From Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell, Inside the 2018 class is a multi-part look behind the scenes at each prospect that South Carolina signed in its 2018 class plus insight on several that the Gamecocks missed on. Enjoy the read then feel free to ask any questions below.
Rick Sandidge
The charge to land four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandige was led by area recruiter Bobby Bentley and head coach Will Muschamp, but it was the full package of what South Carolina had to offer that led Sandidge and his family to the Gamecocks.
As we detailed after he committed, it was ultimately South Carolina's in-home visit with the Sandidges that sealed him for Carolina. The staff answered every single question the family had, and laid out not only their plans for Rick -- but also the who, the how and the why each portion of that plan would be executed.
That included: the job that Jeff Dillman does with strength and conditioning and how he'll get Sandidge into his best playing shape. The job that Kristin Coggin has done with helping players learn to eat right and a specific plan for Sandidge. And the job that Maria Hickman has done with the program and the plan for Sandidge. Those specific details, tailored specifically to Sandidge, stood out to the family. That final presentation helped put a bow on what was South Carolina's pitch for Sandidge the entire time: everything you need is right down the road in Columbia and that there may be other schools that are a good fit, but this is the perfect fit.
Another portion of his recruitment that I don't think we've focused on previously was how the group of current (and former) Carolina players' parents made Rick's mom, Keshia, feel comfortable. From Lattimore's mother, to Bryson's mom Darnisha, to the Wonnums' mother Consuella, the players' parents are close and support each other and that family atmosphere went a long way with the family. Keshia was specifically told the story of how they supported Lattimore's mother emotionally and in helping send out 'Thank you' cards from the family following his injury.
Sandidge told Bobby Bentley early Monday morning prior to signing day that he was coming to Carolina and sent in his national letter of intent Wednesday morning, ending a two-year process between the Gamecocks and Sandidge.
Dakereon Joyner
Will Muschamp’s to do list was substantial when he arrived at USC in December 2015. Among many other things, he had to build a staff and finish out his first (the 2016) recruiting class in a matter of two months. He also had to look ahead and play catch up with prospects that were underclassmen.
One notable prospect that fit that bill was Fort Dorchester’s Dakereon Joyner, who was offered early in the process by Steve Spurrier’s staff as an athlete. In short, South Carolina had no chance here until Muschamp’s arrival. The new staff prioritized Joyner and put him on the board as a quarterback, quickly making a move for his services. In January, Joyner made contact with the new staff and took a visit to Columbia that got the ball rolling, one that changed his perspective of the program. From there, he was a fixture at recruiting events the next few months into the summer.
GamecockCentral.com traveled down to Fort Dorchester the day before signing day in February 2016 to gather information on eventual Clemson signee John Simpson, and spoke to Joyner while there. Walking away from that visit, South Carolina was in the best position. Joyner pumped the brakes a bit during the spring of 2016 and things evened out, but USC was back in the driver’s seat in the summer and during the football season.
From then all the way up until his decision on Father’s Day 2017, we documented that South Carolina held the edge. NC State was the other finalist. The process ended up being extended for a while due to Joyner’s understandable desire to honor his late father by rendering a decision on that special day. But for quite a while, this one was not in any doubt. Will Muschamp handled Joyner’s recruitment personally, a touch that also helped him land another Lowcountry four-star in OrTre Smith the previous cycle.
Maxwell Iyama
Four-star offensive lineman Maxwell Iyama, who is already on campus for the Gamecocks, came on board as a bit of a surprise commit last April. Iyama had visited South Carolina the week prior when he decided that's where he wanted to be and then took a couple of visits during the following week to be sure, before deciding to go public with his commitment.
South Carolina was the first Power 5 offer for Iyama and a big get out of Tennessee, where Bobby Bentley has started to make Carolina relevant. Tennessee is loaded this year as well and the Gamecocks will continue to try to make noise there, especially with a down year in-state.
Iyama's relationship with Eric Wolford was the key here as he bought into Wolford's vision for the line and the progress of the program.
Iyama also held offers from Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Memphis. His recruitment was rather straightforward, though Georgia did continue recruiting him after his commitment and tried to get him on campus, but Iyama remained loyal to Carolina.
Rosendo Louis
Things ended up coming full circle in the recruitment of South Florida linebacker prospect Rosendo Louis. The Gamecocks were the early leader in the spring of 2017, a time in which the staff’s board at linebacker and with numbers overall was still evolving. Louis was on campus during the spring in Columbia for a visit and USC’s staff worked itself into a strong position.
The feeling was that Louis was an early commitment candidate, but we documented that it would more than likely be a recruitment that would come down to signing day regardless; Louis was expected to keep the lines of communication open. As it ended up, Louis secured a spot on FSU’s commitment list that summer.
Fast forward to later in the process, and USC’s staff and Louis circled back to one another. Florida State underwent a coaching change and the Gamecock staff wanted the physical defender in the 2018 class. Louis took his official visit to Columbia the weekend prior to the early signing period in December, and the Gamecocks were able to win out for his services. There were positive signs during the official visit weekend, but FSU did not go away quietly.
Louis’ inner circle convened a meeting the night before the early signing day on December 20 in an effort to hash out the decision. One aspect that needed to be addressed was the status of USC defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson, who was (interestingly) pursued by Florida State for its defensive coordinator position. Louis wanted to be comfortable that Robinson was staying put in Columbia, which he was with a contract extension and raise forthcoming in the near future, as he had built a good rapport with Robinson and the USC staff.
