Today's Insider Report is brought to you by Post Up Careers! Did you know that you have about 6 seconds to make an impression on a hiring manager when applying for a job? And that your resume is the marketing piece that you must make sure is up to date, highlights your skills and achievements, and will get you past applicant tracking systems?
*** Virginia defensive tackle D'Andre Martin has remained in regular communication with the Gamecock staff as of late and is expected to ink with a program during the early signing period on December 15.
Carolina's been in good shape with the recent Virginia Tech decommitment. New Hokies head coach Brent Pry is keeping on defensive line coach JC Price in Blacksburg, causing questions as to whether or not that would help them get Martin back in the fold.
In the aftermath of that move, things still appear to look good for the Gamecocks.
*** Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White traveled to Mississippi back on Thursday for an in-home visit with linebacker target Stone Blanton.
The high three-star confirmed to GamecockCentral.com that he indeed plans on signing during the early date. Both in-state programs (Mississippi State and Ole Miss) remain in the mix, as does South Carolina.
For the Gamecocks, the key is whether or not the distance from Mississippi can be overcome, as Carolina is the geographic outlier within Blanton's options.
We very much get the sense that Blanton has not finalized a choice at this juncture.
*** It's very difficult to get a gauge on what four-star rush end target Jaishawn Barham is going to ultimately do.
Rivals.com's Adam Friedman has come away with the impression lately that it's primarily a Penn State/South Carolina battle for Barham, particularly after Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for Southern Cal.
For Carolina, position coach/lead recruiter Mike Peterson was in Maryland on Tuesday to meet with Barham, while Shane Beamer has not yet utilized his one allotted contact period visit.
This one will remain a waiting game down the stretch, although all signs point to South Carolina have a legitimate chance here.
*** As Wes Mitchell reported on Monday night, the next step in the recruitment of four-star wide receiver Antonio Williams is to wait and see whether or not he takes an official visit to Clemson this weekend. Tiger coaches dropped by Dutch Fork on Monday, and Shane Beamer's final in-home is expected to be closer to the end of the contact period.
The NCAA recruiting dead period (no on-campus or off-campus visits) begins on Monday, December 13, and the early signing day kicks off on Wednesday, December 15.
A leftover related nugget from the weekend: South Carolina had a heavy presence all weekend at all the games, with every on-field coach making an appearance or multiple appearances at games throughout the weekend. Clemson did not have any representation at the five SCHSL state championship games all weekend, save for watching from the stands as parents during Daniel's win over Camden.
Justin Stepp was glued to Williams' game, standing in the respective end zone when Dutch Fork was driving on offense toward him. He watched as Williams scored a touchdown at one point. Stepp spent plenty of time talking with former Gamecock wideout Jason Barnes, Williams' former position coach and trainer who's now on staff at Georgia Military College.
Prior to the 5A game, Dutch Fork alumnus Erik Kimrey presented a framed jersey to the mother of the late Jack Alkhatib, a Silver Foxes offensive lineman who tragically passed away earlier this year.
It's the little things.
*** Let's move on to another in-state talent. With the Gamecocks' recent offer to Zavier Short out of Chapin, things were shaken up for the Appalachian State commitment. At last check, Short told us that he wasn't sure about any visit plans or which direction he may ultimately go in terms of staying or flipping.
Staffers Justin Watts and Pat Washington were in Chapin yesterday to meet with Short.
While the commitment to App is still there and it would be difficult for Short to switch, there's no doubt based on what Short has told us in the past and from what we have heard that Carolina's offer was an eye-opener and one that could prove tough to turn down.
We'll keep everyone posted on any developments here.
*** We will close with a note on a current Gamecock player. We have received some questions on wide receiver Josh Vann and why he did not attend the team's awards banquet on Sunday night.
While there aren't any further details to pass along, we're told Vann went back home for a bit.
We have documented that Vann's breakout season, as well as some legitimate NFL Draft buzz, was going to have him in position to make a decision on staying or leaving since he has another year of eligibility.
Vann has picked up some mid to late round buzz and would have all-star game invitations should he choose to go that route. We can report that some folks in the scouting world have been under the impression that Vann is leaning towards returning to Columbia. However, we were also told on Monday night by a source familiar with Vann's thinking that he's still working through the process and that he has a lot to consider.
