The dead period is over and the South Carolina coaches can hit the recruiting trail in full force. There are a handful of spots remaining in the 2015 class and at least three positions still to fill. Here’s a look at where things stand with uncommitted prospects that we know the Gamecocks have offered or have interest in and are targeting. Here’s a snapshot of where things stand on January 15.
Offensive linemen
South Carolina would like to take at least two offensive linemen, maybe three.
OT Patrick Allen (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: No
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, unsure
The Gamecocks are one of several schools chasing after the former Georgia commitment, who is still considering the Bulldogs. The kicker is that Allen doesn’t have any official visits left and the other school he’s strongly considering - Tennessee - has already received a visit. Wide receiver commit Jalen Christian is working Allen hard, as is recruiter G.A. Mangus and Elliott. Allen has talked about taking an unofficial visit to Columbia before making a decision, but a date hasn’t been set. South Carolina has offered. Carolina’s chances: 20 percent
OT Nick Buchanan (Atlanta, Ga./Dunwoody)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: Not currently set up
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, unsure
South Carolina tabled an offer on Wednesday night just hours before the recruiting period opened. Mangus is going to head to Buchanan’s school soon and offensive line coach Shawn Elliott will do the same. The current Cal Bears commit still plans to head west, but Georgia offered on Wednesday as well, so both SEC schools are going to give the 6-foot-4, 280-pounder something to think about until signing day. Buchanan isn’t sure if he’s going to make any visits at this point. Carolina’s chances: 15 percent
OG/OT Trey Derouen (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview)
Offer: No
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, January 15
Elliott paid a visit to Derouen in December and when he left, they set up an official visit for January 23. As of right now, that trip is still on. A former Mississippi State commitment, Derouen is also receiving interest from Florida and recently picked up an offer from Louisville. The Gamecocks have not offered yet and may not. An offer for Derouen may hinge on what happens with Wake Forest transfer candidate Cory Helms. Mangus is scheduled to be by Derouen’s school on either Thursday or Friday this week. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 50 percent
Defensive linemen
South Carolina would like to take at least one defensive lineman, maybe two.
DE Arden Key (Atlanta, Ga./Hapeville Charter)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Lorenzo Ward, Grady Brown - January 15
The two-time former commitment has kept South Carolina in the running for his services along with LSU, Miami, Auburn and Florida. The Gamecocks will get an official visit with Key on January 23 while the other two visits are still up in the air. Key, who plans to announce his decision on February 2, isn’t claiming any leaders publicly. Behind the scenes, the Gamecocks are still cautiously optimistic. Carolina’s chances: 70 percent
DE Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. (Elmore, Ala./Edgewood Academy)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
As one can easily tell by the lack of detail, there is a lot that is unknown about Tega Wanogho Jr. He recently reclassified from the 2016 class to 2015 and has just a month to sort out where he wants to go to school. Several big-time programs in the southeast have offered the 6-foot-8, 270-pounder. He was ranked No. 87 overall prospect and No. 6 strongside defensive end in 247Sports Composite for 2016 class. South Carolina is interested, but not at the expense of other defensive end commitments. Carolina’s chances: Unsure
Defensive backs
South Carolina would like to take at least two defensive backs, maybe three.
