South Carolina remains in a good position with four-star defensive tackle target Rick Sandidge. As it was put to me, USC is “sitting pretty” in his recruitment, along with Georgia. USC, Georgia, and Michigan should be considered the three front-runners for the North Carolina product at this time, with everything I’ve heard pointing to South Carolina remaining the team to beat.
As we’ve documented, this is not a process that is going to end anytime soon; USC’s staff will have to see it through until at least December, it appears. Unless something changes, a full slate of official visits is planned. I’ve learned one that is already on the books; Sandidge is planning to officially visit Penn State in September. An unofficial visit to Chapel Hill will also take place that month.
I’ve received some questions lately about Tennessee defensive line commitment Dorian Gerald as it relates to South Carolina. After he committed to the Vols, we noted that he had remained in contact with the Gamecock staff, and that has persisted. It’s too soon to be able to project where things may head, if USC’s staff will bring him in for an official visit, etc. It is a possibility and it’s worth noting that Gerald was telling people in the 48 hours prior to his pledge to Tennessee that he was going to South Carolina. In short, it’s a situation we’re keeping an eye on here.
USC commitment Dantrell Barkley is looking at making his official visit to Columbia the weekend of November 25, which is the Gamecocks’ home tilt with rival Clemson. That will be in advance of Barkley’s projected early enrollment at USC.
Several folks I’ve spoken with believe that South Carolina’s position with four-star linebacker Channing Tindall remains favorable. Tindall plans on deciding no later than mid-September, and South Carolina could have three games under its belt in the 2017 season at that point if Tindall announces after USC’s home opener against Kentucky on the 16th. Make no mistake, it would help the Gamecocks close the deal if it could get off to a good start. Tindall has said numerous times that he’s going to be paying attention to how his suitors start off the season. To be fair, that’s not necessarily record – he wants to look at the linebackers and how they play and how each defense looks. Still, USC could help its cause by getting off to a solid start in 2017.
On that same note, this nugget will not get me nominated for a Pulitzer, but I had one source note to me that South Carolina’s staff believed that this season could be a pivotal one in terms of being able to break through in recruiting by showing progress. As it was put to me, a good season could be the difference between a top 10-15 type class and a top 25 type class.
Some team notes here…
One young player I don’t feel is getting enough recognition is cornerback Tavyn Jackson. When he arrived at USC he was around 175 pounds, and is now on the edge of 190. I’m told he had a good summer in the weight room and during the player-run-practice sessions, where he got to test his skill set against Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith, and the like. There’s always a transition from that to the pads, so time will continue to tell there if Jackson could be ready to see the field in year one. From what I’ve seen and heard, he will at least have a chance. The staff is looking for some guys that like to tackle, and despite not being the biggest corner, Jackson is a willing participant there.
Wes hit on this in his Monday Practice Insider, but I’ll echo him: the returns have been good on freshman linebacker Sherrod Greene. Will Muschamp has been quick to point out that USC has no depth behind its three scholarship starters. That means newcomers are playing at linebacker and Greene seems to be a lock to get on the field. He was a guy that USC was completely sold on during the recruiting process. He wasn’t a 6-foot-4, readymade looking guy, but turned in a showing at camp that I was told was among the most impressive USC’s staff has seen in that setting.
There’s a lot of talk about Ty’Son Williams breaking into the running back group in 2017, and that’s justified. I’ve had some folks caution me not to forget about Rico Dowdle, however. There’s a lot of competition in that running back group and Dowdle is still someone that some inside the program consider the best of the bunch. Playing time will sort itself out based on who’s the best guy in camp and who performs the best under the lights. I saw Dowdle, who looks even bigger this season, pancake newcomer linebacker Eldridge Thompson in practice on Monday morning.
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As we’ve documented, this is not a process that is going to end anytime soon; USC’s staff will have to see it through until at least December, it appears. Unless something changes, a full slate of official visits is planned. I’ve learned one that is already on the books; Sandidge is planning to officially visit Penn State in September. An unofficial visit to Chapel Hill will also take place that month.
I’ve received some questions lately about Tennessee defensive line commitment Dorian Gerald as it relates to South Carolina. After he committed to the Vols, we noted that he had remained in contact with the Gamecock staff, and that has persisted. It’s too soon to be able to project where things may head, if USC’s staff will bring him in for an official visit, etc. It is a possibility and it’s worth noting that Gerald was telling people in the 48 hours prior to his pledge to Tennessee that he was going to South Carolina. In short, it’s a situation we’re keeping an eye on here.
USC commitment Dantrell Barkley is looking at making his official visit to Columbia the weekend of November 25, which is the Gamecocks’ home tilt with rival Clemson. That will be in advance of Barkley’s projected early enrollment at USC.
Several folks I’ve spoken with believe that South Carolina’s position with four-star linebacker Channing Tindall remains favorable. Tindall plans on deciding no later than mid-September, and South Carolina could have three games under its belt in the 2017 season at that point if Tindall announces after USC’s home opener against Kentucky on the 16th. Make no mistake, it would help the Gamecocks close the deal if it could get off to a good start. Tindall has said numerous times that he’s going to be paying attention to how his suitors start off the season. To be fair, that’s not necessarily record – he wants to look at the linebackers and how they play and how each defense looks. Still, USC could help its cause by getting off to a solid start in 2017.
On that same note, this nugget will not get me nominated for a Pulitzer, but I had one source note to me that South Carolina’s staff believed that this season could be a pivotal one in terms of being able to break through in recruiting by showing progress. As it was put to me, a good season could be the difference between a top 10-15 type class and a top 25 type class.
Some team notes here…
One young player I don’t feel is getting enough recognition is cornerback Tavyn Jackson. When he arrived at USC he was around 175 pounds, and is now on the edge of 190. I’m told he had a good summer in the weight room and during the player-run-practice sessions, where he got to test his skill set against Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith, and the like. There’s always a transition from that to the pads, so time will continue to tell there if Jackson could be ready to see the field in year one. From what I’ve seen and heard, he will at least have a chance. The staff is looking for some guys that like to tackle, and despite not being the biggest corner, Jackson is a willing participant there.
Wes hit on this in his Monday Practice Insider, but I’ll echo him: the returns have been good on freshman linebacker Sherrod Greene. Will Muschamp has been quick to point out that USC has no depth behind its three scholarship starters. That means newcomers are playing at linebacker and Greene seems to be a lock to get on the field. He was a guy that USC was completely sold on during the recruiting process. He wasn’t a 6-foot-4, readymade looking guy, but turned in a showing at camp that I was told was among the most impressive USC’s staff has seen in that setting.
There’s a lot of talk about Ty’Son Williams breaking into the running back group in 2017, and that’s justified. I’ve had some folks caution me not to forget about Rico Dowdle, however. There’s a lot of competition in that running back group and Dowdle is still someone that some inside the program consider the best of the bunch. Playing time will sort itself out based on who’s the best guy in camp and who performs the best under the lights. I saw Dowdle, who looks even bigger this season, pancake newcomer linebacker Eldridge Thompson in practice on Monday morning.
ALSO: more episodes | GC Radio app: App Store - Google Play |
Subscribe to GCR Podcast: RSS feed - iTunes - PlayerFM - SoundCloud - Stitcher -iHeartRadio - Spreaker
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