It was a busy weekend for Gamecock recruiting, as the USC staff hosted its first “Spurs Up Day” recruiting event of the year on Saturday. That was followed on Sunday by a Rivals 3 Stripe Camp stop in Charlotte, a camp that happened to feature several prospects who were on the Gamecocks’ campus the previous day
Per NCAA rules, college football coaches are not allowed to attend such camps away from college campuses, save for one exception: those with a son participating in said camp. That exception allowed North Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp to take in the action from the stands. Muschamp’s oldest son, Jackson, is a 2020 quarterback who attends Hammond School in Columbia.
One of the camp’s top performers, nabbing two interceptions during one-on-one drills, was Hampton (Georgia) Dutchtown’s Trey Dean. He was among the group of priority prospects that USC hosted for Spurs Up Day on Saturday, and entered the camp on Sunday decked out in South Carolina gear.
Dean has an offer list with several heavy-hitters on it, and he told Rivals.com on Sunday that Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina would make his forthcoming list of finalists. Most have this one pegged as a Georgia/South Carolina battle, with both schools pushing heavily as of late. His status as an in-state priority for the Dawgs has led many to speculate that Georgia would eventually win out for the December graduate/January early enrollee. Muschamp and Travaris Robinson have made that far from a formality, however. Dean’s most recent trip to Columbia went extremely well, and there was plenty of buzz about the Gamecocks’ chances over the weekend. It would not be a stretch to say that as of today that USC may occupy the top spot on Dean’s list, but of course he does not render a decision today. Expect this battle to continue with USC putting itself in legitimate contention for the Peach State standout.
We’ll also pass along this nugget on Dean that we observed during the one-on-one period: The four-star safety approached South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick following a rep, asking which high school he attended. Kendrick’s orange Clemson gloves were prominent, and Dean took notice, asking if he was committed to Clemson. Kendrick nodded in the affirmative, and Dean’s response was to spread his arms out and say: “Why are you not going to South Carolina?”
We’ve also been told that Dean and fellow Gamecock defensive back target Jaycee Horn keep in contact, and of course Horn was also in Columbia on Saturday having some fun with the Gamecock staff and other prospects. Our subscribers will note that Horn named Alabama as his leader last Sunday at a Rivals 3 Stripe Camp stop in Alpharetta, then did the same to Wes Mitchell after his latest visit to USC on Saturday. While it’s easy to take that as a buzz kill in terms of South Carolina’s chances, there’s reason to believe there is potential for further upward mobility with Horn. The three-star (and possible future four-star) prospect has not placed a firm timetable on his decision, saying he could render a choice whenever it feels right to him. While Horn has often cited his comfort level and relationships with coaches as the sticking points in his process, most prospects at least consider early playing time as well. Horn – and key family members – are tight with the South Carolina staff, but there has also been some internal discussion on the opportunity for playing time in Columbia relative to Alabama. If that becomes increasingly important as the process goes on, it could allow USC to further bridge the small gap it faces against the Crimson Tide.
One of the prospects the GamecockCentral.com staff was most interested to see in action on Sunday was Concord (North Carolina) defensive tackle Rick Sandidge. The Rivals100 selection is fairly quiet in person, and there was an element going in of wondering just how physical – and frankly, nasty – he would be during the one-on-ones.
After watching him take a multitude of reps, that question can be marked off the list. Sandidge, who took home defensive line MVP honors, was quite demonstrative during the drills, clapping, staring down opposing linemen, and yelling. He showed some violence in his hands when engaging the opposition and won the vast majority of reps we saw in person.
In terms of his recruitment, South Carolina is still very much in the mix for Sandidge, who has opened up his visit slate as we documented back in the spring. He’s fresh off of trips to Florida, FSU, Miami, and Georgia, and plans on hitting LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State on his next road trip. Sandidge will release a top 11 soon and the Gamecocks are a lock to make the cut. We can tell you that at least one person in the Sandidge camp is already tired of the process and is not extremely fond of travel, which could help programs closer to his home.
