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Brian Shoemaker
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Gamecock Nation Today
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Good morning and Happy Thursday!
Yesterday's highlights!
Javion Cohen/Credit: Rivals.com
1. Commitment Corner: Javion Cohen
South Carolina picked up its fifth commitment of the 2020 class Wednesday when Phenix City (Ala.) Central three-star OT Javion Cohen announced his pledge to the Gamecocks.
Bio: 6-foot-5, 275-pounds. No. 26 prospect in Alabama. No. 58 offensive tackle in his class.
Recruiter of record: Offensive line coach Eric Wolford
Offers: LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Missouri, among others.
Why South Carolina? "For me, communication is key. Coach Muschamp and Coach Wolford stayed in contact with me and I have been talking to them every day. I like the program, the strength and conditioning program and there is a real opportunity for me to play there. I like everything about South Carolina. Them playing in the SEC stands out too. It was extremely hard to get to this point, but I know I chose the right school at the right time."
Extra: Inside the commitment – We take a look at how the Javion Cohen commitment keeps with the trends we've seen from coach Eric Wolford. (subscription)
– Wes Mitchell
Brad Johnson/Credit: Chris Gillespie
2. Don’t forget about these Gamecocks
South Carolina returns some known commodities and impact players for the 2019 season, but also has some key holes to fill in all facets of the game. Those roles will be filled by a combination of newcomers and returning players looking to take the next step in their development. Many of those have grabbed headlines and been the subject of analysis this offseason, but there is a group perhaps flying under the radar in terms of potential impact. Here, we take a look at five.
WR Josh Vann
Don’t let a poor performance in the Belk Bowl last season diminish the fact that Vann is a young player with talent. A former four-star prospect who was coveted by UGA and other major programs, Vann still saw time as a true freshman despite enrolling in the summer and missing practice time recovering from shoulder surgery. There’s a big void in the playmaking corps with Deebo Samuel no longer around. Folks are still mentioning Vann in terms of his potential to step up at receiver and on special teams, but perhaps not enough.
BUCK Brad Johnson
He played over 90 snaps, plus special teams, against Clemson despite battling illness all week leading up to the game. That was due to USC’s injury situation at the time, but it illustrates Johnson’s competitive nature. The Pendleton native is a young true junior; he will not turn 19 until August. He’ll play behind D.J. Wonnum at BUCK, but should still pull down plenty of snaps and be a key special teams player. This could be a year he takes another step.
LB Ernest Jones
With T.J. Brunson sidelined this spring, Jones has received a bunch of repetitions at the MIKE linebacker spot. He played in a handful of games last season as a true freshman and is someone the coaching staff has always liked for his physical nature and intelligence. USC’s play on defense needs to be better across the board, and this is a position that some have pointed to as one that must improve in 2019. Having a healthier and more productive defensive line in front of them will help, but another year in the system for someone like Jones should not be discounted.
S J.T. Ibe
USC has some players in the secondary who are name recognizable by this point, but Ibe is someone likely deserving of more attention. He was a starter to open last season after rapidly ascending the depth chart, then went down to injury. Now in his sixth college season, there’s a good chance he’s a starter once again at one of the safety spots. USC’s healthier at the position now and the competition will continue, but Ibe’s been a productive player when given the chance.
TE Kyle Markway
It’s easy to see what Kiel Pollard can do in the passing game or to be captivated by Evan Hinson’s potential as a downfield threat. Markway is also a reliable pass-catcher, can make teams pay if he’s left open, and will stick his face in the fan and block. He’s a key contributor on special teams as well.
– Chris Clark
Rodricus Fitten/Credit: Chris Gillespie
3. This, that, and the other
Football: Rodricus Fitten 'going to be a problem' for other teams – South Carolina lost one of its primary pass rushers heading into the season with Bryson Allen-Williams graduating, but the Gamecocks have replaced him with another player that’s similar. (link)
Football: What Coleman Hutzler likes about the two linebacker signees – South Carolina inked two linebackers in its 2019 class, one of which is already on campus and going through spring practice. (link)
Football: The Insider Report – Behind-the-scenes information from South Carolina's spring football practice sessions. (subscription)
Steve Taneyhill announced he will play in the alumni football game, which takes place an hour prior to the spring game (April 6).
