Insider Report - pres. by Cornerstone Financial Management - July 14 (presidential search, recruiting)
- By Chris Clark
- The Insiders Forum
- 5 Replies
CornerstoneColumbia.com
*** Several subscribers have asked for updates on the University of South Carolina’s course in finding a new president after the resignation of Bob Caslen and appointment of Harris Pastides to the interim position.
The short version is this: it’s very, very early in the process. South Carolina has a large and diverse pool of 21 people on the search committee, and our understanding is feedback is being heard from all around the university and community at large.
At this time, things are still in the stage to where the committee will be vetting candidates. Some will apply, others will be recruited.
Just to give an idea of timeline, the end of this year would likely be the absolute earliest that we hear anything about the presidency being filled. Sometime next year would be no surprise, and on top of that, start dates can vary depend on who the candidate is and where he or she is leaving to take the new role.
*** Now, onto Gamecock football recruiting....
One of the summer’s standout Gamecock camp performers in the 2023 class was North Carolina defensive back Chris Peal. GamecockCentral.com was told during camp that Peal had turned in quality testing numbers, and Peal looked the part when we eyeballed him on the day he was participating.
Peal enjoyed working with defensive backs coach Torrian Gray and is already mulling a return trip to Columbia this season to see a game inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
*** If you missed it, Wes Mitchell rolled out some notes on four-star WR and top Gamecock priority Antonio Williams on Tuesday night. As Wes reported, the Dutch Fork star is planning on seeing South Carolina and Ole Miss for officials, and we've also heard it's possible he gets a couple more on the docket.
It seems likely Williams will render a choice prior to his high school team's entrance into the state playoffs, sometime after his official visits wrap late in October. The Gamecock staff - namely Justin Stepp, Erik Kimrey, and Shane Beamer - has made Williams a huge priority from the jump and a strong rapport has been built with the family.
Adding Williams is a significant part of the 2022 class, but there are a couple others that the staff continues to pursue that the staff hopes to put alongside Williams, Kylic Horton and Landon Samson.
Justin Stepp and other staff members continue communicating with four-star wideout Jayden Gibson out of Florida as well. Gibson, by all accounts, had a very good unofficial visit to Columbia in June and plans on returning for an official as well.
Two in-state programs - Florida and Miami - will have a say for Gibson, who's taken official visits to Baylor and Miami so far. Again, the Gamecocks are fully expected to land one this fall.
The Carolina staff also hosted Lexington (Kentucky) product Dane Key for an official that went quite well, and there are multiple staff connections to the family here.
Kentucky, of course, has the family tie through Key's father playing for the Wildcats as well as the distinct geographic advantage. It's thought that UK is likely the team to beat, but South Carolina's in the conversation here.
*** South Carolina is in the final 7 for Virginia athlete Tyler Banks, a prospect the staff likes as a linebacker.
The three-star has already seen Michigan and has made official visits to Virginia Tech, California, and Vanderbilt.
There's always been mutual interest between Banks and South Carolina, but the staff has not had a chance at an in-person visit so far.
That could be set to change in the next couple weeks.From what we're told, Banks is looking at lining up trips to South Carolina and Ole Miss during the one-week open period to close out the month of July.
*** Moving on to the 2023 class at linebacker, Savannah product Troy Ford took an unofficial visit to Carolina last month, touring the facilities and milling around one of the prospect camps that was running concurrent to his visit.
Ford was highly impressed by what he saw in Columbia and is already planning a return. As we have documented, the staff is looking to hold a prospect "cookout" event on July 31. Ford has informed us that he's a likely addition to the list for that day.
*** Any follow-up questions or something I didn't address that you'd like me to address? Let me know.
*** Today's Insider Report is brought to you by Cornerstone Financial Management. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Good Life Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Cornerstone Financial Management and Good Life Advisors, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial.
