The Sunday Recruiting Report
[SIZE= 14px]JANUARY 31, 2016 BY [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]PHIL KORNBLUT[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]Link[/SIZE][COLOR= rgb(102, 102, 102)]:[/COLOR][SIZE= 14px] sportstalk[/SIZE]
This is the final Sunday of the 2016 recruiting year, the last chance for official visits and the last chance for in person contact with recruits before the signing period starts Wednesday. Sunday is deemed a “quiet period” on the recruiting calendar meaning there can be no off campus in person contact. Monday starts the dead period which means no in person contact of any kind. However, electronic and digital communication can continue from Sunday on.
There are several official visits from USC. The Gamecock targets visiting other places. And there’s activity involving other prospects across the state. Check here for our latest information on Sunday.
Jacoby Hill
USC moved into the driver’s seat with DE Jacoby Hill of Atlanta with his official visit. Hill didn’t want to go on record as saying he has committed because he’s waiting for a Signing Day announcement, but he did say the Gamecocks now lead for him over Indiana and Memphis. “I really got to hang out with the players and I liked them, they are cool,” he said. “The coaching staff is real cool, too. I’ve got some players from Atlanta that are really close friends and we’re talking about coming together, guys like Korey Banks and Randrecous Davis.” Hill said it’s possible the group from Atlanta could all sign with the Gamecocks on Wednesday.
WR Randrecous Davis of Atlanta is deciding between USC and Miami and he came out of his weekend in Columbia with the Gamecocks as the leader. But he’s not ready to make the solid commitment. “I’m not sure, I’ll have to think about it,” he said. “South Carolina is the favorite but I’m waiting until Signing Day. The visit was awesome. The facilities, the people, the environment. They look for me to come in and play early. They are running the spread and a pro tempo and they are looking for receivers to throw the ball to.” Davis caught 53 passes last season for 1154 yards and 17 touchdowns.
DE Aaron Thompson of Ft. Lauderdale arrived at USC for his official visit over the weekend as a Maryland commitment but he left up in the air over his final decision. Thompson said he’ll now have a Signing Day decision between the Gamecocks and the Terps. “It went great,” Thompson said of his visit. “The students, they’ve really got a lot of pride. It’s chill up there. The coaches and facilities are cool, really nice. Coach Muschamp told me I was a versatile player who can play inside, the three technique, but athletic enough to play across the line. They definitely want me. I told them the same thing I’m telling you, I’m up in the air.” Thompson said his announcement will come around 11:00 AM on Signing Day.
Malcolm Roach
WR Korey Banks of Tyrone, GA has been committed to North Carolina but his weekend at USC seems to have given him more to think about. “It was great,” he said of the visit. Asked if he was planning to flip over to the Gamecocks, Banks replied, “We’ll see.” Banks said he’ll make a final declaration on Signing Day. He has also been considering Alabama.
DE Malcolm Roach of Baton Rouge, LA said after visiting USC he has a decision to make on Wednesday. He has been committed to Texas but he said the visit put USC right up with the Longhorns. “As of right now, I don’t know (about a decision),” Roach said. “I’ll have to talk it over with my family and pray about. I’m going to wait until Signing Day and announce it.” Roach said that announcement will come around 1:30 PM Eastern Time. “I had a great time at South Carolina. I think they are going to be under consideration. I really liked the coaching staff and the fans. They have nice facilities and a nice indoor.” Roach visited Texas two weeks ago. Last season he had 147 tackles and 16 sacks.
ATH Yafari Werts of Newberry took an official visit to Appalachian State over the weekend. He has been committed to Georgia Southern but is now up in the air and will have an early morning decision on Wednesday between those two if no one else, like USC, jumps in with an offer. He visited USC January 22nd but hasn’t been offered. Werts liked what the Appalachian coaches had to say to him. “Their plan for me and how they want to get the ball in my hands and stuff like that,” he said. “They’ve had receivers drafted like five times in six years so they put receivers in the league.”
Kiel Pollard
WR Kiel Pollard of Moultrie, GA plans to announce his decision Sunday afternoon between 5:00-7:00 PM. He’s expected to put the word out on Twitter. Pollard has been committed to Arkansas since September but the new USC coaching staff made him an early target. Assistant coach Bobby Bentley contacted Pollard soon after coming on board. Last week receivers coach Bryan McClendon and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper visited with Pollard. He took his official visit to USC January 16th. He had previously visited Arkansas and he said he liked both visits equally. Pollard said Arkansas is appealing because it runs an offensive similar to what he played in high school, and USC is appealing because of the opportunity for early playing time. Pollard was the 6A Offensive Player of the Year in Georgia last season.
DB Daniel Thomas of Montgomery, AL visited Auburn over the weekend and will have a Signing Day announcement. He also took official visits to USC, Minnesota and North Carolina. Thomas said he spoke with USC Thursday and though he won’t say the Gamecocks are out, it appears he will go elsewhere. “They are kind of full,” he said of the Gamecocks. “I pretty much know where I’m going.”
