Gamecock Nation Today: Elite 2021 QB talks visit | Lawson expected to play | Ellington to Pats

[Brian Shoemaker]

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Gamecock Nation Today
Friday, March 15, 2019

Good morning and Happy Friday!

Today: The men's basketball team plays Auburn in the SEC Tournament, the baseball team opens SEC play and hosts Georgia in Game 1 of a three-game series and the softball team begins an SEC series against Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Honoring the military: Saturday's baseball game is Military Appreciation Day (see Section 3 below).

Customize: You get to choose which breaking news alerts and newsletters to receive from Gamecock Central.

– Brian Shoemaker (email)

Brock Vandagriff/Credit: Rivals.com

1. Recruiting Rewind: Elite 2021 QB talks visit

The University of South Carolina is on spring break this week, but there's still been plenty of recruiting to catch up on from the last couple of weeks and to get ready for in the coming weeks as the Gamecocks hit the football practice fields again next week.

After landing four-star quarterbacks in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 classes, the Gamecocks will look to add another top signal-caller for 2021.

• Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian class of 2021 QB Brock Vandagriff is already one of the elite quarterbacks in his class and the 6-foot-3, 198-pounder was in Columbia for a visit early last week.
  
• "South Carolina was great," Vandagriff said. "We were in the quarterback meeting. Then we watched practice and had a little campus tour and got to talk to Coach (Will) Muschamp. Being able to watch the quarterbacks was good. (Jake) Bentley was great, him and (Ryan) Hilinski so that was fun. Coach (Dan) Werner was great with them, just seeing how he interacts with them and seeing how Coach Muschamp coaches in practice."
  
• Vandagriff already holds 15+ offers including one from the Gamecocks. Check out the full article here (subscription).

Orlando (Fla.) Jones three-star cornerback Dominick Hill was also on South Carolina's campus recently and caught up with Gamecock Central this week about his visit.

• Hill has seen his recruiting stock skyrocket recently with offers from Alabama and Georgia rolling in this calendar year.
  
• "I liked everything," Hill sad. "How the campus is set up, and they just got new facilities. Their classes are right there, not too far The coaches are really nice and show a lot of love. I enjoyed them. Coach Muschamp, he’s a cool coach. I talk to him a lot and he’s a defensive backs coach."
  
• Hill, who is eyeing August 1 as a potential announcement date, says the Gamecocks are in his top group (subscription).

On the men's basketball front, one of the state's top prospects, Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman class of 2020 four-star power forward P.J. Hall, was in town Saturday for South Carolina's win over Georgia in their home finale.

• The 6-foot-9, 220-pounder, ranked the No. 10 PF in his class, caught up with Gamecock Central after the visit.
  
• "I went to pregame, watched the scouting report and got a good look at that and how they prepared for the game. I watched the game. They came out hot, they started really well and were up by 20 or maybe 25 in the first half," Hall said. "Then slowed it down coming out of the half and Georgia made a run but they finished strong. It was fun to watch. Then I got to hang out with coach for a little after the game."
  
• Hall, who was joined on the trip by teammate guard Myles Tate, says he hopes to decide before his senior season (subscription).

More Recruiting: 10 USC targets from Georgia to watch – Some of the best players in South Carolina's football history hail from the state of Georgia, and the Peach State is always a hotbed for football talent for programs around the Southeast. USC's prioritization of the state for the 2020 cycle is no different than any other year, with an abundance of offers out and targeted prospects on the board. (subscription)

Related: Recruiting 101 - The calendar

– Wes Mitchell (email)

A.J. Lawson/Credit: Chris Gillespie

2. SEC Tournament Time

Who: South Carolina vs Auburn
When: Approx. 3:30 p.m.
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: ESPN (online)

Auburn beat Missouri, 81-71, Thursday to earn the right to play the Gamecocks today.

