Updates on USC spring game visits & other weekend notes
April 02, 2017
QB Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester Saturday made what he calls his final visit to USC prior to his June decision. Joyner has the Gamecocks in his final five with Alabama, NC State, Oregon and Georgia. Joyner said he thought the Gamecocks played well on both sides of the ball in their spring game, and of course his focus was on the offense. “I got a chance to see Jake Bentley and all the other quarterbacks play and compete. My boy Tre (OrTre Smith), it was nice seeing him play. The coaches were just glad I got a chance to come up there and enjoy myself. I talked to some of the guys like Xavier Thomas, KJ Henry, Jamyest Williams and other in-state guys.” Joyner said all five of his schools are on the same level with no leader. He will take his final visits to Oregon and Alabama. He will narrow his list to three prior to his June 17th announcement. His mother and younger brother joined him on the visit.
DE Brenton Cox of Stockbridge, GA was in attendance for USC’s spring game Saturday and the Gamecocks are one of his favorites at this point. “I could see me playing at South Carolina. Coach Muschamp said they really need pass rushers and they have a young team and I can come in and play. And he needs more players from Atlanta. They’re in the top 4, top 5 with Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama.” Cox also has been to Auburn and he will visit Ohio State for the spring game. He’s also looking to get to Georgia and Alabama when he can. Cox was joined on the visit by a pair of 2019 Georgia commitments, WR Jadon Haslewood of Ellenwood, GA and DL Rashad Cheney of Atlanta. Cox said Cheney is still considering the Gamecocks.
DE Jabari Ellis of Georgia Military JC took in USC’s spring game Saturday and the Gamecocks remain #1 on his list. “It went great overall. Coach Thompson was telling me about the guys graduating when I come in and tell me the position I’m going to need to fill. I can tell Coach Thompson knows what he’s talking about. He teaches those guys a lot of technique. And I realize he’s a cool coach because I was talking to the players and they were telling me he’s a hard guy and is going to get on you but he wants the best for you. They want me to commit but they’re telling me there’s no pressure. I told them I’m not making a decision until the summer.” Ellis also has an offer from East Carolina and is now hearing from Florida and Arkansas.
QB Tyler Shough of Chandler, AZ has a USC offer and made his first visit to check out the Gamecocks Saturday. USC is his lone Power Five offer at this point. “It was awesome. Everything I thought it would be and more. Great atmosphere and I talked personally with Coach Muschamp and Roper. They said they were really interested, haven’t offered too many guys and just asked about a potential commitment date, but no rush. I just don’t know yet (on a date), I’m still talking to other schools so i want to wait. But I’m pretty high on them. I’m satisfied with my visit today. They were very welcoming.” Shough will visit Western Kentucky April 22nd. He also has offers from Harvard, Cornell, San Jose State, Hawaii, Indiana, Yale and Columbia.
Blythewood native DB Khris Pam, who attends Georgia Military JC, has drawn the interest of the Gamecocks for a potential offer and he was in for the spring game. “Visit went good, enjoyed with myself with my pops. I can see myself playing there and since I’m graduating in December, TRob (Travaris Robinson) told me to cash that check and he’s proud of me. Someone from the staff will be down as we pick back up on our spring ball April 10th.” Pam said he thinks the Gamecocks will offer as a corner. He’s also hearing from Georgia Tech, Colorado, Georgia State and Michigan State, and he’s looking forward to Florida and Georgia coming to the school. Pam signed with Presbyterian out of high school and played one season for the Blue Hose.
OL Jovaughn Gwyn of Charlotte returned for another visit to USC Saturday for the spring game. He has a Gamecock offer. “We just watched the spring game and talked to the coaches. I got the chance to see some of the players after the game. The coaches say they like me a lot as a player and a student, they like how I play aggressive and fast.” Gwyn visited Clemson earlier in the week and said he’s expecting the Tigers to offer this summer. He’s going to Wake Forest and Duke next week and either West Virginia or Georgia the following week. As for where USC stands with him, Gwyn said, “They stand high on my list.” He also has offers from NC State, Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Western Kentucky, Texas State, Appalachian State, and Coastal Carolina. He plans a decision this summer.
