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Wes Mitchell
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The state championships were completed this weekend at Benedict's Charlie W. Johnson Stadium and Gamecock Central was on hand for the games from all five classifications.
Various South Carolina coaches were also on hand for all five games with Shane Beamer and Co. making it a priority for the Gamecocks to have representation at all the games, which is more than Clemson can say.
Let's start with the top prospect and top target to play in Columbia this weekend, Dutch Fork four-star wide receiver Antonio Williams.
Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp, who has recruited Williams from the day he arrived in Columbia, was on hand from the moment Williams hopped off the bus until the game was over, once again solidifying how important of a target Williams is for the Gamecocks.
Several other Carolina coaches were on hand as well including area recruiter Erik Kimrey, associate head coach Pete Lembo, running backs coach Montario Hardesty, EDGEs coach Mike Peterson, defensive coordinator Clayton White and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey.
Shane Beamer was strategically absent as head coaches only get one visit during this contact period and Beamer is scheduled to go in-home with Williams this week.
This week also marks the final stretch run for Williams heading into next week's early signing period.
While some predicted the Gamecocks' demise following the Clemson offer, the sense we get is that South Carolina is still firmly in this heading into the final week, following the Clemson in-home last week.
Here's the thing I believe we need to pay the closest attention to this week: Does Williams take a final visit to Clemson? As of right now, the four-star prospect is scheduled to play in the North-South game, which is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with practice beginning on Wednesday.
Keeping in mind that next week is a recruiting dead period (no visits) and that Williams will also host Carolina coaches one night this week, there may not be much time for a trip. Does the typically low key Williams even want to take another visit after what has been a pretty long recruiting process?
These are the questions that will shape the final week of Williams' recruiting process as he prepares to make a decision.
Before we move on, a bit about Williams on the field: I've seen him in person at least six times now and he's every bit of a four-star prospect and probably, in my opinion, is more along the lines of a 5.9 four-star as opposed to the 5.8 four-star that Rivals currently has him.
He's not only fast and smooth with strong hands, he also displays toughness and a willingness to run through people. Williams is low key and polite off the field but he does play sort of angry on the field. I'm a fan.
** Dutch Fork 2023 running back Jarvis Green continues to be a prospect to watch in the state down the road. He's got an early offer from Charlotte but I think he'll certainly get some bigger ones in the future. He's a tough, physical runner who can make people miss in the open field and gutted it out Saturday despite playing hurt. He runs bigger than his 5-foot-10, 190-pound listing suggests.
** Former South Carolina assistant and current Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott was on hand for the Gray Collegiate-Silver Bluff matchup on Friday night as Elliott watched one of his top commits, Gray running back KZ Adams, compete.
Adams, held back from landing FBS offers only by his size, has some of the best lateral quickness you see in a prospect and should be an excellent fit at Elliott's program where he'll play both running back and in the return game.
Many keep asking if there is any chance that the Gamecocks would extend a late offer -- I have not seen any signs of that happening.
** Also in that game was Silver Bluff class of 2024 running back Trae'Von Dunbar, who rushed for 121 yards in the loss. Listed at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds, Dunbar looks bigger and longer than that and physically looks the part off the hoof. The Gamecocks have not offered yet and have him under evaluation with Dunbar visiting a couple of times already. After watching him in person, I'd have him as an early three-star type with a chance to move up down the road.
** On Friday afternoon, defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey and others were on hand to watch Camden and 2023 defensive tackle target Xzavier McLeod.
McLeod is still coming into his own as far as the intricacies of playing the position and playing from down to down, but there's no doubt his immense potential if he puts it all together at the next level. With legs that look like tree trunks, McLeod is still light on his feet and was giving the Daniel offensive line fits early in the game.
While Rivals has McLeod as a three-star (downplaying his upside in my opinion) and other networks have him as a five-star (not there yet in my opinion), I'd split the difference and have him as a four-star guy right now. Either way, he's an important target for the Gamecocks and I believe they're in good shape.
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