Predicting which recruits will make an impact in their first season as Gamecocks fuels debate from fans and consternation among coaches.
For the six members of South Carolina's 2015 football recruiting class who are transfers from junior colleges, there is a matter of urgency: Play right away or maybe never play because they have fewer years of eligibility to make an impact.
The Gamecocks' half-dozen junior college prospects - the most in the Steve Spurrier era - are expected to be bigger, stronger and more experienced than their high-school counterparts.
It's a high-risk, high-reward route to take to help fill a class, recruiting analysts say.
"It's a sign that your roster needs an injection of new life immediately," said Mike Farrell, national recruiting director for Rivals. "It's when you need immediate help at defensive line or a particular position. Usually it's the big guys, usually defensive linemen and offensive linemen because they're harder to develop out of high school quickly."
All six of USC's junior college recruits play defense: four linemen, a linebacker and a safety. The Gamecocks need help right away for a unit that finished No. 92 in the country in total defense (the 432.7 yards allowed per game were the most under Spurrier).
More specifically, there's a need to improve a pass rush that struggled to affect the quarterback, was ranked No. 118 of 125 in the country with 14 sacks in 13 games and No. 121 overall in team tackles for loss (4.0 per game).
Signing more from junior college this cycle was out of necessity, recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. said.
"We have an immediate need for players," Spurrier Jr. said, "and if you have an opportunity to go sign a Marquavius Lewis that is one of the best players in the country that can come in and play right away, that's a huge advantage for you."
Lewis, a 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive end, signed with USC in December. He's the headliner of a JUCO group that also includes 2014 signee Dante Sawyer and 2013 signee Devante Covington.
Originally from Greenwood High, Lewis led Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College with 63 tackles in 12 games, including 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. The four-star prospect and nation's top JUCO defensive end had 21 quarterback hurries, was named a junior college All-American and Jayhawk Conference defensive player of the year.
There is something to prove after taking the JUCO route to the SEC, Lewis said.
"You want to play immediately because of the time you already spent at a junior college," he said. "As long as I can transition as well as possible, I think I can play with those guys."
Lewis is all but penciled in as a starter on the USC defensive line, but there are no guarantees anyone makes an impact in his first season.
According to Rivals' records, USC has signed 20 JUCO prospects under Spurrier. A review found that nine got significant playing time in their first season at USC. Six played sparingly over two seasons, and three didn't make it to school or left early.
Twin defenders Jasper and Casper Brinkley, signed out of Georgia Military College in 2006, each had an immediate impact on USC's defense. Jasper led the team in tackles in 2006 with 107 stops, while Casper had 26.5 tackles for loss and started all 25 games over a two-year period.
Offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins redshirted out of Georgia Military in 2009. He went on to start all 27 games in 2010 and 2011.
The expectation is that each member of this year's junior college class will arrive at USC ready to play.
"Typically he's got two years left and hopefully when he shows up he does play," Spurrier Jr. said. "Usually when you go the junior college route you're looking for a guy that can make an immediate impact. If you can get him here in January it helps a lot. They can get around the team, get through winter conditioning, go through spring football, go through the summer and really be ready to play. If a guy can't make it until that May, you need him and feel he could make an immediate impact when he gets here."
(article stolen from the State fish wrapper)
For the six members of South Carolina's 2015 football recruiting class who are transfers from junior colleges, there is a matter of urgency: Play right away or maybe never play because they have fewer years of eligibility to make an impact.
The Gamecocks' half-dozen junior college prospects - the most in the Steve Spurrier era - are expected to be bigger, stronger and more experienced than their high-school counterparts.
It's a high-risk, high-reward route to take to help fill a class, recruiting analysts say.
"It's a sign that your roster needs an injection of new life immediately," said Mike Farrell, national recruiting director for Rivals. "It's when you need immediate help at defensive line or a particular position. Usually it's the big guys, usually defensive linemen and offensive linemen because they're harder to develop out of high school quickly."
All six of USC's junior college recruits play defense: four linemen, a linebacker and a safety. The Gamecocks need help right away for a unit that finished No. 92 in the country in total defense (the 432.7 yards allowed per game were the most under Spurrier).
More specifically, there's a need to improve a pass rush that struggled to affect the quarterback, was ranked No. 118 of 125 in the country with 14 sacks in 13 games and No. 121 overall in team tackles for loss (4.0 per game).
Signing more from junior college this cycle was out of necessity, recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. said.
"We have an immediate need for players," Spurrier Jr. said, "and if you have an opportunity to go sign a Marquavius Lewis that is one of the best players in the country that can come in and play right away, that's a huge advantage for you."
Lewis, a 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive end, signed with USC in December. He's the headliner of a JUCO group that also includes 2014 signee Dante Sawyer and 2013 signee Devante Covington.
Originally from Greenwood High, Lewis led Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College with 63 tackles in 12 games, including 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. The four-star prospect and nation's top JUCO defensive end had 21 quarterback hurries, was named a junior college All-American and Jayhawk Conference defensive player of the year.
There is something to prove after taking the JUCO route to the SEC, Lewis said.
"You want to play immediately because of the time you already spent at a junior college," he said. "As long as I can transition as well as possible, I think I can play with those guys."
Lewis is all but penciled in as a starter on the USC defensive line, but there are no guarantees anyone makes an impact in his first season.
According to Rivals' records, USC has signed 20 JUCO prospects under Spurrier. A review found that nine got significant playing time in their first season at USC. Six played sparingly over two seasons, and three didn't make it to school or left early.
Twin defenders Jasper and Casper Brinkley, signed out of Georgia Military College in 2006, each had an immediate impact on USC's defense. Jasper led the team in tackles in 2006 with 107 stops, while Casper had 26.5 tackles for loss and started all 25 games over a two-year period.
Offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins redshirted out of Georgia Military in 2009. He went on to start all 27 games in 2010 and 2011.
The expectation is that each member of this year's junior college class will arrive at USC ready to play.
"Typically he's got two years left and hopefully when he shows up he does play," Spurrier Jr. said. "Usually when you go the junior college route you're looking for a guy that can make an immediate impact. If you can get him here in January it helps a lot. They can get around the team, get through winter conditioning, go through spring football, go through the summer and really be ready to play. If a guy can't make it until that May, you need him and feel he could make an immediate impact when he gets here."
(article stolen from the State fish wrapper)
