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Wes Mitchell
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** Obviously the biggest priority of the bye week is to get as many people healthy as possible and Will Muschamp said that they'll "hopefully" have offensive linemen Zack Bailey, Cory Helms and Malik Young back for the Vanderbilt game. From what I've picked up, barring a setback, Bailey and Helms should definitely be back. They're hopeful that Young will be back as well, but I'm told he's the furthest of the three from being ready.
It was reiterated to me that the offensive linemen coming back aren't guaranteed their spots and that's not just coachspeak when Muschamp says that.
The staff has been very impressed with the way Blake Camper stepped up the last two games and Sadarius Hutcherson has appeared to play very well in three of the four games he's stepped in as well. Alan Knott rarely gets much attention from the fan base, but he's quietly had a very solid year and Donell Stanley has quietly been one of the offense's most consistent players. It will be a true competition for starting spots and the injuries have helped them to build some depth.
** Muschamp also broke the news that Deebo Samuel could be back by the end of the season and that K.C. Crosby and Rico Dowdle would be back in a bowl game situation.
While Muschamp didn't give an exactly timetable for Samuel's return, there's been a lot of speculation here on the board, and I would circle the Florida game as his earliest possible return. As we've reported for some time here on the board, Samuel has been extremely driven to get back in his rehab and has done everything possible to put himself in that position, though keep in mind that injury timetables can very much fluctuate. There are positive signs here though for sure.
Also of note, while I would have said prior to the season that this would almost surely be Samuel's last season at South Carolina, I'd say the possibility of his return for a senior season is more likely than it's been in some time. These things, too, often fluctuate with time, but right now Samuel has given indications that he wants to return and be a high draft pick. It's something that we will, of course, continue to track.
** With the bye week, South Carolina's coaches, including Will Muschamp, have been on the road recruiting on Monday, Thursday and Friday to see top targets and committed players. As has been reported, Carolina was at Jaycee Horn's school on Monday, the Gamecocks were set to see commitment Jabari Ellis on Thursday, and will watch Dakereon Joyner play tonight. I hope to have a more complete list in time, but that gives you an idea of a few of them.
** It appears that the weekend of Dec. 8 is shaping up to be one of South Carolina's big recruiting weekends as commitments who plan to enroll early, and have not already used their official visits, are planning to take their officials that weekend. I've been checking in with Carolina's committed prospects for our Catching up with the committed feature and Maxwell Iyama, Ernest Jones and Jabari Ellis have all said they're going to take their officials that weekend.
All three are still hoping to enroll early, though I wouldn't call it a given that Ellis is able to as a JUCO prospect. Those three remain firmly committed to Carolina. Jones told me that Florida has tried to stay in it with him but he's shut that down. Iyama, interestingly said that Georgia is the one school he's still hearing from. South Carolina running back commit Deshaun Fenwick has had an outstanding senior year and I'm told that Georgia has still kept tabs on him. To me, he's easily one of the more underrated prospects in the Gamecocks' class.
** I continue to hear that Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) defensive end Jarrett Jackson, a current Louisville commit, is one to watch as a priority prospect for the Gamecocks moving forward. Jackson's senior film caught the staff's attention and he appears to be a great scheme fit at the 5-technique defensive end/3 technique defensive tackle role that they currently used Dante Sawyer and Keir Thomas in. I look for Jackson to set an official visit to South Carolina, and if things check out and go well, things are coming together for them to ultimately land him.
** South Carolina continues to evaluate Irmo (S.C.) class of 2019 running back Kendrell Flowers as a future offer candidate. The one question with Flowers is what position is he as he could be a running back, where he's playing this year, or a versatile slot receiver. Flowers played receiver until this season, but has started to get a better feel for the running back position as the year has progressed. Oregon is the latest school to get into the mix with Flowers and could be the first to offer. Oregon also may offer his 2018 teammate defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat.
Check out Flowers' latest highlights below:
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