S Toure Boyd (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Chaffey C.C.)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
Boyd picked up an offer from the Gamecocks on Wednesday night and a commitment could happen at any point. Boyd, who is scheduled to visit officially on January 23, also has offers from Arizona, Southern Miss, Washington State and several smaller schools. It should be just a matter of time before he commits to the Gamecocks though. Carolina’s chances: 98 percent
S Treston Decoud (Senatobia, Miss./Northwest Mississippi C.C.)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Not currently
South Carolina wants at least one junior college safety in this class and Boyd picked up the first offer. Decoud has more academic issues to work through, which delayed a decision on his offer. He may be a take later in the process but Boyd is the top target right now. Decoud has offers from Oregon State and Baylor, which has hinted at an offer, gets an official visit on January 30. After speaking with Decoud on Wednesday night, it is unlikely he receives an offer or visits. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 80 percent
CB Jeremiah Dinson (Hialeah, Fla./American)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
South Carolina offered the Kentucky commitment on December 17 and a pair of major players on the nation scene - Florida and Auburn - followed suit the first week of January. Dinson’s current visit schedule includes Florida, Auburn and Louisville, but it could change. South Carolina is currently on the outside looking in though. Carolina’s chances: 10 percent
CB/S Rashad Fenton (Miami, Fla./Carol City)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
Fenton, a cornerback who could also play safety, had the Gamecocks near the top of his list early on in the recruiting process but South Carolina’s class filled up and interest from the school waned. Now, Brown is back after Fenton and has him scheduled for an official visit for the big recruiting weekend. Florida gets a visit this weekend and Louisville is scheduled to get the last trip. Auburn is currently trying to get in the mix though, so the visit schedule could change with the Cardinals likely being the school that’s replaced. Carolina’s chances: 35 percent
CB Gerald Robinson (Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat Catholic)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
The Gamecocks recently offered the Florida Atlantic commitment and he set an official visit for January 23 and also has an FAU visit set up for the following week. Robinson, a former Syracuse commit, will decide between the Gamecocks and Owls. Carolina’s chances: 50 percent
CB Maurice Smitherman (Adamsville, Ala./Minor)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 30
Coach visit: Grady Brown, January 18
One of the first cornerback targets that Brown elected to offer late in the process was Smitherman, who is currently committed to Mississippi State. He was waffling on his commitment to the Bulldogs with the future of position coach Deshea Townsend seemingly up in the air but Townsend has pledged to stay in Starkeville next season after having some conversations with Florida. With Townsend sticking, Smitherman likely sticks, too, but his official visits to see Texas Tech (Jan. 16) and South Carolina (Jan. 30) are still on as of this writing. Carolina’s chances: 15 percent
Other targets
Depending on how things shake out at other positions, these players could also be offered.
WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (Spartanburg/Dorman)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
The three-star wideout is waiting to hear from Stanford, where he’s been committed since July 2014, whether or not he will be admitted to school. If he isn’t, and he should know in the coming days, then he will be forced to look around. South Carolina hasn’t offered, but has kept in touch and may pull the trigger if the numbers work out. Arcega-Whiteside more than a dozen major offers but some may no longer be committable this late in the process. Carolina’s chances (if offered and not accepted by Stanford): 85 percent
ATH Denzel Johnson (Columbia/A.C. Flora)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
Another wide receiver the Gamecocks are keeping tabs on is Johnson, who is the teammate of current commitment Joseph Charlton. Johnson would like to be a Gamecock but the only offer on the table right now is a grayshirt. He’s scheduled to visit Clemson, which has tabled an offer to enroll this year, this weekend. Right now, the chances seem low that Johnson receives an offer for more than a grayshirt. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 30 percent
Offensive linemen
South Carolina would like to take at least two offensive linemen, maybe three.
OT Patrick Allen (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: No
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, unsure
The Gamecocks are one of several schools chasing after the former Georgia commitment, who is still considering the Bulldogs. The kicker is that Allen doesn’t have any official visits left and the other school he’s strongly considering - Tennessee - has already received a visit. Wide receiver commit Jalen Christian is working Allen hard, as is recruiter G.A. Mangus and Elliott. Allen has talked about taking an unofficial visit to Columbia before making a decision, but a date hasn’t been set. South Carolina has offered. Carolina’s chances: 20 percent
OT Nick Buchanan (Atlanta, Ga./Dunwoody)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: Not currently set up
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, unsure
South Carolina tabled an offer on Wednesday night just hours before the recruiting period opened. Mangus is going to head to Buchanan’s school soon and offensive line coach Shawn Elliott will do the same. The current Cal Bears commit still plans to head west, but Georgia offered on Wednesday as well, so both SEC schools are going to give the 6-foot-4, 280-pounder something to think about until signing day. Buchanan isn’t sure if he’s going to make any visits at this point. Carolina’s chances: 15 percent
OG/OT Trey Derouen (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview)
Offer: No
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: G.A. Mangus, January 15
Elliott paid a visit to Derouen in December and when he left, they set up an official visit for January 23. As of right now, that trip is still on. A former Mississippi State commitment, Derouen is also receiving interest from Florida and recently picked up an offer from Louisville. The Gamecocks have not offered yet and may not. An offer for Derouen may hinge on what happens with Wake Forest transfer candidate Cory Helms. Mangus is scheduled to be by Derouen’s school on either Thursday or Friday this week. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 50 percent
Defensive linemen
South Carolina would like to take at least one defensive lineman, maybe two.