In short: no resolution yet as to his future. But what we are hearing does drive home that there's a decision to make and the opportunity to return has been a viable option.
*** Virginia defensive tackle D'Andre Martin has remained in regular communication with the Gamecock staff as of late and is expected to ink with a program during the early signing period on December 15.
Carolina's been in good shape with the recent Virginia Tech decommitment. New Hokies head coach Brent Pry is keeping on defensive line coach JC Price in Blacksburg, causing questions as to whether or not that would help them get Martin back in the fold.
In the aftermath of that move, things still appear to look good for the Gamecocks.
*** Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White traveled to Mississippi back on Thursday for an in-home visit with linebacker target Stone Blanton.
The high three-star confirmed to GamecockCentral.com that he indeed plans on signing during the early date. Both in-state programs (Mississippi State and Ole Miss) remain in the mix, as does South Carolina.
For the Gamecocks, the key is whether or not the distance from Mississippi can be overcome, as Carolina is the geographic outlier within Blanton's options.
We very much get the sense that Blanton has not finalized a choice at this juncture.
*** It's very difficult to get a gauge on what four-star rush end target Jaishawn Barham is going to ultimately do.
Rivals.com's Adam Friedman has come away with the impression lately that it's primarily a Penn State/South Carolina battle for Barham, particularly after Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for Southern Cal.
For Carolina, position coach/lead recruiter Mike Peterson was in Maryland on Tuesday to meet with Barham, while Shane Beamer has not yet utilized his one allotted contact period visit.
This one will remain a waiting game down the stretch, although all signs point to South Carolina have a legitimate chance here.
*** As Wes Mitchell reported on Monday night, the next step in the recruitment of four-star wide receiver Antonio Williams is to wait and see whether or not he takes an official visit to Clemson this weekend. Tiger coaches dropped by Dutch Fork on Monday, and Shane Beamer's final in-home is expected to be closer to the end of the contact period.
The NCAA recruiting dead period (no on-campus or off-campus visits) begins on Monday, December 13, and the early signing day kicks off on Wednesday, December 15.
A leftover related nugget from the weekend: South Carolina had a heavy presence all weekend at all the games, with every on-field coach making an appearance or multiple appearances at games throughout the weekend. Clemson did not have any representation at the five SCHSL state championship games all weekend, save for watching from the stands as parents during Daniel's win over Camden.
Justin Stepp was glued to Williams' game, standing in the respective end zone when Dutch Fork was driving on offense toward him. He watched as Williams scored a touchdown at one point. Stepp spent plenty of time talking with former Gamecock wideout Jason Barnes, Williams' former position coach and trainer who's now on staff at Georgia Military College.
Prior to the 5A game, Dutch Fork alumnus Erik Kimrey presented a framed jersey to the mother of the late Jack Alkhatib, a Silver Foxes offensive lineman who tragically passed away earlier this year.
It's the little things.
*** Let's move on to another in-state talent. With the Gamecocks' recent offer to Zavier Short out of Chapin, things were shaken up for the Appalachian State commitment. At last check, Short told us that he wasn't sure about any visit plans or which direction he may ultimately go in terms of staying or flipping.
Staffers Justin Watts and Pat Washington were in Chapin yesterday to meet with Short.
While the commitment to App is still there and it would be difficult for Short to switch, there's no doubt based on what Short has told us in the past and from what we have heard that Carolina's offer was an eye-opener and one that could prove tough to turn down.
We'll keep everyone posted on any developments here.
*** We will close with a note on a current Gamecock player. We have received some questions on wide receiver Josh Vann and why he did not attend the team's awards banquet on Sunday night.
While there aren't any further details to pass along, we're told Vann went back home for a bit.
We have documented that Vann's breakout season, as well as some legitimate NFL Draft buzz, was going to have him in position to make a decision on staying or leaving since he has another year of eligibility.
Vann has picked up some mid to late round buzz and would have all-star game invitations should he choose to go that route. We can report that some folks in the scouting world have been under the impression that Vann is leaning towards returning to Columbia. However, we were also told on Monday night by a source familiar with Vann's thinking that he's still working through the process and that he has a lot to consider.
In short: no resolution yet as to his future. But what we are hearing does drive home that there's a decision to make and the opportunity to return has been a viable option.