[SIZE= 14px]JANUARY 31, 2016 BY [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]PHIL KORNBLUT[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]Link[/SIZE][COLOR= rgb(102, 102, 102)]:[/COLOR][SIZE= 14px] sportstalk[/SIZE]
This is the final Sunday of the 2016 recruiting year, the last chance for official visits and the last chance for in person contact with recruits before the signing period starts Wednesday. Sunday is deemed a “quiet period” on the recruiting calendar meaning there can be no off campus in person contact. Monday starts the dead period which means no in person contact of any kind. However, electronic and digital communication can continue from Sunday on.
There are several official visits from USC. The Gamecock targets visiting other places. And there’s activity involving other prospects across the state. Check here for our latest information on Sunday.
Jacoby HillUSC moved into the driver’s seat with DE Jacoby Hill of Atlanta with his official visit. Hill didn’t want to go on record as saying he has committed because he’s waiting for a Signing Day announcement, but he did say the Gamecocks now lead for him over Indiana and Memphis. “I really got to hang out with the players and I liked them, they are cool,” he said. “The coaching staff is real cool, too. I’ve got some players from Atlanta that are really close friends and we’re talking about coming together, guys like Korey Banks and Randrecous Davis.” Hill said it’s possible the group from Atlanta could all sign with the Gamecocks on Wednesday.
WR Randrecous Davis of Atlanta is deciding between USC and Miami and he came out of his weekend in Columbia with the Gamecocks as the leader. But he’s not ready to make the solid commitment. “I’m not sure, I’ll have to think about it,” he said. “South Carolina is the favorite but I’m waiting until Signing Day. The visit was awesome. The facilities, the people, the environment. They look for me to come in and play early. They are running the spread and a pro tempo and they are looking for receivers to throw the ball to.” Davis caught 53 passes last season for 1154 yards and 17 touchdowns.
DE Aaron Thompson of Ft. Lauderdale arrived at USC for his official visit over the weekend as a Maryland commitment but he left up in the air over his final decision. Thompson said he’ll now have a Signing Day decision between the Gamecocks and the Terps. “It went great,” Thompson said of his visit. “The students, they’ve really got a lot of pride. It’s chill up there. The coaches and facilities are cool, really nice. Coach Muschamp told me I was a versatile player who can play inside, the three technique, but athletic enough to play across the line. They definitely want me. I told them the same thing I’m telling you, I’m up in the air.” Thompson said his announcement will come around 11:00 AM on Signing Day.
Malcolm RoachWR Korey Banks of Tyrone, GA has been committed to North Carolina but his weekend at USC seems to have given him more to think about. “It was great,” he said of the visit. Asked if he was planning to flip over to the Gamecocks, Banks replied, “We’ll see.” Banks said he’ll make a final declaration on Signing Day. He has also been considering Alabama.
DE Malcolm Roach of Baton Rouge, LA said after visiting USC he has a decision to make on Wednesday. He has been committed to Texas but he said the visit put USC right up with the Longhorns. “As of right now, I don’t know (about a decision),” Roach said. “I’ll have to talk it over with my family and pray about. I’m going to wait until Signing Day and announce it.” Roach said that announcement will come around 1:30 PM Eastern Time. “I had a great time at South Carolina. I think they are going to be under consideration. I really liked the coaching staff and the fans. They have nice facilities and a nice indoor.” Roach visited Texas two weeks ago. Last season he had 147 tackles and 16 sacks.
ATH Yafari Werts of Newberry took an official visit to Appalachian State over the weekend. He has been committed to Georgia Southern but is now up in the air and will have an early morning decision on Wednesday between those two if no one else, like USC, jumps in with an offer. He visited USC January 22nd but hasn’t been offered. Werts liked what the Appalachian coaches had to say to him. “Their plan for me and how they want to get the ball in my hands and stuff like that,” he said. “They’ve had receivers drafted like five times in six years so they put receivers in the league.”
Kiel PollardWR Kiel Pollard of Moultrie, GA plans to announce his decision Sunday afternoon between 5:00-7:00 PM. He’s expected to put the word out on Twitter. Pollard has been committed to Arkansas since September but the new USC coaching staff made him an early target. Assistant coach Bobby Bentley contacted Pollard soon after coming on board. Last week receivers coach Bryan McClendon and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper visited with Pollard. He took his official visit to USC January 16th. He had previously visited Arkansas and he said he liked both visits equally. Pollard said Arkansas is appealing because it runs an offensive similar to what he played in high school, and USC is appealing because of the opportunity for early playing time. Pollard was the 6A Offensive Player of the Year in Georgia last season.
DB Daniel Thomas of Montgomery, AL visited Auburn over the weekend and will have a Signing Day announcement. He also took official visits to USC, Minnesota and North Carolina. Thomas said he spoke with USC Thursday and though he won’t say the Gamecocks are out, it appears he will go elsewhere. “They are kind of full,” he said of the Gamecocks. “I pretty much know where I’m going.”