Speedy RB Lavonte Valentine of Melbourne, FL made the trip up to USC Saturday for the spring game for his first up close look at the program and the university. “The “650,” which are the dorm rooms, are the far best dorms I have ever seen. The atmosphere and the fans stood out. Coach Muschamp and Coach Bentley, I like them. They said I can transform the entire team because of how fast I am . I can change the offense because he said, “Nobody in the country can catch you, guaranteed.” And I could help on special teams because he said, “They won’t have time to run down the field.” As of right now it definitely stirred my mind all up. I can say this . I definitely see myself being a Gamecock.” Valentine also holds offers from Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Iowa State, Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA and Southern Cal.
DB Elijah Rodgers of Blacksburg committed to Indiana Saturday while on a visit but said he’s not yet shutting down his recruiting.
USC target DB Jaycee Horn visited Tennessee Saturday.
USC RB target Master Teague visited Ohio State Saturday.
Two of the country’s top defensive ends, Xavier Thomas and KJ Henry were at USC Saturday for the spring game.
Rock Hill WR/FS Eric Stroud was at USC for the spring game.
QB Jalil-El Amin of Duluth, GA was at USC’s spring game Saturday.
Ridge View DL Damion Daley was USC’s spring game. He has offers from Cincinnati, Georgia State, Western Kentucky and Old Dominion.
2019 DB Akele Pauling of Ben Lippen was at USC’s spring game Saturday.
USC offered 2019 WR Arjei Henderson (6-1 179) of Richmond, TX. He’s an Oklahoma commitment.
Greenwood WR Sam Pinckney visited Florida State for a second time on Saturday.
USC target OL Maxwell Iyama picked up an offer from Ole Miss.
April 02, 2017
QB Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester Saturday made what he calls his final visit to USC prior to his June decision. Joyner has the Gamecocks in his final five with Alabama, NC State, Oregon and Georgia. Joyner said he thought the Gamecocks played well on both sides of the ball in their spring game, and of course his focus was on the offense. “I got a chance to see Jake Bentley and all the other quarterbacks play and compete. My boy Tre (OrTre Smith), it was nice seeing him play. The coaches were just glad I got a chance to come up there and enjoy myself. I talked to some of the guys like Xavier Thomas, KJ Henry, Jamyest Williams and other in-state guys.” Joyner said all five of his schools are on the same level with no leader. He will take his final visits to Oregon and Alabama. He will narrow his list to three prior to his June 17th announcement. His mother and younger brother joined him on the visit.
DE Brenton Cox of Stockbridge, GA was in attendance for USC’s spring game Saturday and the Gamecocks are one of his favorites at this point. “I could see me playing at South Carolina. Coach Muschamp said they really need pass rushers and they have a young team and I can come in and play. And he needs more players from Atlanta. They’re in the top 4, top 5 with Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama.” Cox also has been to Auburn and he will visit Ohio State for the spring game. He’s also looking to get to Georgia and Alabama when he can. Cox was joined on the visit by a pair of 2019 Georgia commitments, WR Jadon Haslewood of Ellenwood, GA and DL Rashad Cheney of Atlanta. Cox said Cheney is still considering the Gamecocks.
DE Jabari Ellis of Georgia Military JC took in USC’s spring game Saturday and the Gamecocks remain #1 on his list. “It went great overall. Coach Thompson was telling me about the guys graduating when I come in and tell me the position I’m going to need to fill. I can tell Coach Thompson knows what he’s talking about. He teaches those guys a lot of technique. And I realize he’s a cool coach because I was talking to the players and they were telling me he’s a hard guy and is going to get on you but he wants the best for you. They want me to commit but they’re telling me there’s no pressure. I told them I’m not making a decision until the summer.” Ellis also has an offer from East Carolina and is now hearing from Florida and Arkansas.