Afterwards, Sandidge shook hands with another North Carolina product he faced off against during the one-one-ones, Harding offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn. Sandidge told Gwyn, who took home offensive line MVP honors, that he was his toughest competition of the day. Gwyn was also on the Gamecocks’ campus on Saturday. Duke, NC State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest are all in the mix, with Gwyn telling us that NC State is currently pursuing the hardest. As we’ve consistently noted, USC wants to add a couple more offensive linemen to the class and Warren Ericson is another possibility inside, with Dylan Wonnum the target outside. Gwyn is a prospect USC really likes and feels that he could be undervalued due to height just like Ronald Patrick was in the 2010 class. If USC got into a position where it could land Gwyn, then numbers could come into play. USC has positioned itself to have a good shot (Georgia is likely the biggest competition) for Ericson as well as Wonnum and both are long-time targets.
Speaking of Ericson, we can tell you that he hit it off with USC offensive line commitment Hank Manos during the Spurs Up Day event this weekend - both project as early enrollees at the next level. We also were told that offensive line commitment Maxwell Iyama is an early enrollee for the 2018 class.
Conway’s Raiqwon O’Neal also turned in a strong performance during the camp, and South Carolina plans on personally evaluating him this summer during one of its own prospect camps in Columbia. He’s picked up a lot of recruiting traction lately. O’Neal has the frame to put on more weight and moves well out wide as a future offensive tackle.
Local athlete Bryce Thompson took home wide receiver MVP honors during the camp, earned in part with a brilliant one-handed catch while being pulled down by a defender during one-on-ones. Thompson, who's been on the Gamecocks' board as a defensive back, has remained in contact with the staff. He's set to change high schools again for his senior season, and from what we gather the odds would be against him eventually being a flip for USC.
There was not anything new to gather on the recruitment of major USC linebacker target Channing Tindall during the camp beyond our recent sit-down with him at his high school, but we did overhear one bit that was worth passing along. Tindall told someone within earshot that South Carolina was far and away the program recruiting him the hardest, with the Gamecock staff filling his phone on a daily basis.
Much more coming throughout the week - stay tuned to GamecockCentral.com for the latest...
Per NCAA rules, college football coaches are not allowed to attend such camps away from college campuses, save for one exception: those with a son participating in said camp. That exception allowed North Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp to take in the action from the stands. Muschamp’s oldest son, Jackson, is a 2020 quarterback who attends Hammond School in Columbia.
One of the camp’s top performers, nabbing two interceptions during one-on-one drills, was Hampton (Georgia) Dutchtown’s Trey Dean. He was among the group of priority prospects that USC hosted for Spurs Up Day on Saturday, and entered the camp on Sunday decked out in South Carolina gear.
Dean has an offer list with several heavy-hitters on it, and he told Rivals.com on Sunday that Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina would make his forthcoming list of finalists. Most have this one pegged as a Georgia/South Carolina battle, with both schools pushing heavily as of late. His status as an in-state priority for the Dawgs has led many to speculate that Georgia would eventually win out for the December graduate/January early enrollee. Muschamp and Travaris Robinson have made that far from a formality, however. Dean’s most recent trip to Columbia went extremely well, and there was plenty of buzz about the Gamecocks’ chances over the weekend. It would not be a stretch to say that as of today that USC may occupy the top spot on Dean’s list, but of course he does not render a decision today. Expect this battle to continue with USC putting itself in legitimate contention for the Peach State standout.
We’ll also pass along this nugget on Dean that we observed during the one-on-one period: The four-star safety approached South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick following a rep, asking which high school he attended. Kendrick’s orange Clemson gloves were prominent, and Dean took notice, asking if he was committed to Clemson. Kendrick nodded in the affirmative, and Dean’s response was to spread his arms out and say: “Why are you not going to South Carolina?”
