CornerstoneColumbia.com
*** There’s a new name to watch for South Carolina along the offensive line for the 2021 class, and that’s Bradenton (Florida) Manatee product Charles Armstrong.
When we say new name, that’s a relative term – Armstrong picked up his offer from South Carolina one year ago in May of 2019. Yet as far as significant names to watch, things have really seemed to intensify lately.
Position coach Eric Wolford tends to have his board – and commitments – shake out early. South Carolina’s four commitments for the 2020 cycle were all on board by the preceding June. 3 of the 5 for 2019 were in the boat even earlier – the preceding February, with Jakai Moore (a December decision) and late take William Rogers the outliers. 3 of 5 in the ’18 class (the exceptions being Jovaughn Gwyn in December and Dylan Wonnum in February) were also committed for Wolford.
The point is: this year’s different in a lot of ways. Aside from the unique recruiting dynamics and challenges that South Carolina faces in navigating the ’21 class, a low number (2, 3 max) is expected in terms of signees this time around on the offensive line.
Four-star Dylan Fairchild was a prospect Wolford offered as an offensive lineman last summer in camp when Fairchild had never played the position, and now Fairchild is one of the hottest commodities in the Southeast. The Gamecocks are in that race, but Georgia and a host of others around the region also want him.
To the best of our knowledge, Georgia’s Cedrick Nicely is another option still on the board. And, South Carolina is looking to get JUCO product Caleb Etienne on campus at some point as well.
Not much is known at this point with certainty about Armstrong’s pecking order, but he’s a candidate for a visit to Columbia once things reopen.
*** South Carolina’s staff has several edge – or BUCK – type players on its board. One recruitment that we have not visited in a while that’s worth taking a look at is North Carolina’s Travali Price.
The three-star prospect has 24 offers and recently told GamecockCentral.com that every single one of those were texting and direct messaging him on social media. Of those, 10-12 look like legitimate options. We feel comfortable saying that South Carolina is one.
Price does not use social media often to lend hype to his recruitment, and to that end he’s not as visible as some of his counterparts in the 2020 class. The expectation is that – as long as things are opened back up on the visit front – that he’ll take some visits later this year and render a decision around October, in plenty of time to enroll early next January at the program of his choosing.
There is one twist: For all intents and purposes, it looks like Price is a package deal with teammate Jayden “Bird” Tate, a prospect who’s picked up a few offers of his own. Louisville and NC State extended one in March, and South Carolina joined at the end of April. The first two have Tate on the board as a defensive lineman, while the Gamecocks are eyeing Tate as a fullback.
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