Women's Basketball: Sweet 16 prep continues – Dawn Staley discussed USC's preparations for Baylor, her memories of Greensboro, and a big week for some incoming recruits. (link)
Women's Basketball: Signee Brea Beal named Illinois Ms. Basketball– For the third-straight season, Brea Beal was named Ms. Basketball of Illinois. She is the second three-time Ms. Basketball winner in the state's history, joining Candace Parker. (link)
Softball: Gamecocks defeat Georgia State – USC jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 7-3 victory over Georgia State. (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks down Coastal Carolina – A win over Coastal Carolina at home Wednesday marked USC's ninth victory in the last 10 matches. (link)
Track & Field: Gamecocks head to Gainesville for Florida Relays – The outdoor track & field season kicks into high gear this week as the Gamecocks make their annual trip to the Florida Relays. (link)
Baseball America's latest NCAA tournament projections are out, and it has South Carolina as a No. 3 seed in the Chapel Hill regional with UNC, Campbell and Coastal Carolina.
Baseball – The first 3,000 fans at Friday's game will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Founders Federal Credit Union.
Thorne recruiting would-be educators to USC – Preston Thorne, recruited to the University of South Carolina nearly two decades ago, is now persuading a new generation to choose the Gamecocks. (link)
Tennessee fired women's basketball coach Holly Warlick after seven seasons.
Alabama hired Nate Oats, who led Buffalo to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons, as its new men's basketball coach.
– Jackson Fields
4. This Date in Gamecock History
March 28, 2009 – Thirty-nine runs. Forty-three hits. The Gamecocks knocked off Kentucky, 20-19, in one of the wildest offensive outbursts in Carolina history.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
5. Birthdays and Celebrations!
• Christian Walker – A standout player at Kennedy-Kenrick High, Walker was dead set on becoming a Gamecock in high school. He made an instant impact at USC, starting 51 games as a true freshman on the 2010 national championship team. Walker was named Freshman All-America, SEC All-Freshman and to the CWS All-Tournament team after hitting .327 and driving in 51. Walker was one of the leaders of the 2011 squad that repeated as national champions, hitting .358, slugging .554 and being named second-team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Defensive team. He would go on to earn All-SEC honors in 2012, hitting .312 with 11 homers, before turning pro. Walker has seen time in the majors with the Diamondbacks and Orioles.
• Alex Farotto (baseball/pitcher, 2006-09)
• T.J. Hines (football/running back, 1997-99)
• Ralph Pace (soccer/midfielder, 2005-06)
• Daccus Turman (football/running back, 2002-05)
Gamecock Central birthdays
• @jwt03 (member since 2001)
• @sucher33 (member since 2014)
If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Key Events (Countdown) ⌚
• April 6 – Football: Spring game (9 days)
• April 6 – Football: Alumni Game (9)
• April 6 – DJ Swearinger Celebrity Basketball Game (9)
• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (13)
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour (26)
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour (27)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (28)
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour (32)
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour (33)
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour (35)
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour (40)
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour (41)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (41)
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour (42)
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour (47)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (54)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (109)
• July 20 – Muschamp Ladies Football Clinic (114)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (156)
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.
__________________________________
Thank you for reading Gamecock Nation Today and being a part of the Gamecock Central community.
Customize: You get to choose which breaking news alerts and newsletters to receive from Gamecock Central.
Do you have something exciting you'd like to have mentioned in this newsletter? Click here or send an email to shoe@gamecockcentral.com.
– Brian Shoemaker
Celebrating 20 years! Established in 1998, Gamecock Central provides in-depth and insider coverage of Gamecock sports and recruiting, and is home to The Insiders Forum. Not a member of Gamecock Central? Subscribe here. Read what our members think about Gamecock Central.
NEED HELP? If you have a Gamecock Central account (free or pay) and cannot remember your password, please go to this link and enter your email address. If you don't receive an email from Rivals within five minutes, please alert me at shoe@gamecockcentral.com. The password needs to be at least nine characters, including at least one number.
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecock Nation Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Sign up here.
------------------------
Gamecock Nation Today
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Good morning and Happy Thursday!
Yesterday's highlights!
- Football picked up a commitment from Javion Cohen
- Softball beat Georgia State, 7-3
- Beach Volleyball beat Coastal Carolina, 4-1
- 10 am – Swimming & Diving: Men's NCAA Championships Day 2, prelims
- 11 am – Football: Assistant coach Mike Peterson speaks with the media following spring practice
- 12:30 pm – Baseball: Mark Kingston, players speak with the media to preview the Auburn series
- 5 pm – Track & Field: Florida Relays Day 1
- 6 pm – Swimming & Diving: Men's NCAA Championships Day 2, finals, live video
- 7 pm – Carolina Calls: Featuring baseball coach Mark Kingston
Javion Cohen/Credit: Rivals.com
1. Commitment Corner: Javion Cohen
South Carolina picked up its fifth commitment of the 2020 class Wednesday when Phenix City (Ala.) Central three-star OT Javion Cohen announced his pledge to the Gamecocks.
