CornerstoneColumbia.com
*** Florida tight end commitment Jaheim Bell announced on Wednesday night that he will be making an official visit to South Carolina the weekend of June 7.
This is a trip that has been quietly on the books; it did not just pop up recently. Bell committed to the Gators in April but has kept in communication with the South Carolina staff. There are some reasons to believe that USC has a legitimate shot to pull off the flip, should things go well over the next several weeks. Bell has multiple family members who like South Carolina’s pitch.
Bell’s high school head coach is a former college teammate of lead recruiter Bobby Bentley and also coached with him at Byrnes for a time. Bell was on campus earlier this year in Columbia and had a strong visit. In other words, there’s plenty of familiarity and a comfort level. For the Gamecocks, it will be about trying to overcome the allure that a program like Florida can have.
The staff will have its chance during that weekend official, but also once again the following week: Bell’s Valdosta High squad will be back in Columbia for the Gamecocks’ 7-on-7 camp.
*** In addition to Bell, the staff continues to work some other potential options at the tight end position for the ’20 class.
USC’s staff will be hosting a few of them in the month of June. As we have noted, Reggie Grimes is someone the staff has discussed playing either tight end on offense or on defense at the next level and he’s still slated for a June 7 official visit.
Alabama’s Eric Shaw is slated to make a return trip to campus the weekend of June 14, as is Florida’s Diego Lamonica, who will take an official visit that same weekend.
Recently offered Florida product Sage Ennis is scheduled for an unofficial visit on June 20.
*** One storyline to continue watching in the 2020 recruiting class is how other programs will try to stymie the Gamecocks’ momentum with RB target Tank Bigsby.
The Gamecock staff has long been the one to beat, and even with Marshawn Lloyd in the fold, the word we are getting is that things are status quo in advance of Bigsby’s official visit to USC this weekend.
USC struck a big blow to Georgia’s running back recruiting efforts when Lloyd pledged to the Gamecocks on Memorial Day. Aside from Lloyd, Georgia initially passed on some other targets (such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Kobe Pryor) that have since committed elsewhere. UGA has also been focused on out of state options like California’s Kendall Milton and Texas product Seth McGowan. Those, even for Georgia, could end up being difficult pulls. So one question that many around Bigsby’s recruitment has is whether or not the Dawgs will try to make a renewed push. As one source noted to me this week, Auburn and Georgia are going to try to have a say.
The ideal scenario for USC would be for Bigsby to jump in this weekend or shortly thereafter and to curtail any further activity, lest things get more complicated.
*** A pair of USC targets will head to Auburn this weekend in linebacker Desmond Tisdol and offensive lineman Javion Cohen. Earlier in the week, we already framed the expectation for Cohen to drop for the home-state Tigers soon.
Tisdol has been more complicated, the subject of a see-saw battle between the Gamecocks and Tigers for some time now. While nothing is for sure in terms of how things one will ultimately play out, the tea leaves seem to make it more likely that Auburn ends up being the pick here.
USC has several other prospects at the linebacker position, and you will probably see a premium on speed and athleticism for another take alongside current pledge Mohamed Kaba.
We have mentioned the possibility of Florida’s Derek Wingo visiting this summer; that’s still on the table but may prove to be a tough pull in getting him away from Penn State.
Georgia’s Lenneth Whitehead should be visiting this summer and is a player the Gamecock staff likes a lot. We also anticipate Alabama’s Allen Merrick to participate in a summer camp session in Columbia. We’re also keeping an eye on UNC commitment Cedric Gray, listed as an athlete by Rivals.com, as a linebacker the staff has continued to keep an eye on in the class.
*** Thanks for reading, and we appreciate you being a member of GamecockCentral.com!
***
Today's Insider Report is brought to you by Cornerstone Financial Management. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Good Life Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Cornerstone Financial Management and Good Life Advisors, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial.
Opt into Jay's monthly emails with financial updates by CLICKING HERE.
