[COLOR= rgb(178, 34, 34)][SIZE= 24px]USC’s pool party; first annual pool bash seemed to be a big success[/COLOR]
July 25, 2015
By Phil Kornblut Link: [/SIZE][COLOR= rgb(0, 0, 205)]SportsTalk[/COLOR]
USC’s first annual pool bash seemed to be a big success with the prospects we reached. While only one of them actually jumped into the (commitment) pool on Friday, DB Chris Smith, the Gamecocks seem to help themselves with several others and are in position to added to their 2016 class in the days and weeks ahead. Here’s a recap of what the prospects had to say:
OL Pete Leota of Asheville, NC said USC now leads North Carolina and Virginia Tech. “The visit went great. We talked to coach Steve Spurrier. My family came down there, all seven of us. Talking to Coach Elliott and all other recruits who are committed, like Will Putnam. I think they (USC) are leading right now. My family likes it down there in South Carolina. I don’t know the timeframe (for a decision) right now. Any day. I just want to sit at a table with my family and discuss over the decision. Hopefully soon, before the season starts. I don’t want to worry about it during my season.”
DB Marlon Character of Atlanta did not make it to the pool party but plans to be at the camp Saturday.
JUCO OL Ashton Julious of Florence did not make it to USC Friday but he hopes to visit again before returning to his school in Pennsylvania.
OL John Simpson of Fort Dorchester said he had a “pretty good time” hanging out with offensive line coach Shawn Elliott and freshman offensive lineman Zack Bailey. “He just loves how Coach Elliott treats him.” Simpson has visited all of his favorites except for LSU and he still wants to visit there. He said it’s all even with his seven…USC, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. “I like South Carolina so much because they have my major (business) and one of the best line coaches that I know.” Simpson said he now plans to wait until the Army All American Game in January before making a decision. “I don’t want to focus on it during my season so I’ll just do it then.” Simpson does plan to take official visits in the fall.
DL Nyles Pinckney of Whale Branch remains all even with USC and Clemson along with Georgia and Georgia Tech after his visit to USC. He has set August 20th for a decision date which is the day before the high school season begins. Pinckney said he enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the event. “Just having a casual visit and them getting to know me as a player and also seeing some of their commits and seeing they’re moving in a good direction.” Pinckney said he has no other visits planned before making his decision.
OL Marcus Tatum of Daytona Beach, FL said the visit went “very good. I really enjoyed sitting down with the offensive line and sitting down with them.” He also talked with line coach Shawn Elliott and got a tour of the campus. “I like how they are always rebuilding.” Tatum said he “really likes South Carolina” and he has the Gamecocks in his group of eight along with Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Arkansas, Alabama and NC State. He is going to Tennessee Saturday. He plans to take official visits before making a decision.
LB Vosean Joseph of Miami came into the visit committed to Florida and remains so but he said USC is a strong #2 with him right now. He spent much of his time with coaches Lorenzo Ward and Kirk Botkin. “Coach Botkin kept telling me that he wants to coach me and that he wants to be in my face. I’m really looking forward to going to their little camp tomorrow and see the facilities, how they practice and how the tempo goes.” The Gamecocks still have work to do with him to overcome the Gators. “They are still number two because I’m not going to go against my commitment. But they are in the top for me.” He does not plan to make a final decision until Signing Day. USC will get one of his official visits this fall. Two of Joseph’s teammates, WR Korrell Evans and DB Andrew Hines will participate in the camp Saturday and are hoping to land offers. The three would like to play together in college.
WR Kelvin Harmon of Palmyra, NJ said he enjoyed talking with the coaches but didn’t talk much football. He spent most of his time with quarterback commitment Brandon McIlwain. “I think I like them even more,” Harmon said of the Gamecocks adding he doesn’t have a leader. He plans to announce October 1st with USC, North Carolina, West Virginia, Temple, NC State and Rutgers on his list. “I think how my official goes with my family,” he said would be a big part of his decision. USC he said most likely will get one. Harmon is staying over to watch Saturday’s camp.
DL Kyree Campbell of Woodbridge, VA did not make it to USC Friday because he had to work a high school camp but he said USC is in his top five. He has not revealed his top five. He visited USC last year and plans to visit again. He will announce a decision October 29th.
OL Akeem Cooperwood of Georgia Military JC said he enjoyed the day and got a better look at the program. “It was great. I got to meet the players and coaches. They showed me so much love it felt like I was already part of something special.” Cooperwood is staying over to take a tour of the facilities and the campus Saturday. The Gamecocks are believed to be in strong shape with him.
DE Jordan Smith of Lithonia, GA is staying overnight in Columbia. He is not expected to make a commitment to the Gamecocks while on this visit but a source tells us a commitment could come next week at his school.
USC target OL Brett Heggie of Mount Dora, FL committed to Florida Friday night while on an unofficial visit.
2017 OL Isaiah Wilson of Brooklyn was at Clemson Thursday and will be at USC Friday. Friday afternoon he released his current top ten schools…USC, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Rutgers, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State and Maryland.