• South Carolina beat Auburn in January, which was USC's big bounce-back win after suffering a blowout loss at LSU.
• That win gave South Carolina the tie-breaker over Auburn, as both teams finished 11-7 in the SEC.
• For Auburn, the loss was part of a three-game losing streak early in the year, but the Tigers recovered to win six of their last seven games.
• On Wednesday, Auburn assistant coach Ira Bowman was suspended indefinitely over his alleged involvement in the college bribery scandal unearthed by the FBI.

Frank Martin expects guard A.J. Lawson to play against Auburn in the SEC Tournament, he told media on Thursday evening.

• Lawson would come off the bench if he suits up against the Tigers, Martin said.
• The staff is unsure as to how many minutes Lawson will play on Friday, with Martin saying it would depend on how the game unfolds.
• Martin said Lawson's minutes limitation will be based more on his conditioning than his ankle.
• Earlier in the week, Lawson was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team. He's averaging nearly 14 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season.

USC hasn't made it past the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament since 2006, when the Dave Odom-led squad went from fifth place in the east all the way to the championship game.

Thomas Brown/Credit: Katie Dugan

3. New and notes

Football: Practice schedule tweak – The Gamecocks will practice Wednesday instead of Thursday next week. The revised schedule has the team practicing Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Football: Ellington signs with Patriots – According to NFL Network, Bruce Ellington and the Patriots agreed on a one-year deal. The 28-year-old Ellington spent time with Houston and Detroit in 2018, totaling 31 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also spent time with San Francisco, and in his four seasons he amassed 79 catches for 769 yards and five touchdowns. (link)

Football: Brown mic'd up – New running backs coach Thomas Brown is mic'd up in this video. It's only a minute and 22 seconds in length, so you've got time to watch it. (link)

Baseball: Military Appreciation Game on Saturday – Here are the details...

• USC will recognize WWII Navy Veteran Louis Crouch prior to the game
• USC will also recognize board members from the Veterans Alumni Council prior to the start of the game
• The chair of the Veterans Alumni Council, Aubrey Sejuit, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch
• Retired Army Veteran Staff Sergeant Anwan Mason will sing the National Anthem
• USC will also recognize active duty members and veterans during the game by asking them to stand and be recognized so fans can show appreciation for all they have done

Baseball: Probable pitching rotations...

• Friday: RHP Wes Sweatt (1-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. RHP Emerson Hancock (4-0, 0.38 ERA)
• Saturday: RHP Reid Morgan (2-0, 1.84 ERA) vs. LHP C.J. Smith (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Sunday: TBA vs. RHP Tony Locey (3-0, 2.45 ERA)

Baseball: Two questions for Roth, Jeffcoat and Brown – Gamecock baseball lettermen Michael Roth, Byron Jeffcoat and Jay Brown each answer two questions - one about this year's team and another about their careers. (link)

Softball: Carolina hits the road for Arkansas – The No. 16 South Carolina softball team is set for a three-game series at No. 21 Arkansas. Friday's start time is 7 p.m., while the games on Saturday and Sunday are set for 2 p.m. (link)

Track & Field: USC opens outdoor season at Black and Gold Challenge – The track & field team begins the 2019 outdoor season this weekend at the Black and Gold Challenge, hosted by UCF in Orlando. Events begin at 11 a.m. and continue Saturday at 10 a.m. (link)

Men's Tennis: Gamecocks set for pair of ranked SEC tests – The men's tennis team will face a pair of top-30 teams as it travels to take on No. 22 Tennessee on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by No. 26 Georgia on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Women's Tennis: Carolina hosts two ranked teams – The women's tennis team hosts a pair of ranked SEC opponents - No. 16 Tennessee on Friday at 10 a.m. and No. 2 Georgia on Sunday at 1 p.m. (link)

– Jackson Fields (email)

Mackenzie Boesel/Credit: South Carolina athletics

4. Plan your schedule accordingly ⚾

Friday, March 15
• All day – Swimming & Diving: CSCAA National Invitational (Cleveland)
• All day – Track & Field: Black and Gold Invitational (Orlando)
• 3:30 – Men's Basketball vs Auburn (Nashville), ESPN
• 5 pm – Women's Tennis hosts Tennessee, YouTube
• 5 pm – Men's Tennis at Tennessee
• 7 pm – Softball at Arkansas, SECN+
• 7 pm – Baseball hosts Georgia, SECN+

