Football Recruiting
South Carolina grabbed several prospects in the 2009 recruiting class that were once committed to other programs. Among them were Chris Payne, Damario Jeffery, Devonte Holloman, Ben Axon, Jarvis Giles, Chaun Gresham, Alshon Jeffery, Leon Mackey, D.J. Swearinger, and Kevious Watkins. A pretty good haul, if you ask me.
I don't anticipate USC turning nearly that many in the 2010 class, but they are still after some prospects that are committed to other programs. Here's a look at some and where they stand with each:
Tavaris Barnes: Defensive tackle is a pledge to Florida State right now, but plans on taking all five official visits. South Carolina is one of the programs he will take a closer look at, and they have a chance to be a factor as they were the #2 school when Barnes committed to the Noles. However, UNC appears to be the biggest competitor in Barnes' eyes.
Cliff Coleman: This Florida athlete is currently committed to Ole Miss, but has informed GamecockCentral.com that he could take some visits to programs. One school he was considering before his commitment was South Carolina, and they could be a candidate to get a visit. He is still pretty solid to Ole Miss, and I'm not sure that the chances are great that USC would bring him in for a visit, however.
Darious Cummings: Another Florida State commitment, the four-star defensive end confirmed to me Monday that he is planning on officially visiting Columbia this coming weekend for the South Carolina State game. I talked a source familiar with his recruitment that said it would be surprising if Cummings ultimately switched. His family is very close with Nole line coach Odell Haggins. If there is a staff shakeup at FSU (which is very possible), then that could change. Still, USC will have their shot this coming weekend.
Sharrod Golightly: USC is still after the Georgia safety and want a visit. Will they get it? Golightly seems open to the idea but others close to him are not. If he takes the visit, USC would have a chance at swinging him.
Darius Lipford: Duke commitment will take five official visits. He is a versatile player who could line up at numerous positions. Gamecocks along with a handful of over programs might have a chance to swing him, but he seems pretty solid on Duke.
We ran an article on Sanford (FL) Seminole DE Serderius Bryant Monday evening; Bryant was a guy I told you about before that. I had heard South Carolina liked him a lot and he confirmed that they were in his top three. I was surprised to see Miami and FSU not in the top three, though. If his academics check out, he could be an offer and he wants to decide early.
There should be an impressive group of visitors in Columbia when the Gamecocks play host to Florida in November. One junior that plans on being there is big-time OL Watts Dantzler from Georgia. The Gamecocks are one of several schools that have offered early and will get their chance to show Dantzler their game-day atmosphere.
Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military Academy DE J.R. Ferguson cut his list recently to ten schools. They are:
South Carolina, North Carolina, California, Maryland, Miami, FSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, and UCLA.
I've talked with multiple sources on Ferguson, and it's still hard to get a read on him. There's only two official visit slots left for him and more schools than that vying for the spot. I'm having a tough time projecting where Ferguson is going to end up; he's tough to read and so are those around him. One source I spoke with said he hears South Carolina and Miami a lot as potential destinations. Both make sense; he really liked his last unofficial to USC. He's also got family down in Florida somewhat close to Miami and likes the Canes. I think everybody is on pretty equal ground, though.
Ferguson also shares Notre Dame, California, and Maryland as finalists with friend Arie Kouandjio. The two have taken visits together and certainly wouldn't mind playing together, though they maintain it's not a sticking point for them.
An FSU source I spoke with did not see him ending up there or even visiting again. Personally, I see the East Coast programs being the biggest factors. For South Carolina, it will come down to whether or not they can get an official. If they get one, they can definitely be a factor.
I spoke with a source close to the recruitment of Sharrif Floyd in regards to his last two official visits: Florida and Southern Cal. There has been talk that Florida made a huge impression on Floyd, but I don't believe that to be the case. The Gator staff seems to think they might have, but the source close to Floyd's camp did not go that far. It was an official visit and it's hard to not have a very good experience on those. Did the Gators help themselves? Sure, but I don't think they're now the leader or anything like that.
As for the visit out to see Southern California, I heard he had a great time and loved it. Still, I don't expect the Trojans to be a big factor in the end. I just can't see him going out there and neither can the source I spoke with.
Floyd has three more official visits left: Penn State on the 16th, South Carolina on the 23rd, and UNC on the 6th of November. It's not out of the question that he visits Ohio State and Michigan unofficially at some point. He has those, plus Rutgers under consideration still along with the five schools he will have visited officially.
After speaking with sources, I still really believe that South Carolina has an excellent shot at him as I have all along. As for the Gamecocks' biggest competition? It could very well be Floyd's home-state Nittany Lions, though North Carolina will have their shot as well.
Justin Parker did not visit Clemson this past weekend, as he had an SAT prep class he attended. I spoke with him and a source close to him, and everything seems to be status quo for him. He did watch USC's victory over Ole Miss and liked what he saw. I hear Parker is trying to decide on where he wants to take some official visits. Of course, USC and Clemson would be two destinations. I'll keep you posted.
Myrtle Beach OL Jason Rexroad is hearing from a lot of schools, among them are the Gamecocks. He has visited before and came away very impressed. USC has landed in his top group and have an excellent shot if they decide to pull the trigger on an offer. I'll have a story up soon.
