South Carolina recruiting: Which early signing period additions play, redshirt?

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South Carolina recruiting: Which early signing period additions play, redshirt?

December 21, 2017

[COLOR= rgb(68, 68, 68)]The 2018 South Carolina recruiting class officially welcomed 20 signees on Wednesday, during the early signing period. Which ones will play? Who’s going to redshirt?[/COLOR]

Chance to play

Defensive linemen

• Out: Ulric Jones, Dante Sawyer, Taylor Stallworth
• Starters: Javon Kinlaw, Keir Thomas
• Returning: Griffin Gentry, Kobe Smith, Aaron Sterling, Aaron Thompson, M.J. Webb
• In: Jabari Ellis, Kingsley Enagbare, Jesus Gibbs, Tyreek Johnson

Ellis, a 3-star tackle, could be among the first in the group to see the field. After all, he’s a junior college transfer, so he has a couple of years on the rest of the class. Johnson will enroll in January but has already gone through a couple of bowl practices.

At least one more 2018 prospect is expected to come on board in February.

Center

• Out: Alan Knott, Cory Helms
• Starter: None
• Returning: Eric Douglas, Chandler Farrell
• In: Hank Manos

Manos is among the new additions who will be a regular in listings for a potential early impact, but his primary competition could end up being Douglas, a 2017 signee.

Defensive backs

• Out: Kaleb Chalmers, JaMarcus King, Chris Lammons, D.J. Smith
• Starters: Rashad Fenton, Jamyest Williams
• Returning: Korey Banks, Javon Charleston, Jaylin Dickerson, Jaylan Foster, Tavyn Jackson, Steven Montac, Keisean Nixon
• In: Jonathan Gipson, Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, R.J. Roderick

Given the departures and lack of returning players with experience, all four of the first-year players could see action this fall. Plus, Muschamp & Co. probably aren’t done at the position.

Linebacker

• Out: Skai Moore
• Starters: Bryson Allen-Williams, T.J. Brunson
• Returning: Davonne Bowen, Sherrod Greene, Damani Staley, Eldridge Thompson
• In: Ernest Jones IV, Rosendo Louis

Depending on the down, distance and situation, Allen-Williams could work at weakside linebacker, next to Brunson, the starting middle linebacker. Greene and Thompson are expected to be in the mix, too.

Jones and Louis could also contribute early on special teams.

Probable redshirts

Offensive tackles

• Out: None
• Starters: Zack Bailey, Dennis Daley, Malik Young
• Returning: Blake Camper
• In: Wyatt Campbell, Maxwell Iyama

The top four tackles will be back in 2018, so that means Campbell and Iyama are probably headed for redshirt seasons. However, in 2019, when Bailey, Daley, Young and Camper are all finished, plenty of jobs will be up for grabs.

Running backs

• Out: None
• In: Deshaun Fenwick, Lavonte Valentine
• Starters: Rico Dowdle, A.J. Turner, Ty’Son Williams
• Returning: Mon Denson, C.J. Freeman, Caleb Kinlaw

Turner, Williams, Dowdle and Denson, the team’s top rushers in 2017, are all expected to be back in 2018.

Both of the incoming freshmen are probably on track to redshirt, though it would be unwise to make a firm ruling there, because they could see special teams duty.

To be determined

Quarterback

• Out: None
• Starter: Jake Bentley
• Returning: Michael Scarnecchia, Jay Urich
• In: Dakereon Joyner

Bentley is the only quarterback to take a snap for the Gamecocks in 2017, but that may not necessarily be the case next year. There are a lot of different variables in play for Joyner and the rest of the quarterbacks.

Wide receiver

• Out: None
• Starters: Bryan Edwards, Deebo Samuel, OrTre Smith, Shi Smith
• Returning: Randrecous Davis, Chavis Dawkins, Terry Googer, Chad Terrell, Jerad Washington
• In: Tyquan Johnson, Darius Rush, Josh Vann

At first glance, Vann is the most likely to avoid a redshirt, but Johnson has the size and skill set that make him an attractive red zone option.

Offseason attrition could dictate what happens at this position, because the first 3-4 returning wide receivers are fairly well-established, particularly Samuel and Edwards.

Athlete

• In: Jesus Gibbs, Rush

Rush, the first commitment in the 2018 class, originally jumped on board as a wide receiver, but he could end up playing defensive back.

It’s a similar story for Gibbs, who initially committed as an offensive lineman. He’s now on board as a defensive end.