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Space is becoming limited in South Carolina’s 2021 class, but the Gamecock staff continues working on multiple targets that are important to closing out the class in a strong fashion.
After signing a three-back class for 2020, Carolina holds a commitment in this class from Georgia’s Caleb McDowell.
USC likes another Georgia product – Antario Brown – a lot, and would like to try to fit him into the class. The staff is still awaiting word on the status of junior college product ZaQuandre White’s qualification; as Wes Mitchell has already reported, July 24 is a key date there.
Carolina came into the 2021 class looking to sign a pair of offensive linemen and hit that number after Jordan Davis and JonDarius Morgan made their pledges. It seems, at this point, less likely that Carolina takes another at this point. A couple of JUCO options (Anthony Belton and Caleb Etienne) will stay on the board just in case.
Mississippi product Jalen Shead recently included the Gamecocks in his top five; for some time we have been tracking legacy prospect Bryson Nesbit as well as Florida’s Michael Trigg.
If South Carolina does not land a preferred candidate from this list, odds would favor the staff just holding over a tight end slot until the 2021 class.
The Gamecocks have mixed in a variety of “athlete” types in this class, with some expected to begin their career as wide receivers in Columbia.
Three main prospects left on the board here are true wideouts for the Gamecocks, and those players are Tennessee commitment Jordan Mosley, Kansas pledge Keon Coleman, and Alabama product Malachi Bennett.
The latter was set to make a verbal commitment on Friday, with Ole Miss the expected pick due to the simple fact that Bennett has visited there previously. Bennett recently announced that he needs more time, and that’s presumably on account of him still thinking about the Gamecocks. It’s believed that’s USC’s staff has the best relationship with him, he simply has not been able to visit.
Coleman continues to communicate with the Gamecocks, and the same for Mosley, who’s also still talking with Penn State and UCF. Carolina will continue working all these players and will see how the chips fall.
USC wants to add another linebacker to the class, and North Carolina’s Jordan Poole remains the primary focus there.
There are others, such as Georgia’s Thomas Davis, who recently included South Carolina in his final three alongside Florida State and Miami. The Canes have seemed to have some traction with the former Mississippi State commitment.
Will Muschamp and company would, of course, love to add Gaffney’s Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to the mix along the defensive line in this class. The in-state product released a top six this week that included the Gamecocks as expected, and he also noted that he wants to commit “soon.” South Carolina appears to be in a favorable spot here, once Ingram-Dawkins decides to announce something on the commitment front.
To go along with junior college product Marcellas Dial, USC also wants to take a couple more defensive backs in this class.
Carolina recently extended an offer to Atlanta’s Khalil Anderson, a Pitt pledge who’s stock has been on the rise as of late, but he says he’s solid to the Panthers at this time.
Others to watch include Javon Bullard, Damond Harmon (Oklahoma is the leader heading into his August 1 announcement), Donte Balfour, Khyree Jackson, Dink Jackson, and Nyland Green.
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