Insider Report - October 22nd
For continuity reasons, if you have question regarding this report, please use today’s “Ask Tony" thread on The Insiders Forum.
Recruiting tidbits
Despite his commitment to Carolina, several teams are pushing four-star running back Ben Axon to set official visits with them, and it is something he’s considering. However, I like the Gamecocks’ chances of holding on to him when all is said and done.
I am getting more and more of a feeling that four-star wide receiver and Southern Cal commitment Alshon Jeffrey will end up a Gamecock when all is said and done, provided Carolina plays well on offense down the stretch. One source indicated to me that he’s just looking for a reason to stay home. If he ends up in Columbia, it will virtually guarantee Calhoun County underclassmen Eric Mack (2010 OL) and Shamir Jeffrey (2011 WR) ultimately follow suit.
The commitment of Axon makes things a bit more complicated with Calhoun County athlete David Sims. He wants to play offense, and the only position he fits into at Carolina is running back, and they don’t have a need for another big back in this class. It remains to be seen how things will develop with Sims as the process unfolds.
Another Clemson commitment to watch is Shelby (N.C.) athlete Larry Raper. He plans to attend next weekend’s home game and fits the mold of the speed back Carolina is looking for. He’s also capable of playing receiver and contributing on special teams. He doesn’t know much about the Gamecock program yet, but he’s intrigued about the possibilities the coaches have discussed with him.
To not land 2010 star running back Marcus Lattimore, Carolina is going to have to give him a reason not to choose them. He wants to be a Gamecock. However, the struggles of the Gamecock offensive line against LSU didn’t go unnoticed and their overall run blocking struggles will be used against Spurrier and Co. on the recruiting trail. The good news is there’s a lot of time to get the issues worked out with Lattimore being a junior, but it’s a must that it ultimately happen for them to land him.
Team Information
Running back Eric Baker did not practice yesterday, but is expected to return to practice in the coming days and be ready for the Tennessee game next weekend. The staff is also hopeful offensive lineman Jamon Meredith will heal quickly enough to play against the Vols.
The bye week comes at a good time for Carolina. While the team is very healthy overall for this time of year, LSU is the most physical team in the conference, if not the country, and the extra week of recovery could prove invaluable. Tennessee will also be coming off what is sure to be an emotionally charged game against Alabama, another very physical team, and won’t have the benefit of the bye week to heal.
If you have any news or tips you'd like to share, please send an email to recruiting@gamecockcentral.com
This post was edited on 10/23 7:42 PM by Brian Shoemaker
For continuity reasons, if you have question regarding this report, please use today’s “Ask Tony" thread on The Insiders Forum.
Recruiting tidbits
Despite his commitment to Carolina, several teams are pushing four-star running back Ben Axon to set official visits with them, and it is something he’s considering. However, I like the Gamecocks’ chances of holding on to him when all is said and done.
I am getting more and more of a feeling that four-star wide receiver and Southern Cal commitment Alshon Jeffrey will end up a Gamecock when all is said and done, provided Carolina plays well on offense down the stretch. One source indicated to me that he’s just looking for a reason to stay home. If he ends up in Columbia, it will virtually guarantee Calhoun County underclassmen Eric Mack (2010 OL) and Shamir Jeffrey (2011 WR) ultimately follow suit.
The commitment of Axon makes things a bit more complicated with Calhoun County athlete David Sims. He wants to play offense, and the only position he fits into at Carolina is running back, and they don’t have a need for another big back in this class. It remains to be seen how things will develop with Sims as the process unfolds.
Another Clemson commitment to watch is Shelby (N.C.) athlete Larry Raper. He plans to attend next weekend’s home game and fits the mold of the speed back Carolina is looking for. He’s also capable of playing receiver and contributing on special teams. He doesn’t know much about the Gamecock program yet, but he’s intrigued about the possibilities the coaches have discussed with him.
To not land 2010 star running back Marcus Lattimore, Carolina is going to have to give him a reason not to choose them. He wants to be a Gamecock. However, the struggles of the Gamecock offensive line against LSU didn’t go unnoticed and their overall run blocking struggles will be used against Spurrier and Co. on the recruiting trail. The good news is there’s a lot of time to get the issues worked out with Lattimore being a junior, but it’s a must that it ultimately happen for them to land him.
Team Information
Running back Eric Baker did not practice yesterday, but is expected to return to practice in the coming days and be ready for the Tennessee game next weekend. The staff is also hopeful offensive lineman Jamon Meredith will heal quickly enough to play against the Vols.
The bye week comes at a good time for Carolina. While the team is very healthy overall for this time of year, LSU is the most physical team in the conference, if not the country, and the extra week of recovery could prove invaluable. Tennessee will also be coming off what is sure to be an emotionally charged game against Alabama, another very physical team, and won’t have the benefit of the bye week to heal.
If you have any news or tips you'd like to share, please send an email to recruiting@gamecockcentral.com
This post was edited on 10/23 7:42 PM by Brian Shoemaker
