South Carolina looking at several in-state defensive linemen
May 26, 2017
A handful of in-state options have been identified by the South Carolina coaches as they continue efforts to upgrade the talent along the defensive line.
Unfortunately for Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks defensive coaching staff, two of them are committed to in-state rival Clemson.
There’s been quite a bit of gnashing of teeth by South Carolina fans over missing out on 5-star end Xavier Thomas and 4-star tackle Josh Belk and rightfully so. However, this comes with the territory when going head-to-head with one of the hottest programs in college football.
Fortunately for Muschamp and Co., one more in-state-based prospect remains up for grabs: 4-star end Stephon Wynn Jr., who’s currently enrolled at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) with Thomas. Wynn is considering South Carolina along with a handful of other schools, including Alabama and Georgia.
Gamecocks coaches also have set their sights on a pair of junior college recruits who played high school ball in the state: Jabari Ellis, a tackle from Santee-Lake Marion and Dorian Gerald, an end from West Florence.
Ellis, who attends Georgia Military College, lists offers from North Carolina State and South Carolina to go along with Colorado and East Carolina. This, for now, is shaping up to be another battle between the Gamecocks and Wolfpack.
Earlier this week, during an interview at his high school, Ellis (6-2, 286) told SEC Country about the timing of his decision.
“Right now, I’m just ready for D-1 football. My decision, I was kind of looking at the end of June, July, but I want to take my visits first, unofficial — I want to take those visits first, just to get a feel and know,” he said.
South Carolina already has had him on campus twice this year and he’s trying to make one more return before heading heading back to GMC on June 4.
Ellis speaks regularly with former Shrine Bowl teammate Javon Kinlaw, who recently enrolled at South Carolina as a defensive tackle.
“That’s my boy, so every time we talk, it’s always a good thing,” Ellis said.
He added, “I ask him a couple of questions about the school here and there.”
At this point, it appears that Ellis is South Carolina’s for the taking. He’s the No. 9 overall junior college prospect in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Gerald, who’s unrated, has an impressive list of offers. Along with South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee have also tossed their names into the mix. Gerald (6-3, 255) returns home from College of the Canyons (Calif.) at the end of the month.
Look for him to visit South Carolina while he’s home for several weeks this summer.
Another in-state high school prospect forced his way back onto the Gamecocks’ radar earlier this week with a strong spring.
Irmo defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat, who’s up nearly 30 pounds since his January junior day visit to South Carolina, was among the top overall performers this past Sunday at the EPT Showcase. Muschamp was on hand since his son was among the quarterbacks working out during the third-annual event.
Jeffcoat has since picked up multiple offers, including Missouri and Indiana.
“It’s a blessing. It’s a real blessing, because of just how much publicity I got after the camp. It’s just astonishing,” Jeffcoat told SEC Country at his high school.
Several Power 5 schools have since been in contact, including South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and North Carolina. All want him to come to camp, where he can be further evaluated for a potential offer.
Gamecocks outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson stopped by Irmo earlier this week and has been in regular contact.
“We’ve been texting back and forth for a good little minute now, but when I went to the junior day, they said I was undersized. That’s why I didn’t get the offer at the junior day,” Jeffcoat said. “But I started to get bigger and the camp got me right. After the [EPT Showcase], that next day they hit me up. They said they heard about it and all that, so that was a big jump for me with them.”
May 26, 2017
A handful of in-state options have been identified by the South Carolina coaches as they continue efforts to upgrade the talent along the defensive line.
Unfortunately for Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks defensive coaching staff, two of them are committed to in-state rival Clemson.
There’s been quite a bit of gnashing of teeth by South Carolina fans over missing out on 5-star end Xavier Thomas and 4-star tackle Josh Belk and rightfully so. However, this comes with the territory when going head-to-head with one of the hottest programs in college football.
Fortunately for Muschamp and Co., one more in-state-based prospect remains up for grabs: 4-star end Stephon Wynn Jr., who’s currently enrolled at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) with Thomas. Wynn is considering South Carolina along with a handful of other schools, including Alabama and Georgia.
Gamecocks coaches also have set their sights on a pair of junior college recruits who played high school ball in the state: Jabari Ellis, a tackle from Santee-Lake Marion and Dorian Gerald, an end from West Florence.
Ellis, who attends Georgia Military College, lists offers from North Carolina State and South Carolina to go along with Colorado and East Carolina. This, for now, is shaping up to be another battle between the Gamecocks and Wolfpack.
Earlier this week, during an interview at his high school, Ellis (6-2, 286) told SEC Country about the timing of his decision.
“Right now, I’m just ready for D-1 football. My decision, I was kind of looking at the end of June, July, but I want to take my visits first, unofficial — I want to take those visits first, just to get a feel and know,” he said.
South Carolina already has had him on campus twice this year and he’s trying to make one more return before heading heading back to GMC on June 4.
Ellis speaks regularly with former Shrine Bowl teammate Javon Kinlaw, who recently enrolled at South Carolina as a defensive tackle.
“That’s my boy, so every time we talk, it’s always a good thing,” Ellis said.
He added, “I ask him a couple of questions about the school here and there.”
At this point, it appears that Ellis is South Carolina’s for the taking. He’s the No. 9 overall junior college prospect in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Gerald, who’s unrated, has an impressive list of offers. Along with South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee have also tossed their names into the mix. Gerald (6-3, 255) returns home from College of the Canyons (Calif.) at the end of the month.
Look for him to visit South Carolina while he’s home for several weeks this summer.
Another in-state high school prospect forced his way back onto the Gamecocks’ radar earlier this week with a strong spring.
Irmo defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat, who’s up nearly 30 pounds since his January junior day visit to South Carolina, was among the top overall performers this past Sunday at the EPT Showcase. Muschamp was on hand since his son was among the quarterbacks working out during the third-annual event.
Jeffcoat has since picked up multiple offers, including Missouri and Indiana.
“It’s a blessing. It’s a real blessing, because of just how much publicity I got after the camp. It’s just astonishing,” Jeffcoat told SEC Country at his high school.
Several Power 5 schools have since been in contact, including South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and North Carolina. All want him to come to camp, where he can be further evaluated for a potential offer.
Gamecocks outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson stopped by Irmo earlier this week and has been in regular contact.
“We’ve been texting back and forth for a good little minute now, but when I went to the junior day, they said I was undersized. That’s why I didn’t get the offer at the junior day,” Jeffcoat said. “But I started to get bigger and the camp got me right. After the [EPT Showcase], that next day they hit me up. They said they heard about it and all that, so that was a big jump for me with them.”