Will Muschamp hopes to make the 2020 cycle the second year in a row in which the Gamecock football program has landed nearly all of its priority targets from within the state of South Carolina.
For the 2020 cycle, USC has already landed 6 prospects the staff targeted in quarterback Luke Doty, defensive linemen Alex Huntley and Tonka Hemingway, offensive linemen Trai Jones and Tyshawn Wannamaker, and defensive back O’Donnell Fortune.
The lone remaining priority within the Palmetto State’s borders is Hammond five-star Jordan Burch, a prospect that South Carolina has a shot to close with once the process wraps.
The only other scholarship that was dispensed to an in-state prospect in the 2020 class was to Cheraw defensive lineman Xavier McIver. That offer was given way back in the summer of 2017, but it was more of the verbal placeholder variety. The staff never made any sort of concerted push for McIver, who committed earlier this month to East Carolina.
*** USC did offer and pursue former Hartsville DL Demonte Capehart, who made an early pledge to Clemson. He transferred to IMG in Florida this summer, which had been in the works for quite a while. He could be counted as an in-state miss.
The 2020 class effort comes on the heels of another strong effort within the state in which the staff landed all its priority targets.
Muschamp’s first five-star signee, Zacch Pickens out of T.L. Hanna in the Upstate, was the crown jewel of that group. USC also landed four-star Cam Smith and under the radar prospects Keshawn Toney and Xavier Legette. The latter has made a big splash during his short time in Columbia.
Looking back at the ’19 crop in the state, there were no true “misses” for the Gamecocks in the state. Whether or not it turns out to be the right decision, South Carolina did not prioritize in-state running back Mikey Dukes down the stretch after offering in camp. Dukes picked up a late tender from Clemson and signed with the Tigers.
USC once held a verbal commitment from Northwestern wide receiver Jamario Holley, but backed away due to non-football factors. The Gamecock staff dispensed early offers to Quendarius Jefferson, Kamren McCray, and Jacoby Pinckney, but never pushed for those prospects later into the process. Spartanburg’s Zykamren Robinson fell into a similar category.
Here’s a look – with some notes – at the other in-state classes under Muschamp.
2018 Class
Signed: QB Dakereon Joyner, OL Wyatt Campbell, OL Hank Manos, DB RJ Roderick, ATH Darius Rush
Missed: ATH Derion Kendrick, DL Josh Belk, DL Xavier Thomas (played senior year in Florida), LB Channing Tindall, OL Kelijiha Brown, WR Dennis Smith, OL Raiqwon O’Neal. South Carolina did not double back to Brown, who is now at Newberry after signing with Wake Forest.
Other early offers: South Carolina backed away from one-time commitment Bryce Thompson, and did not push for WR Demarcus Gregory, DL Eli Adams, OL Kavesz Sherard, and WR Sam Pinckney
2017 Class
Signed: OrTre Smith, Shi Smith, Will Register, Tyreek Johnson, Brad Johnson, Davonne Bowen, Damani Staley, Summie Carlay, Jay Urich
Missed: Lummie Young (although USC wanted to see him in camp that summer and he committed to Duke in May) Logan Rudolph
Other early offers: USC did not push for DB Tancey Richardson, DB Davondre Robinson, DL Tre Lawson, WR Austin Connor, ATH Savalas Cann, WR Cam Bent
2016 Class
Signed: WR Bryan Edwards, LB TJ Brunson, DL Javon Kinlaw, WR Chavis Dawkins, ATH Chris Smith
Missed: RB Tavien Feaster, OL John Simpson, DL Nyles Pinckney, DB Troy Pride, WR Sam Denmark, TE Hank Tuipulotu
Other early offers: USC did not push for ATH Stephen Davis Jr., DB James Valdez, WR Larry Collins, WR Deandre Champaigne (one-time commitment), QB Avery McCall, DB Thomas Jones.
For the 2020 cycle, USC has already landed 6 prospects the staff targeted in quarterback Luke Doty, defensive linemen Alex Huntley and Tonka Hemingway, offensive linemen Trai Jones and Tyshawn Wannamaker, and defensive back O’Donnell Fortune.
The lone remaining priority within the Palmetto State’s borders is Hammond five-star Jordan Burch, a prospect that South Carolina has a shot to close with once the process wraps.
The only other scholarship that was dispensed to an in-state prospect in the 2020 class was to Cheraw defensive lineman Xavier McIver. That offer was given way back in the summer of 2017, but it was more of the verbal placeholder variety. The staff never made any sort of concerted push for McIver, who committed earlier this month to East Carolina.
*** USC did offer and pursue former Hartsville DL Demonte Capehart, who made an early pledge to Clemson. He transferred to IMG in Florida this summer, which had been in the works for quite a while. He could be counted as an in-state miss.
The 2020 class effort comes on the heels of another strong effort within the state in which the staff landed all its priority targets.
Muschamp’s first five-star signee, Zacch Pickens out of T.L. Hanna in the Upstate, was the crown jewel of that group. USC also landed four-star Cam Smith and under the radar prospects Keshawn Toney and Xavier Legette. The latter has made a big splash during his short time in Columbia.
Looking back at the ’19 crop in the state, there were no true “misses” for the Gamecocks in the state. Whether or not it turns out to be the right decision, South Carolina did not prioritize in-state running back Mikey Dukes down the stretch after offering in camp. Dukes picked up a late tender from Clemson and signed with the Tigers.
USC once held a verbal commitment from Northwestern wide receiver Jamario Holley, but backed away due to non-football factors. The Gamecock staff dispensed early offers to Quendarius Jefferson, Kamren McCray, and Jacoby Pinckney, but never pushed for those prospects later into the process. Spartanburg’s Zykamren Robinson fell into a similar category.
Here’s a look – with some notes – at the other in-state classes under Muschamp.
2018 Class
Signed: QB Dakereon Joyner, OL Wyatt Campbell, OL Hank Manos, DB RJ Roderick, ATH Darius Rush
Missed: ATH Derion Kendrick, DL Josh Belk, DL Xavier Thomas (played senior year in Florida), LB Channing Tindall, OL Kelijiha Brown, WR Dennis Smith, OL Raiqwon O’Neal. South Carolina did not double back to Brown, who is now at Newberry after signing with Wake Forest.
Other early offers: South Carolina backed away from one-time commitment Bryce Thompson, and did not push for WR Demarcus Gregory, DL Eli Adams, OL Kavesz Sherard, and WR Sam Pinckney
2017 Class
Signed: OrTre Smith, Shi Smith, Will Register, Tyreek Johnson, Brad Johnson, Davonne Bowen, Damani Staley, Summie Carlay, Jay Urich
Missed: Lummie Young (although USC wanted to see him in camp that summer and he committed to Duke in May) Logan Rudolph
Other early offers: USC did not push for DB Tancey Richardson, DB Davondre Robinson, DL Tre Lawson, WR Austin Connor, ATH Savalas Cann, WR Cam Bent
2016 Class
Signed: WR Bryan Edwards, LB TJ Brunson, DL Javon Kinlaw, WR Chavis Dawkins, ATH Chris Smith
Missed: RB Tavien Feaster, OL John Simpson, DL Nyles Pinckney, DB Troy Pride, WR Sam Denmark, TE Hank Tuipulotu
Other early offers: USC did not push for ATH Stephen Davis Jr., DB James Valdez, WR Larry Collins, WR Deandre Champaigne (one-time commitment), QB Avery McCall, DB Thomas Jones.
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