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*** There are five prospects in the state of South Carolina’s 2021 that GamecockCentral.com is heavily tracking when it comes to priorities for the coaching staff.
Those players that have carried offers from the Gamecocks are as follows:
Sumter DL Justus Boone
Gaffney DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Myrtle Beach WR J.J. Jones
Rock Hill TE Robbie Ouzts
Marion DL T.J. Sanders
A couple additional notes: Despite an early verbal offer from the Gamecocks, we would project Dorman’s Chance Black to end up elsewhere. The staff extended a scholarship to Wagener-Salley’s Elijah Davis last season as well, but as a junior college placement.
We have mentioned in the past that there could be another within the state of South Carolina worth watching, and that’s South Pointe’s O’Mega Blake. The rising senior athlete played quarterback and wide receiver for the Stallions last season, and could project as a receiver or defensive back at the next level. Kentucky, for instance, offered last week as a DB.
Blake, who’s coached by former South Carolina standout DeVonte Holloman, has participated in the Gamecocks’ summer camp and was also scouted by the Carolina staff during a basketball tournament in Rock Hill back in January.
The in-state product told us recently that the South Carolina staff is telling him they’ll be back in touch by the end of the semester. We’ve heard some past rumblings not to be surprised if an offer was ultimately extended, so we’ll see.
*** Over the weekend, South Carolina made the cut for George Wilson out of Virginia.
The three-star trimmed his list down to Arizona State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wake Forest.
Wilson has built a nice rapport with the South Carolina staff, and has long been on the recruiting board as an edge-rusher option. Penn State and South Carolina are thought to be two of the squads in the upper echelon of that lead group.
Area recruiter Kyle Krantz – who’s done nice work in the ’21 class – plus Mike Peterson, Tracy Rocker, and Will Muschamp have all been involved here.
*** Finally, let’s turn things back to the field. GamecockCentral.com has had plenty of reporting and discussion as of late on how college football’s administrators and coaches are working on restart scenarios for the 2020 season.
A variety of factors are at play, many of which we have already covered in depth: public and team health, athletic department finances, and liability, among others.
Here’s one question that was brought up to us recently in our conversations that has been a topic of conversation between administrators and coaches: what if the season begins and then has to be halted?
For those that cannot stand soccer, bear with us for a reference that could be pertinent to the college football season: The German Bundesliga is set to resume play on May 16 under strict protocols, such as no fans in the stadium (there will be about 300 folks total in stadiums on match day) and testing for players. It was announced over the weekend that one team (Dynamo Dresden) has its entire squad in quarantine after two players tested positive for coronavirus. There will be no training or games for two weeks for the club, despite the season proceeding.
Thus, this is the concern that some around college football has in a sport that features over 100 players that will be in close proximity to each other during game preparation (meetings, practice) and to other teams on game days. What if, say, an offensive lineman tests positive right before the Georgia game? Is the entire offensive line quarantined for two weeks? The whole team? Is another scenario – daily testing, for example – on the table to keep the team afloat? It’d be difficult to play a game without an offensive line, yet this could be a realistic scenario for one team - or multiple teams across the sport.
Whatever one may believe the best solution is, these are the type of questions that those in power around college football are considering as far as possibilities and contingencies.
*** Thanks for reading, and we appreciate you being a member of GamecockCentral.com!
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