DE Arden Key (Atlanta, Ga./Hapeville Charter)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Lorenzo Ward, Grady Brown - January 15
The two-time former commitment has kept South Carolina in the running for his services along with LSU, Miami, Auburn and Florida. The Gamecocks will get an official visit with Key on January 23 while the other two visits are still up in the air. Key, who plans to announce his decision on February 2, isn’t claiming any leaders publicly. Behind the scenes, the Gamecocks are still cautiously optimistic. Carolina’s chances: 70 percent
DE Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. (Elmore, Ala./Edgewood Academy)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
As one can easily tell by the lack of detail, there is a lot that is unknown about Tega Wanogho Jr. He recently reclassified from the 2016 class to 2015 and has just a month to sort out where he wants to go to school. Several big-time programs in the southeast have offered the 6-foot-8, 270-pounder. He was ranked No. 87 overall prospect and No. 6 strongside defensive end in 247Sports Composite for 2016 class. South Carolina is interested, but not at the expense of other defensive end commitments. Carolina’s chances: Unsure
Defensive backs
South Carolina would like to take at least two defensive backs, maybe three.
S Toure Boyd (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Chaffey C.C.)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
Boyd picked up an offer from the Gamecocks on Wednesday night and a commitment could happen at any point. Boyd, who is scheduled to visit officially on January 23, also has offers from Arizona, Southern Miss, Washington State and several smaller schools. It should be just a matter of time before he commits to the Gamecocks though. Carolina’s chances: 98 percent
S Treston Decoud (Senatobia, Miss./Northwest Mississippi C.C.)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Not currently
South Carolina wants at least one junior college safety in this class and Boyd picked up the first offer. Decoud has more academic issues to work through, which delayed a decision on his offer. He may be a take later in the process but Boyd is the top target right now. Decoud has offers from Oregon State and Baylor, which has hinted at an offer, gets an official visit on January 30. After speaking with Decoud on Wednesday night, it is unlikely he receives an offer or visits. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 80 percent
CB Jeremiah Dinson (Hialeah, Fla./American)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
South Carolina offered the Kentucky commitment on December 17 and a pair of major players on the nation scene - Florida and Auburn - followed suit the first week of January. Dinson’s current visit schedule includes Florida, Auburn and Louisville, but it could change. South Carolina is currently on the outside looking in though. Carolina’s chances: 10 percent
CB/S Rashad Fenton (Miami, Fla./Carol City)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
Fenton, a cornerback who could also play safety, had the Gamecocks near the top of his list early on in the recruiting process but South Carolina’s class filled up and interest from the school waned. Now, Brown is back after Fenton and has him scheduled for an official visit for the big recruiting weekend. Florida gets a visit this weekend and Louisville is scheduled to get the last trip. Auburn is currently trying to get in the mix though, so the visit schedule could change with the Cardinals likely being the school that’s replaced. Carolina’s chances: 35 percent
CB Gerald Robinson (Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat Catholic)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 23
Coach visit: Unsure
The Gamecocks recently offered the Florida Atlantic commitment and he set an official visit for January 23 and also has an FAU visit set up for the following week. Robinson, a former Syracuse commit, will decide between the Gamecocks and Owls. Carolina’s chances: 50 percent
CB Maurice Smitherman (Adamsville, Ala./Minor)
Offer: Yes
Official visit: January 30
Coach visit: Grady Brown, January 18
One of the first cornerback targets that Brown elected to offer late in the process was Smitherman, who is currently committed to Mississippi State. He was waffling on his commitment to the Bulldogs with the future of position coach Deshea Townsend seemingly up in the air but Townsend has pledged to stay in Starkeville next season after having some conversations with Florida. With Townsend sticking, Smitherman likely sticks, too, but his official visits to see Texas Tech (Jan. 16) and South Carolina (Jan. 30) are still on as of this writing. Carolina’s chances: 15 percent
Other targets
Depending on how things shake out at other positions, these players could also be offered.
WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (Spartanburg/Dorman)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
The three-star wideout is waiting to hear from Stanford, where he’s been committed since July 2014, whether or not he will be admitted to school. If he isn’t, and he should know in the coming days, then he will be forced to look around. South Carolina hasn’t offered, but has kept in touch and may pull the trigger if the numbers work out. Arcega-Whiteside more than a dozen major offers but some may no longer be committable this late in the process. Carolina’s chances (if offered and not accepted by Stanford): 85 percent
ATH Denzel Johnson (Columbia/A.C. Flora)
Offer: No
Official visit: No
Coach visit: Unsure
Another wide receiver the Gamecocks are keeping tabs on is Johnson, who is the teammate of current commitment Joseph Charlton. Johnson would like to be a Gamecock but the only offer on the table right now is a grayshirt. He’s scheduled to visit Clemson, which has tabled an offer to enroll this year, this weekend. Right now, the chances seem low that Johnson receives an offer for more than a grayshirt. Carolina’s chances (if offered): 30 percent
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