
- OL AJ Cann
This class helped get the Gamecocks an SEC East crown in 2010, then assisted in an 11-win campaign in 2011. What will 2012 yield with Lattimore back from his injury and Shaw with experience?
That question is yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure: The 2010 class defines who USC currently is and where they are going.
With respect to that last comment, watch out, BCS, as the Gamecocks program has been building over the last five years to make some serious noise, so go ahead and underestimate them
Link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1118914-south-carolina-football-recruiting-power-ranking-the-last-5-recruiting-seasons?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1118914-south-carolina-football-recruiting-power-ranking-the-last-5-recruiting-seasons