2017 DB Carlito Gonzalez of Stone Mountain, GA, a USC target, was offered Friday by Auburn.
July 25, 2015
By Phil Kornblut Link: [/SIZE][COLOR= rgb(0, 0, 205)]SportsTalk[/COLOR]
USC’s first annual pool bash seemed to be a big success with the prospects we reached. While only one of them actually jumped into the (commitment) pool on Friday, DB Chris Smith, the Gamecocks seem to help themselves with several others and are in position to added to their 2016 class in the days and weeks ahead. Here’s a recap of what the prospects had to say:
OL Pete Leota of Asheville, NC said USC now leads North Carolina and Virginia Tech. “The visit went great. We talked to coach Steve Spurrier. My family came down there, all seven of us. Talking to Coach Elliott and all other recruits who are committed, like Will Putnam. I think they (USC) are leading right now. My family likes it down there in South Carolina. I don’t know the timeframe (for a decision) right now. Any day. I just want to sit at a table with my family and discuss over the decision. Hopefully soon, before the season starts. I don’t want to worry about it during my season.”
DB Marlon Character of Atlanta did not make it to the pool party but plans to be at the camp Saturday.
JUCO OL Ashton Julious of Florence did not make it to USC Friday but he hopes to visit again before returning to his school in Pennsylvania.
OL John Simpson of Fort Dorchester said he had a “pretty good time” hanging out with offensive line coach Shawn Elliott and freshman offensive lineman Zack Bailey. “He just loves how Coach Elliott treats him.” Simpson has visited all of his favorites except for LSU and he still wants to visit there. He said it’s all even with his seven…USC, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. “I like South Carolina so much because they have my major (business) and one of the best line coaches that I know.” Simpson said he now plans to wait until the Army All American Game in January before making a decision. “I don’t want to focus on it during my season so I’ll just do it then.” Simpson does plan to take official visits in the fall.
DL Nyles Pinckney of Whale Branch remains all even with USC and Clemson along with Georgia and Georgia Tech after his visit to USC. He has set August 20th for a decision date which is the day before the high school season begins. Pinckney said he enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the event. “Just having a casual visit and them getting to know me as a player and also seeing some of their commits and seeing they’re moving in a good direction.” Pinckney said he has no other visits planned before making his decision.
OL Marcus Tatum of Daytona Beach, FL said the visit went “very good. I really enjoyed sitting down with the offensive line and sitting down with them.” He also talked with line coach Shawn Elliott and got a tour of the campus. “I like how they are always rebuilding.” Tatum said he “really likes South Carolina” and he has the Gamecocks in his group of eight along with Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Arkansas, Alabama and NC State. He is going to Tennessee Saturday. He plans to take official visits before making a decision.
LB Vosean Joseph of Miami came into the visit committed to Florida and remains so but he said USC is a strong #2 with him right now. He spent much of his time with coaches Lorenzo Ward and Kirk Botkin. “Coach Botkin kept telling me that he wants to coach me and that he wants to be in my face. I’m really looking forward to going to their little camp tomorrow and see the facilities, how they practice and how the tempo goes.” The Gamecocks still have work to do with him to overcome the Gators. “They are still number two because I’m not going to go against my commitment. But they are in the top for me.” He does not plan to make a final decision until Signing Day. USC will get one of his official visits this fall. Two of Joseph’s teammates, WR Korrell Evans and DB Andrew Hines will participate in the camp Saturday and are hoping to land offers. The three would like to play together in college.
WR Kelvin Harmon of Palmyra, NJ said he enjoyed talking with the coaches but didn’t talk much football. He spent most of his time with quarterback commitment Brandon McIlwain. “I think I like them even more,” Harmon said of the Gamecocks adding he doesn’t have a leader. He plans to announce October 1st with USC, North Carolina, West Virginia, Temple, NC State and Rutgers on his list. “I think how my official goes with my family,” he said would be a big part of his decision. USC he said most likely will get one. Harmon is staying over to watch Saturday’s camp.
DL Kyree Campbell of Woodbridge, VA did not make it to USC Friday because he had to work a high school camp but he said USC is in his top five. He has not revealed his top five. He visited USC last year and plans to visit again. He will announce a decision October 29th.
OL Akeem Cooperwood of Georgia Military JC said he enjoyed the day and got a better look at the program. “It was great. I got to meet the players and coaches. They showed me so much love it felt like I was already part of something special.” Cooperwood is staying over to take a tour of the facilities and the campus Saturday. The Gamecocks are believed to be in strong shape with him.
DE Jordan Smith of Lithonia, GA is staying overnight in Columbia. He is not expected to make a commitment to the Gamecocks while on this visit but a source tells us a commitment could come next week at his school.
USC target OL Brett Heggie of Mount Dora, FL committed to Florida Friday night while on an unofficial visit.
2017 OL Isaiah Wilson of Brooklyn was at Clemson Thursday and will be at USC Friday. Friday afternoon he released his current top ten schools…USC, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Rutgers, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State and Maryland.
2017 DB Carlito Gonzalez of Stone Mountain, GA, a USC target, was offered Friday by Auburn.