ALSO SEE: Inside the 2018 class: Part I | Inside the 2018 class: Part II
Rick Sandidge
The charge to land four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandige was led by area recruiter Bobby Bentley and head coach Will Muschamp, but it was the full package of what South Carolina had to offer that led Sandidge and his family to the Gamecocks.
As we detailed after he committed, it was ultimately South Carolina's in-home visit with the Sandidges that sealed him for Carolina. The staff answered every single question the family had, and laid out not only their plans for Rick -- but also the who, the how and the why each portion of that plan would be executed.
That included: the job that Jeff Dillman does with strength and conditioning and how he'll get Sandidge into his best playing shape. The job that Kristin Coggin has done with helping players learn to eat right and a specific plan for Sandidge. And the job that Maria Hickman has done with the program and the plan for Sandidge. Those specific details, tailored specifically to Sandidge, stood out to the family. That final presentation helped put a bow on what was South Carolina's pitch for Sandidge the entire time: everything you need is right down the road in Columbia and that there may be other schools that are a good fit, but this is the perfect fit.
Another portion of his recruitment that I don't think we've focused on previously was how the group of current (and former) Carolina players' parents made Rick's mom, Keshia, feel comfortable. From Lattimore's mother, to Bryson's mom Darnisha, to the Wonnums' mother Consuella, the players' parents are close and support each other and that family atmosphere went a long way with the family. Keshia was specifically told the story of how they supported Lattimore's mother emotionally and in helping send out 'Thank you' cards from the family following his injury.
Sandidge told Bobby Bentley early Monday morning prior to signing day that he was coming to Carolina and sent in his national letter of intent Wednesday morning, ending a two-year process between the Gamecocks and Sandidge.
Dakereon Joyner
Will Muschamp’s to do list was substantial when he arrived at USC in December 2015. Among many other things, he had to build a staff and finish out his first (the 2016) recruiting class in a matter of two months. He also had to look ahead and play catch up with prospects that were underclassmen.
One notable prospect that fit that bill was Fort Dorchester’s Dakereon Joyner, who was offered early in the process by Steve Spurrier’s staff as an athlete. In short, South Carolina had no chance here until Muschamp’s arrival. The new staff prioritized Joyner and put him on the board as a quarterback, quickly making a move for his services. In January, Joyner made contact with the new staff and took a visit to Columbia that got the ball rolling, one that changed his perspective of the program. From there, he was a fixture at recruiting events the next few months into the summer.
GamecockCentral.com traveled down to Fort Dorchester the day before signing day in February 2016 to gather information on eventual Clemson signee John Simpson, and spoke to Joyner while there. Walking away from that visit, South Carolina was in the best position. Joyner pumped the brakes a bit during the spring of 2016 and things evened out, but USC was back in the driver’s seat in the summer and during the football season.
From then all the way up until his decision on Father’s Day 2017, we documented that South Carolina held the edge. NC State was the other finalist. The process ended up being extended for a while due to Joyner’s understandable desire to honor his late father by rendering a decision on that special day. But for quite a while, this one was not in any doubt. Will Muschamp handled Joyner’s recruitment personally, a touch that also helped him land another Lowcountry four-star in OrTre Smith the previous cycle.
Maxwell Iyama
Four-star offensive lineman Maxwell Iyama, who is already on campus for the Gamecocks, came on board as a bit of a surprise commit last April. Iyama had visited South Carolina the week prior when he decided that's where he wanted to be and then took a couple of visits during the following week to be sure, before deciding to go public with his commitment.
South Carolina was the first Power 5 offer for Iyama and a big get out of Tennessee, where Bobby Bentley has started to make Carolina relevant. Tennessee is loaded this year as well and the Gamecocks will continue to try to make noise there, especially with a down year in-state.
Iyama's relationship with Eric Wolford was the key here as he bought into Wolford's vision for the line and the progress of the program.
Iyama also held offers from Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Memphis. His recruitment was rather straightforward, though Georgia did continue recruiting him after his commitment and tried to get him on campus, but Iyama remained loyal to Carolina.
Rosendo Louis
Things ended up coming full circle in the recruitment of South Florida linebacker prospect Rosendo Louis. The Gamecocks were the early leader in the spring of 2017, a time in which the staff’s board at linebacker and with numbers overall was still evolving. Louis was on campus during the spring in Columbia for a visit and USC’s staff worked itself into a strong position.
The feeling was that Louis was an early commitment candidate, but we documented that it would more than likely be a recruitment that would come down to signing day regardless; Louis was expected to keep the lines of communication open. As it ended up, Louis secured a spot on FSU’s commitment list that summer.
Fast forward to later in the process, and USC’s staff and Louis circled back to one another. Florida State underwent a coaching change and the Gamecock staff wanted the physical defender in the 2018 class. Louis took his official visit to Columbia the weekend prior to the early signing period in December, and the Gamecocks were able to win out for his services. There were positive signs during the official visit weekend, but FSU did not go away quietly.
Louis’ inner circle convened a meeting the night before the early signing day on December 20 in an effort to hash out the decision. One aspect that needed to be addressed was the status of USC defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson, who was (interestingly) pursued by Florida State for its defensive coordinator position. Louis wanted to be comfortable that Robinson was staying put in Columbia, which he was with a contract extension and raise forthcoming in the near future, as he had built a good rapport with Robinson and the USC staff.
ALSO SEE: Inside the 2018 class: Part I | Inside the 2018 class: Part II
