It is easy to see why South Carolina has made the defensive back position such a priority in the 2017 recruiting class.
The Gamecocks will lose four scholarship seniors (Jordan Diggs, Chaz Elder, Rico McWilliams, and Chris Moody) in the secondary after the 2016 campaign. That would leave, assuming no defections, five more players who will be seniors in 2017 and beyond that plenty of youth and inexperience. USC would return the following as of now during the 2017 campaign:
DJ Smith (Senior)
Jasper Sasser (Senior)
Toure Boyd (Senior)
Chris Smith (RS Fr. or Soph.)
Rashad Fenton (Junior)
Antoine Wilder (Soph.)
Chris Lammons (Senior)
Jamarcus King (Senior)
Given that, Will Muschamp and his staff have been able to sell early playing time, as well as a stellar reputation in development, on the recruiting trail to defensive back targets.
Here is a look at where things stand in the class.
CURRENT COMMITMENTS
Lakeland (Florida) three-star Damarri Mathis is a very intriguing prospect given his length and relative inexperience at the position. He entered high school as a running back before switching over to corner in an effort to see the field earlier. He took to it well, but the good news is that he's far from maximized his potential. Like every other defensive back take in the class thus far, Mathis worked out in front of USC's coaches in camp this summer.