We’ve also been told that Dean and fellow Gamecock defensive back target Jaycee Horn keep in contact, and of course Horn was also in Columbia on Saturday having some fun with the Gamecock staff and other prospects. Our subscribers will note that Horn named Alabama as his leader last Sunday at a Rivals 3 Stripe Camp stop in Alpharetta, then did the same to Wes Mitchell after his latest visit to USC on Saturday. While it’s easy to take that as a buzz kill in terms of South Carolina’s chances, there’s reason to believe there is potential for further upward mobility with Horn. The three-star (and possible future four-star) prospect has not placed a firm timetable on his decision, saying he could render a choice whenever it feels right to him. While Horn has often cited his comfort level and relationships with coaches as the sticking points in his process, most prospects at least consider early playing time as well. Horn – and key family members – are tight with the South Carolina staff, but there has also been some internal discussion on the opportunity for playing time in Columbia relative to Alabama. If that becomes increasingly important as the process goes on, it could allow USC to further bridge the small gap it faces against the Crimson Tide.
One of the prospects the GamecockCentral.com staff was most interested to see in action on Sunday was Concord (North Carolina) defensive tackle Rick Sandidge. The Rivals100 selection is fairly quiet in person, and there was an element going in of wondering just how physical – and frankly, nasty – he would be during the one-on-ones.
After watching him take a multitude of reps, that question can be marked off the list. Sandidge, who took home defensive line MVP honors, was quite demonstrative during the drills, clapping, staring down opposing linemen, and yelling. He showed some violence in his hands when engaging the opposition and won the vast majority of reps we saw in person.
In terms of his recruitment, South Carolina is still very much in the mix for Sandidge, who has opened up his visit slate as we documented back in the spring. He’s fresh off of trips to Florida, FSU, Miami, and Georgia, and plans on hitting LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State on his next road trip. Sandidge will release a top 11 soon and the Gamecocks are a lock to make the cut. We can tell you that at least one person in the Sandidge camp is already tired of the process and is not extremely fond of travel, which could help programs closer to his home.
Afterwards, Sandidge shook hands with another North Carolina product he faced off against during the one-one-ones, Harding offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn. Sandidge told Gwyn, who took home offensive line MVP honors, that he was his toughest competition of the day. Gwyn was also on the Gamecocks’ campus on Saturday. Duke, NC State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest are all in the mix, with Gwyn telling us that NC State is currently pursuing the hardest. As we’ve consistently noted, USC wants to add a couple more offensive linemen to the class and Warren Ericson is another possibility inside, with Dylan Wonnum the target outside. Gwyn is a prospect USC really likes and feels that he could be undervalued due to height just like Ronald Patrick was in the 2010 class. If USC got into a position where it could land Gwyn, then numbers could come into play. USC has positioned itself to have a good shot (Georgia is likely the biggest competition) for Ericson as well as Wonnum and both are long-time targets.
Speaking of Ericson, we can tell you that he hit it off with USC offensive line commitment Hank Manos during the Spurs Up Day event this weekend - both project as early enrollees at the next level. We also were told that offensive line commitment Maxwell Iyama is an early enrollee for the 2018 class.
Conway’s Raiqwon O’Neal also turned in a strong performance during the camp, and South Carolina plans on personally evaluating him this summer during one of its own prospect camps in Columbia. He’s picked up a lot of recruiting traction lately. O’Neal has the frame to put on more weight and moves well out wide as a future offensive tackle.
Local athlete Bryce Thompson took home wide receiver MVP honors during the camp, earned in part with a brilliant one-handed catch while being pulled down by a defender during one-on-ones. Thompson, who's been on the Gamecocks' board as a defensive back, has remained in contact with the staff. He's set to change high schools again for his senior season, and from what we gather the odds would be against him eventually being a flip for USC.
There was not anything new to gather on the recruitment of major USC linebacker target Channing Tindall during the camp beyond our recent sit-down with him at his high school, but we did overhear one bit that was worth passing along. Tindall told someone within earshot that South Carolina was far and away the program recruiting him the hardest, with the Gamecock staff filling his phone on a daily basis.
Much more coming throughout the week - stay tuned to GamecockCentral.com for the latest...
