South Carolina recruiting notebook: The latest on Brad Johnson, a young RB to watch and a new offer for Joe Milton
July 12, 2016
Recruiting is a non-stop, 365-day-a-year deal. With that in mind, SEC Country has another South Carolina recruiting notebook. Come take a look at the latest news, notes and observations about the Gamecocks’ work on the trail.
One of the youngest 2017 prospects is a freak athlete
There’s a pretty significant piece of information to keep in mind about 2017 defensive end/linebacker Brad Johnson. Even though he’s a rising senior at Pendleton High School (S.C.), the 3-star prospect doesn’t turn 17 until the middle of August.
“If he had been born two weeks later, he would be a rising junior right now,” Pendleton coach Paul Sutherland told SEC Country on Monday.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one with his God-given strength and explosiveness and he’s still growing,” Sutherland said. “He’s 6-3, 230 right now and he won state in the triple-jump by 2.5-feet as a 15-year-old sophomore. I mean, you don’t see many 230-pound triple-jumpers. This year, he almost won the shot-put. He would have, if he didn’t scratch.”
Pendleton, a small rural town that just sits outside of Clemson, has sent a few players on to the next level, including Michael Hill, a starting defensive tackle at Ohio State.
Johnson visited South Carolina for two days in June. Later this month, he’ll head to Virginia Tech. Ideally, he’d like to visit Michigan State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M before the high school season begins next month.
“He’s going to take some official visits and I’ve encouraged that,” Sutherland said. “The kid has never been anywhere.”
Skinny: Tennessee and Mississippi State are also among the schools that could push South Carolina for the No. 22 weak-side defensive end in the Class of 2017. Johnson will begin taking official visits later this fall. Determining exactly who the top contenders are will depend on where he actually visits over the final few weeks of the summer and the first few weeks of the fall. Sutherland doesn’t expect Johnson to make a commitment before then.
2019 RB eyes round two in Columbia
Jonathan Sewell was on campus with Zay Brown at the Will Muschamp Football Camp when South Carolina offered him a scholarship.
The 2019 running back and 2017 safety from Clarke-Central High School in Athens, Ga., enjoyed the moment with one another.
Sewell also liked his time with running backs coach Bobby Bentley.
“He taught me so much. When I got to football practice that (following) Monday, I used some of his techniques. He helped me out,” Sewell said.
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound running back went into more detail about Bentley’s coaching style.
“He’s a very good coach. He really makes you work. He really makes you work for everything. He makes you earn something. He really makes you work,” Sewell said. “With coach Bentley, he’s not going to be there and you’re not going to do anything. You’re going to do something.
“You’re going to spend time sweating and pouring your heart out, trying to prove that you’re a good back.”
Sewell also had good stuff to say about Muschamp, including a nugget that most fans probably don’t know about the guy.
“He’s a very good coach. He’s very funny. He likes to joke around,” Sewell said. “I didn’t really get to speak to him much. I was in his office when he was explaining his offer to me, the first thing he said to me was about my height, but he’s a very cool guy. I like him.”
Auburn and Alabama are expected to host him for camp later this month. Sewell could return with Brown for the SpursUp Cookout on July 23.
Skinny: If Brown lands at South Carolina, as expected, that could be a good sign for the Gamecocks, as it relates to Sewell. However, a lot could be determined by the push from the hometown team. Georgia regularly recruits the best running backs in the country. By this time next year, we’ll have a much better sense on whether or not Sewell is of that caliber. For now, Charlotte is his only other offer.
Another offer for quarterback Joe Milton
South Carolina offered Milton in May when offensive coordinator Kurt Roper went to Olympia High School in Orlando, Fla. Milton returned the favor in June when he came up for Muschamp Camp and put on an impressive throwing display.
On Monday night, the first day of the new quiet period, Milton tweeted about his latest offer from USF.
Milton threw for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Assuming he takes the next step this fall, he’ll have more offers heading his way.
Skinny: South Carolina has the highest profile out of the seven schools that have offered Milton, with USF and Iowa State are jockeying for No. 2 position. With his arm talent, size and athleticism, Milton has all kinds of upside. Kudos to Roper for pulling the trigger and getting in on the ground floor.
