South Carolina weekend recruiting recap: 4 new 2017 commitments boost Gamecocks secondary
June 20, 2016
Four commitments by 2017 defensive backs highlighted another major recruiting weekend at South Carolina.
The action started Friday morning with 3-star cornerback Tavyn Jackson (Tallahassee, Fla.), followed by 3-star cornerback Damarri Mathis (Lakeland, Fla.), who pulled the trigger a few hours later. On Saturday, Will Muschamp nabbed a commitment from 3-star safety Jaylin Dickerson (Southern Pines, N.C.). Tancey Richardson, a 2-star athlete from South Aiken, S.C., committed on Sunday night.
Not counting junior college placement Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina’s 2017 class now has 16 commitments. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, as of Sunday night, the Gamecocks class ranked No. 18 in the country and seventh in the SEC.
North Carolina commitment James Foster, a 2018 quarterback from Lanier High School (Montgomery, Ala.), worked out for offensive coordinator Kurt Roper during Friday’s Elite Quarterback Camp.
The other major visitor on Friday was 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas, the top overall in-state prospect for the class of 2018, who was in Columbia from Wilson High School in Florence.
Saturday was a busy afternoon around the practice facility, as the South Carolina coaches wrapped up the final camp session of the month, in conjunction with a second OL/DL Camp and a second 7-on-7 tournament.
Perhaps the top overall guest on Saturday was 2019 ATH Dominick Blaylock (Marietta, Ga.). With offers from all across the SEC, Blaylock already has plenty of options to choose from, including South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky, where his brothers played.
“I’ve still got to stay humble about it,” Blaylock said. “I’ve still got to compete hard out there, to see more results.”
Former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier gave Blaylock his first offer last spring. He returned to campus in the fall for a game.
“It’s different, because they’ve got all new coaches … it’s changed a lot since I was last down here,” Blaylock said.
After recently suffering a knee injury at Georgia’s camp, Blaylock had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates from Walton High School played in the 7-on-7 tournament.
The Gamecocks offered two prospects from Clarke Central High School (Athens, Ga.) on Saturday: 2017 S Zay Brown and 2019 RB Jonathan Sewell.
Brown has offers from Wake Forest, Colorado State, Charlotte, Georgia State and Western Kentucky. South Carolina was also the first SEC offer for Sewell.
“It means the world to me, but just because I have my first SEC offer going into the 10th grade doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “I’m still going to work hard and pretend like I don’t have any offers.”
South Carolina also hosted 2018 TE Zach Sheffer, who was up from Nease High School (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.). The 6-foot-3, 230-pound prospect visited last summer for camp. This experience was “a whole lot better” than last year’s camp.
Sheffer attended the Michigan satellite camp in Jacksonville and also camped at Georgia. Late this summer, he’ll go to camps at Tennessee and Florida. Tennessee, Auburn and Michigan have also offered.
Two of South Carolina’s 2017 commitments, 3-star offensive tackle Summe Carlay (Laurens, S.C.) and 3-star defensive end Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.) were on campus Saturday for the OL/DL Camp.
SECCOUNTRY
June 20, 2016
Four commitments by 2017 defensive backs highlighted another major recruiting weekend at South Carolina.
The action started Friday morning with 3-star cornerback Tavyn Jackson (Tallahassee, Fla.), followed by 3-star cornerback Damarri Mathis (Lakeland, Fla.), who pulled the trigger a few hours later. On Saturday, Will Muschamp nabbed a commitment from 3-star safety Jaylin Dickerson (Southern Pines, N.C.). Tancey Richardson, a 2-star athlete from South Aiken, S.C., committed on Sunday night.
Not counting junior college placement Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina’s 2017 class now has 16 commitments. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, as of Sunday night, the Gamecocks class ranked No. 18 in the country and seventh in the SEC.
North Carolina commitment James Foster, a 2018 quarterback from Lanier High School (Montgomery, Ala.), worked out for offensive coordinator Kurt Roper during Friday’s Elite Quarterback Camp.
The other major visitor on Friday was 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas, the top overall in-state prospect for the class of 2018, who was in Columbia from Wilson High School in Florence.
Saturday was a busy afternoon around the practice facility, as the South Carolina coaches wrapped up the final camp session of the month, in conjunction with a second OL/DL Camp and a second 7-on-7 tournament.
Perhaps the top overall guest on Saturday was 2019 ATH Dominick Blaylock (Marietta, Ga.). With offers from all across the SEC, Blaylock already has plenty of options to choose from, including South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky, where his brothers played.
“I’ve still got to stay humble about it,” Blaylock said. “I’ve still got to compete hard out there, to see more results.”
Former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier gave Blaylock his first offer last spring. He returned to campus in the fall for a game.
“It’s different, because they’ve got all new coaches … it’s changed a lot since I was last down here,” Blaylock said.
After recently suffering a knee injury at Georgia’s camp, Blaylock had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates from Walton High School played in the 7-on-7 tournament.
The Gamecocks offered two prospects from Clarke Central High School (Athens, Ga.) on Saturday: 2017 S Zay Brown and 2019 RB Jonathan Sewell.
Brown has offers from Wake Forest, Colorado State, Charlotte, Georgia State and Western Kentucky. South Carolina was also the first SEC offer for Sewell.
“It means the world to me, but just because I have my first SEC offer going into the 10th grade doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “I’m still going to work hard and pretend like I don’t have any offers.”
South Carolina also hosted 2018 TE Zach Sheffer, who was up from Nease High School (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.). The 6-foot-3, 230-pound prospect visited last summer for camp. This experience was “a whole lot better” than last year’s camp.
Sheffer attended the Michigan satellite camp in Jacksonville and also camped at Georgia. Late this summer, he’ll go to camps at Tennessee and Florida. Tennessee, Auburn and Michigan have also offered.
Two of South Carolina’s 2017 commitments, 3-star offensive tackle Summe Carlay (Laurens, S.C.) and 3-star defensive end Tyreek Johnson (Sumter, S.C.) were on campus Saturday for the OL/DL Camp.
SECCOUNTRY