Saturday, March 16
• All day – Swimming & Diving: CSCAA National Invitational (Cleveland)
• All day – Track & Field: Black and Gold Invitational (Orlando)
• 1 pm – Beach Volleyball vs. UAB in Gamecock Grand Slam
• 2 pm – Softball at Arkansas
• 4 pm – Baseball hosts Georgia, SECN+
• 5 pm – Beach Volleyball vs. Georgia State in Gamecock Grand Slam

Sunday, March 17
• All day – Men's Golf: Valspar Collegiate Invitational (Palm City, Fla.)
• 1 pm – Women's Tennis hosts Georgia, YouTube
• 1 pm – Men's Tennis at Georgia
• 1 pm – Beach Volleyball vs Stetson (Gamecock Grand Slam)
• 1:30 pm – Baseball hosts Georgia, SECN+
• 2 pm – Softball at Arkansas, SECN+
• 5 pm – Beach Volleyball vs Eastern Kentucky (Gamecock Grand Slam)

– Jackson Fields (email)

5. This Date in Gamecock History

March 15, 2005 – Carolina opened up the NIT with a stunning victory over Miami, knocking off the Hurricanes, 69-67, on a layup by Josh Gonner with 2.1 seconds left. USC led by three at the half, 36-33, and the game went back and forth throughout the second half. The score was tied with just 27.7 seconds left when the Gamecocks' Rocky Trice hit a 3-pointer to make it 67-64. Miami's Robert Hite made his own 3-pointer to tie the game with just eight ticks left. Gonner then took the inbounds pass and went the length of the floor, dropping the game-winner through. Miami missed a last-second heave and the Gamecocks advanced to the second round. Carlos Powell led the scoring with 18 points, while Tarence Kinsey (11), Brandon Wallace (10) and Gonner (10) were also in double figures.

– John Parker (gamecockarchives.com)

6. Key Dates (Countdown) ⌚

• March 21 – Football: Pro Timing Day (6 days)
• March 22 – Muschamp Coaches Clinic (7)
• April 6 – Football: Spring game (22)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (41)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (54)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (67)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (122)
• July 20 – Muschamp Ladies Football Clinic (127)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (169)

7. Birthdays and Celebrations!

Gamecock Central birthdays

• @tarcock (Member since 1998)
• @FightinRooster (2004)
• @0276acc (2007)
• @MScott64 (2019)

If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.

Gamecock Nation birthdays

• Brandon Bennett – A two-time all-state back at Riverside, Bennett was hotly recruited in 1990-91, as Carolina and Tennessee waged a war for his services (Nebraska, Clemson and Georgia were also in the mix). In the end Bennett picked USC where his brother Bralyn had been a wide receiver. He made an instant impact at Carolina, rushing for 702 yards and being named State Freshman of the Year by the South Carolina Sportswriters Association. He set a record that year with 278 yards rushing against East Tennessee State. Bennett continued to split time with Rob DeBoer in 1992 and had 100-yard games against Mississippi State and Tennessee, both upset wins by the Gamecocks. In 1993, Bennett earned second-team All-SEC honors while piling up 853 rushing yards. His biggest moment of the year may have been his game-winning touchdown against Georgia in the final seconds. As a senior, Bennett rushed for 782 more yards, finishing his career third on the USC all-time rushing list. He went on to play with the Bengals and Panthers in the NFL.

• Ilona Burgrova (women's basketball/center, 2004-08)
• Fred David (football/offensive guard, 1976-79)
• Thomas Dendy (football/running back, 1982-85)
• Marco Hutchinson (football/linebacker, 1997-00)
• Sam Roca (men's soccer/defense, 2006-07)

– John Parker (gamecockarchives.com)

8. Around Gamecock Nation

• March 27 – Greenville, President's Reception (link)
• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (link)
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour

Note: Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including specific locations and ticket prices, will be announced as it becomes available.

– Brian Shoemaker (email)

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