Bio: 6-foot-5, 275-pounds. No. 26 prospect in Alabama. No. 58 offensive tackle in his class.
Recruiter of record: Offensive line coach Eric Wolford
Offers: LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Missouri, among others.
Why South Carolina? "For me, communication is key. Coach Muschamp and Coach Wolford stayed in contact with me and I have been talking to them every day. I like the program, the strength and conditioning program and there is a real opportunity for me to play there. I like everything about South Carolina. Them playing in the SEC stands out too. It was extremely hard to get to this point, but I know I chose the right school at the right time."
Extra: Inside the commitment – We take a look at how the Javion Cohen commitment keeps with the trends we've seen from coach Eric Wolford. (subscription)
– Wes Mitchell
Brad Johnson/Credit: Chris Gillespie
2. Don’t forget about these Gamecocks
South Carolina returns some known commodities and impact players for the 2019 season, but also has some key holes to fill in all facets of the game. Those roles will be filled by a combination of newcomers and returning players looking to take the next step in their development. Many of those have grabbed headlines and been the subject of analysis this offseason, but there is a group perhaps flying under the radar in terms of potential impact. Here, we take a look at five.
WR Josh Vann
Don’t let a poor performance in the Belk Bowl last season diminish the fact that Vann is a young player with talent. A former four-star prospect who was coveted by UGA and other major programs, Vann still saw time as a true freshman despite enrolling in the summer and missing practice time recovering from shoulder surgery. There’s a big void in the playmaking corps with Deebo Samuel no longer around. Folks are still mentioning Vann in terms of his potential to step up at receiver and on special teams, but perhaps not enough.
BUCK Brad Johnson
He played over 90 snaps, plus special teams, against Clemson despite battling illness all week leading up to the game. That was due to USC’s injury situation at the time, but it illustrates Johnson’s competitive nature. The Pendleton native is a young true junior; he will not turn 19 until August. He’ll play behind D.J. Wonnum at BUCK, but should still pull down plenty of snaps and be a key special teams player. This could be a year he takes another step.
LB Ernest Jones
With T.J. Brunson sidelined this spring, Jones has received a bunch of repetitions at the MIKE linebacker spot. He played in a handful of games last season as a true freshman and is someone the coaching staff has always liked for his physical nature and intelligence. USC’s play on defense needs to be better across the board, and this is a position that some have pointed to as one that must improve in 2019. Having a healthier and more productive defensive line in front of them will help, but another year in the system for someone like Jones should not be discounted.
S J.T. Ibe
USC has some players in the secondary who are name recognizable by this point, but Ibe is someone likely deserving of more attention. He was a starter to open last season after rapidly ascending the depth chart, then went down to injury. Now in his sixth college season, there’s a good chance he’s a starter once again at one of the safety spots. USC’s healthier at the position now and the competition will continue, but Ibe’s been a productive player when given the chance.
TE Kyle Markway
It’s easy to see what Kiel Pollard can do in the passing game or to be captivated by Evan Hinson’s potential as a downfield threat. Markway is also a reliable pass-catcher, can make teams pay if he’s left open, and will stick his face in the fan and block. He’s a key contributor on special teams as well.
– Chris Clark
Rodricus Fitten/Credit: Chris Gillespie
3. This, that, and the other
Football: Rodricus Fitten 'going to be a problem' for other teams – South Carolina lost one of its primary pass rushers heading into the season with Bryson Allen-Williams graduating, but the Gamecocks have replaced him with another player that’s similar. (link)
Football: What Coleman Hutzler likes about the two linebacker signees – South Carolina inked two linebackers in its 2019 class, one of which is already on campus and going through spring practice. (link)
Football: The Insider Report – Behind-the-scenes information from South Carolina's spring football practice sessions. (subscription)
Steve Taneyhill announced he will play in the alumni football game, which takes place an hour prior to the spring game (April 6).
Women's Basketball: Sweet 16 prep continues – Dawn Staley discussed USC's preparations for Baylor, her memories of Greensboro, and a big week for some incoming recruits. (link)
Women's Basketball: Signee Brea Beal named Illinois Ms. Basketball– For the third-straight season, Brea Beal was named Ms. Basketball of Illinois. She is the second three-time Ms. Basketball winner in the state's history, joining Candace Parker. (link)
Softball: Gamecocks defeat Georgia State – USC jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 7-3 victory over Georgia State. (link)
Beach Volleyball: Gamecocks down Coastal Carolina – A win over Coastal Carolina at home Wednesday marked USC's ninth victory in the last 10 matches. (link)
Track & Field: Gamecocks head to Gainesville for Florida Relays – The outdoor track & field season kicks into high gear this week as the Gamecocks make their annual trip to the Florida Relays. (link)
Baseball America's latest NCAA tournament projections are out, and it has South Carolina as a No. 3 seed in the Chapel Hill regional with UNC, Campbell and Coastal Carolina.
