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*** As of now, there have been no new offers extended to 2022 prospects since Gunner Stockton decommitted from South Carolina.
One prospect that’s held a Gamecock scholarship in that class since the previous staff is one of the best in the country in Tennessee’s Ty Simpson.
Before we go any further, let’s make one thing clear: Simpson – at this point – should be categorized as a major long shot for the Gamecocks.
Here’s one interesting storyline we’re looking into, however. Simpson’s father, Jason, is the longtime head coach at Tennessee-Martin. Jason Simpson once employed Gamecock OC Marcus Satterfield as his own offensive coordinator, elevating him to Associate Head Coach prior to Satterfield’s third season. In other words, there is a prior connection here for the Gamecocks.
Others, of course, are advanced and well-ahead in this one. Alabama, Clemson, and Tennessee have been regarded as the major players, and Texas could also be one with Steve Sarkisian at the helm.
*** File away the name of this in-state prospect from the class of 2021 for a later date: Zi’Kef Johnson.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder had highly productive junior and senior campaigns for Westwood in the Midlands and had the opportunity to sign with Charlotte back in December. He chose, however, to take the junior college route and signed with Independence Community College in Kansas.
Johnson is one – of many in similar situations in the ’21 class – prospect that likely was hurt by the fact that college coaches did not have spring or fall evaluation periods this year, and no on-campus camps, either. Many familiar with his game believe that he’ll be on track to pick up more high-level offers after his stint in junior college, and we anticipate South Carolina’s staff monitoring him going forward.
*** Shane Beamer walked into a situation in which the staff is going to have to work from behind on many of the top prospects from the Palmetto State in the 2022 class.
Upstate offensive lineman Collin Sadler had already committed to Clemson at the time of Beamer’s hire, and Myrtle Beach wideout Adam Randall was well down the path of his own to the Tigers, which he followed through with on Christmas Day.
The Gamecocks also have had plenty of work to do with Mauldin defensive back Jeadyn Lukus, as Clemson, North Carolina, Ohio State, and other out of state suitors all look to be ahead of the Gamecocks.
Here’s one angle worth watching: new Carolina DB coach Torrian Gray was the very first coach to extend an offer to Lukus last December, when he was still at Florida. We’re told that the Lukus camp certainly made note of Gray’s presence on the Gamecock staff.
Lukus has said he wants to take more visits once the NCAA lifts the recruiting dead period, so it will be key for Gray and the Gamecock staff to get him back on campus to make an impression.
*** Any follow-up questions or something I didn't address that you'd like me to address? Let me know.
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