South Carolina grabbed several prospects in the 2009 recruiting class that were once committed to other programs. Among them were Chris Payne, Damario Jeffery, Devonte Holloman, Ben Axon, Jarvis Giles, Chaun Gresham, Alshon Jeffery, Leon Mackey, D.J. Swearinger, and Kevious Watkins. A pretty good haul, if you ask me.
I don't anticipate USC turning nearly that many in the 2010 class, but they are still after some prospects that are committed to other programs. Here's a look at some and where they stand with each:
Tavaris Barnes: Defensive tackle is a pledge to Florida State right now, but plans on taking all five official visits. South Carolina is one of the programs he will take a closer look at, and they have a chance to be a factor as they were the #2 school when Barnes committed to the Noles. However, UNC appears to be the biggest competitor in Barnes' eyes.
Cliff Coleman: This Florida athlete is currently committed to Ole Miss, but has informed GamecockCentral.com that he could take some visits to programs. One school he was considering before his commitment was South Carolina, and they could be a candidate to get a visit. He is still pretty solid to Ole Miss, and I'm not sure that the chances are great that USC would bring him in for a visit, however.
Darious Cummings: Another Florida State commitment, the four-star defensive end confirmed to me Monday that he is planning on officially visiting Columbia this coming weekend for the South Carolina State game. I talked a source familiar with his recruitment that said it would be surprising if Cummings ultimately switched. His family is very close with Nole line coach Odell Haggins. If there is a staff shakeup at FSU (which is very possible), then that could change. Still, USC will have their shot this coming weekend.
Sharrod Golightly: USC is still after the Georgia safety and want a visit. Will they get it? Golightly seems open to the idea but others close to him are not. If he takes the visit, USC would have a chance at swinging him.
Darius Lipford: Duke commitment will take five official visits. He is a versatile player who could line up at numerous positions. Gamecocks along with a handful of over programs might have a chance to swing him, but he seems pretty solid on Duke.
We ran an article on Sanford (FL) Seminole DE Serderius Bryant Monday evening; Bryant was a guy I told you about before that. I had heard South Carolina liked him a lot and he confirmed that they were in his top three. I was surprised to see Miami and FSU not in the top three, though. If his academics check out, he could be an offer and he wants to decide early.
There should be an impressive group of visitors in Columbia when the Gamecocks play host to Florida in November. One junior that plans on being there is big-time OL Watts Dantzler from Georgia. The Gamecocks are one of several schools that have offered early and will get their chance to show Dantzler their game-day atmosphere.
Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military Academy DE J.R. Ferguson cut his list recently to ten schools. They are:
South Carolina, North Carolina, California, Maryland, Miami, FSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, and UCLA.
I've talked with multiple sources on Ferguson, and it's still hard to get a read on him. There's only two official visit slots left for him and more schools than that vying for the spot. I'm having a tough time projecting where Ferguson is going to end up; he's tough to read and so are those around him. One source I spoke with said he hears South Carolina and Miami a lot as potential destinations. Both make sense; he really liked his last unofficial to USC. He's also got family down in Florida somewhat close to Miami and likes the Canes. I think everybody is on pretty equal ground, though.
Ferguson also shares Notre Dame, California, and Maryland as finalists with friend Arie Kouandjio. The two have taken visits together and certainly wouldn't mind playing together, though they maintain it's not a sticking point for them.
An FSU source I spoke with did not see him ending up there or even visiting again. Personally, I see the East Coast programs being the biggest factors. For South Carolina, it will come down to whether or not they can get an official. If they get one, they can definitely be a factor.
I spoke with a source close to the recruitment of Sharrif Floyd in regards to his last two official visits: Florida and Southern Cal. There has been talk that Florida made a huge impression on Floyd, but I don't believe that to be the case. The Gator staff seems to think they might have, but the source close to Floyd's camp did not go that far. It was an official visit and it's hard to not have a very good experience on those. Did the Gators help themselves? Sure, but I don't think they're now the leader or anything like that.
As for the visit out to see Southern California, I heard he had a great time and loved it. Still, I don't expect the Trojans to be a big factor in the end. I just can't see him going out there and neither can the source I spoke with.
Floyd has three more official visits left: Penn State on the 16th, South Carolina on the 23rd, and UNC on the 6th of November. It's not out of the question that he visits Ohio State and Michigan unofficially at some point. He has those, plus Rutgers under consideration still along with the five schools he will have visited officially.
After speaking with sources, I still really believe that South Carolina has an excellent shot at him as I have all along. As for the Gamecocks' biggest competition? It could very well be Floyd's home-state Nittany Lions, though North Carolina will have their shot as well.
Justin Parker did not visit Clemson this past weekend, as he had an SAT prep class he attended. I spoke with him and a source close to him, and everything seems to be status quo for him. He did watch USC's victory over Ole Miss and liked what he saw. I hear Parker is trying to decide on where he wants to take some official visits. Of course, USC and Clemson would be two destinations. I'll keep you posted.
Myrtle Beach OL Jason Rexroad is hearing from a lot of schools, among them are the Gamecocks. He has visited before and came away very impressed. USC has landed in his top group and have an excellent shot if they decide to pull the trigger on an offer. I'll have a story up soon.