Baseball – The first 3,000 fans at Friday's game will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Founders Federal Credit Union.
Thorne recruiting would-be educators to USC – Preston Thorne, recruited to the University of South Carolina nearly two decades ago, is now persuading a new generation to choose the Gamecocks. (link)
Tennessee fired women's basketball coach Holly Warlick after seven seasons.
Alabama hired Nate Oats, who led Buffalo to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons, as its new men's basketball coach.
– Jackson Fields
4. This Date in Gamecock History
March 28, 2009 – Thirty-nine runs. Forty-three hits. The Gamecocks knocked off Kentucky, 20-19, in one of the wildest offensive outbursts in Carolina history.
- USC jumped out to a 9-0 lead, scoring three in the first behind a two-run single from Parker Bangs and an RBI single by Justin Dalles.
- USC scored six more in the second, including back-to-back homers by Andrew Crisp and Dalles and another round-tripper from Nick Ebert.
- The lead swelled to 20-7 by the middle of the seventh, but Kentucky rallied, scoring 12 runs in the final three innings.
- Alex Farotto gave up a home run to make the score 20-19 but got Wildcat RF Cody Farris to pop out to end the game.
- Farotto celebrated his birthday by earning his fifth save of the year, while Sam Dyson improved to 4-0 with the win.
- Jackie Bradley Jr., Whit Merrifield, Crisp and Dalles all had four hits, while Ebert led the RBI parade with four.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
5. Birthdays and Celebrations!
• Christian Walker – A standout player at Kennedy-Kenrick High, Walker was dead set on becoming a Gamecock in high school. He made an instant impact at USC, starting 51 games as a true freshman on the 2010 national championship team. Walker was named Freshman All-America, SEC All-Freshman and to the CWS All-Tournament team after hitting .327 and driving in 51. Walker was one of the leaders of the 2011 squad that repeated as national champions, hitting .358, slugging .554 and being named second-team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Defensive team. He would go on to earn All-SEC honors in 2012, hitting .312 with 11 homers, before turning pro. Walker has seen time in the majors with the Diamondbacks and Orioles.
• Alex Farotto (baseball/pitcher, 2006-09)
• T.J. Hines (football/running back, 1997-99)
• Ralph Pace (soccer/midfielder, 2005-06)
• Daccus Turman (football/running back, 2002-05)
Gamecock Central birthdays
• @jwt03 (member since 2001)
• @sucher33 (member since 2014)
If you have a Gamecock Central account - free or subscription - you can add your birthday here.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Key Events (Countdown) ⌚
• April 6 – Football: Spring game (9 days)
• April 6 – Football: Alumni Game (9)
• April 6 – DJ Swearinger Celebrity Basketball Game (9)
• April 10 – Give 4 Garnet (13)
• April 23 – Augusta, Spurs Up Tour (26)
• April 24 – Midlands, Spurs Up Tour (27)
• April 25 – NFL Draft begins (28)
• April 29 – Lancaster, Spurs Up Tour (32)
• April 30 – Greenville, Spurs Up Tour (33)
• May 2 – York, Spurs Up Tour (35)
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour (40)
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour (41)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (41)
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour (42)
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour (47)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (54)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (109)
• July 20 – Muschamp Ladies Football Clinic (114)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (156)
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.
__________________________________
Thank you for reading Gamecock Nation Today and being a part of the Gamecock Central community.
Customize: You get to choose which breaking news alerts and newsletters to receive from Gamecock Central.
Do you have something exciting you'd like to have mentioned in this newsletter? Click here or send an email to shoe@gamecockcentral.com.
– Brian Shoemaker
Celebrating 20 years! Established in 1998, Gamecock Central provides in-depth and insider coverage of Gamecock sports and recruiting, and is home to The Insiders Forum. Not a member of Gamecock Central? Subscribe here. Read what our members think about Gamecock Central.
NEED HELP? If you have a Gamecock Central account (free or pay) and cannot remember your password, please go to this link and enter your email address. If you don't receive an email from Rivals within five minutes, please alert me at shoe@gamecockcentral.com. The password needs to be at least nine characters, including at least one number.