SECCOUNTRY
July 12, 2016
Recruiting is a non-stop, 365-day-a-year deal. With that in mind, SEC Country has another South Carolina recruiting notebook. Come take a look at the latest news, notes and observations about the Gamecocks’ work on the trail.
One of the youngest 2017 prospects is a freak athlete
There’s a pretty significant piece of information to keep in mind about 2017 defensive end/linebacker Brad Johnson. Even though he’s a rising senior at Pendleton High School (S.C.), the 3-star prospect doesn’t turn 17 until the middle of August.
“If he had been born two weeks later, he would be a rising junior right now,” Pendleton coach Paul Sutherland told SEC Country on Monday.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one with his God-given strength and explosiveness and he’s still growing,” Sutherland said. “He’s 6-3, 230 right now and he won state in the triple-jump by 2.5-feet as a 15-year-old sophomore. I mean, you don’t see many 230-pound triple-jumpers. This year, he almost won the shot-put. He would have, if he didn’t scratch.”
Pendleton, a small rural town that just sits outside of Clemson, has sent a few players on to the next level, including Michael Hill, a starting defensive tackle at Ohio State.
Johnson visited South Carolina for two days in June. Later this month, he’ll head to Virginia Tech. Ideally, he’d like to visit Michigan State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M before the high school season begins next month.
“He’s going to take some official visits and I’ve encouraged that,” Sutherland said. “The kid has never been anywhere.”
Skinny: Tennessee and Mississippi State are also among the schools that could push South Carolina for the No. 22 weak-side defensive end in the Class of 2017. Johnson will begin taking official visits later this fall. Determining exactly who the top contenders are will depend on where he actually visits over the final few weeks of the summer and the first few weeks of the fall. Sutherland doesn’t expect Johnson to make a commitment before then.
2019 RB eyes round two in Columbia
Jonathan Sewell was on campus with Zay Brown at the Will Muschamp Football Camp when South Carolina offered him a scholarship.
The 2019 running back and 2017 safety from Clarke-Central High School in Athens, Ga., enjoyed the moment with one another.
Sewell also liked his time with running backs coach Bobby Bentley.
“He taught me so much. When I got to football practice that (following) Monday, I used some of his techniques. He helped me out,” Sewell said.
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound running back went into more detail about Bentley’s coaching style.
“He’s a very good coach. He really makes you work. He really makes you work for everything. He makes you earn something. He really makes you work,” Sewell said. “With coach Bentley, he’s not going to be there and you’re not going to do anything. You’re going to do something.
“You’re going to spend time sweating and pouring your heart out, trying to prove that you’re a good back.”
Sewell also had good stuff to say about Muschamp, including a nugget that most fans probably don’t know about the guy.
“He’s a very good coach. He’s very funny. He likes to joke around,” Sewell said. “I didn’t really get to speak to him much. I was in his office when he was explaining his offer to me, the first thing he said to me was about my height, but he’s a very cool guy. I like him.”
Auburn and Alabama are expected to host him for camp later this month. Sewell could return with Brown for the SpursUp Cookout on July 23.
Skinny: If Brown lands at South Carolina, as expected, that could be a good sign for the Gamecocks, as it relates to Sewell. However, a lot could be determined by the push from the hometown team. Georgia regularly recruits the best running backs in the country. By this time next year, we’ll have a much better sense on whether or not Sewell is of that caliber. For now, Charlotte is his only other offer.
Another offer for quarterback Joe Milton
South Carolina offered Milton in May when offensive coordinator Kurt Roper went to Olympia High School in Orlando, Fla. Milton returned the favor in June when he came up for Muschamp Camp and put on an impressive throwing display.
On Monday night, the first day of the new quiet period, Milton tweeted about his latest offer from USF.
Milton threw for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Assuming he takes the next step this fall, he’ll have more offers heading his way.
Skinny: South Carolina has the highest profile out of the seven schools that have offered Milton, with USF and Iowa State are jockeying for No. 2 position. With his arm talent, size and athleticism, Milton has all kinds of upside. Kudos to Roper for pulling the trigger and getting in on the ground floor.
SECCOUNTRY
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