QB Tyler Shough of Chandler, AZ has a USC offer and made his first visit to check out the Gamecocks Saturday. USC is his lone Power Five offer at this point. “It was awesome. Everything I thought it would be and more. Great atmosphere and I talked personally with Coach Muschamp and Roper. They said they were really interested, haven’t offered too many guys and just asked about a potential commitment date, but no rush. I just don’t know yet (on a date), I’m still talking to other schools so i want to wait. But I’m pretty high on them. I’m satisfied with my visit today. They were very welcoming.” Shough will visit Western Kentucky April 22nd. He also has offers from Harvard, Cornell, San Jose State, Hawaii, Indiana, Yale and Columbia.
Blythewood native DB Khris Pam, who attends Georgia Military JC, has drawn the interest of the Gamecocks for a potential offer and he was in for the spring game. “Visit went good, enjoyed with myself with my pops. I can see myself playing there and since I’m graduating in December, TRob (Travaris Robinson) told me to cash that check and he’s proud of me. Someone from the staff will be down as we pick back up on our spring ball April 10th.” Pam said he thinks the Gamecocks will offer as a corner. He’s also hearing from Georgia Tech, Colorado, Georgia State and Michigan State, and he’s looking forward to Florida and Georgia coming to the school. Pam signed with Presbyterian out of high school and played one season for the Blue Hose.
OL Jovaughn Gwyn of Charlotte returned for another visit to USC Saturday for the spring game. He has a Gamecock offer. “We just watched the spring game and talked to the coaches. I got the chance to see some of the players after the game. The coaches say they like me a lot as a player and a student, they like how I play aggressive and fast.” Gwyn visited Clemson earlier in the week and said he’s expecting the Tigers to offer this summer. He’s going to Wake Forest and Duke next week and either West Virginia or Georgia the following week. As for where USC stands with him, Gwyn said, “They stand high on my list.” He also has offers from NC State, Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Western Kentucky, Texas State, Appalachian State, and Coastal Carolina. He plans a decision this summer.
Speedy RB Lavonte Valentine of Melbourne, FL made the trip up to USC Saturday for the spring game for his first up close look at the program and the university. “The “650,” which are the dorm rooms, are the far best dorms I have ever seen. The atmosphere and the fans stood out. Coach Muschamp and Coach Bentley, I like them. They said I can transform the entire team because of how fast I am . I can change the offense because he said, “Nobody in the country can catch you, guaranteed.” And I could help on special teams because he said, “They won’t have time to run down the field.” As of right now it definitely stirred my mind all up. I can say this . I definitely see myself being a Gamecock.” Valentine also holds offers from Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Iowa State, Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA and Southern Cal.
DB Elijah Rodgers of Blacksburg committed to Indiana Saturday while on a visit but said he’s not yet shutting down his recruiting.
USC target DB Jaycee Horn visited Tennessee Saturday.
USC RB target Master Teague visited Ohio State Saturday.
Two of the country’s top defensive ends, Xavier Thomas and KJ Henry were at USC Saturday for the spring game.
Rock Hill WR/FS Eric Stroud was at USC for the spring game.
QB Jalil-El Amin of Duluth, GA was at USC’s spring game Saturday.
Ridge View DL Damion Daley was USC’s spring game. He has offers from Cincinnati, Georgia State, Western Kentucky and Old Dominion.
2019 DB Akele Pauling of Ben Lippen was at USC’s spring game Saturday.
USC offered 2019 WR Arjei Henderson (6-1 179) of Richmond, TX. He’s an Oklahoma commitment.
Greenwood WR Sam Pinckney visited Florida State for a second time on Saturday.
USC target OL Maxwell Iyama picked up an offer from Ole Miss.