Recruiting
The South Carolina Gamecocks closed out with a solid recruiting class for 2012 that fulfilled many of their needs and added key depth in places for the immediate future.
The Gamecocks class was rated the nation's 11th-best by CBSSports.com, behind only Alabama and Florida in the SEC. Scout.com rated the class No. 12 (behind Alabama, Florida and LSU in the league). ESPN put the Gamecocks at No. 16. Rivals.com had the lowest opinion of the class, slotting it No. 19 in the country.
We already looked at the defensive side of the ball so let’s take a look at the offensive signees:
South Carolina signed the players it expected to on Wednesday. The Gamecocks have a solid class for the future.
Here is our break down on both sides of the ball regarding the Class of 2012. This is our look at the offensive side.
Here are the players who are projected to play defense for the Gamecocks for the next 3-5 years:
For college football fans and pundits, the next best thing since Christmas and bowl season is upon us...National Signing Day. Who doesn't love the drama, the switches, the guesses, the hats lined up and fans talking about how awesome their schools class is. For South Carolina football fans, don't expect too much drama as the Gamecocks have pretty much solidified their class for 2012 with 25 talented young men.
The USC coaches deserve loads of credit for putting together a solid class that addresses the bulk of the needs going forward.
Here is a list of 22 USC verbal commitments on National Signing Day Eve that are expected to sign Letter-of-Intents:
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team started the week off well with landing a pledge from McDonough (Ga.) Henry County ATH Chris Moody. He has pledged to sign with South Carolina on National Signing Day rather than Vanderbilt.
As our crystal bowl indicated, we felt strongly that he was going to switch from being a Vanderbilt guy to a Gamecock following his official visit over the weekend.
Defensive Coach Lorenzo Ward likes Moody as a boundary cornerback or could see time at safety down the line. He is the sixth defensive back to commit in the class. He also is expected to be given a chance under center in a Wildcat package. Loads of credit goes to Coach Ward for sealing the deal with Moody.
Moody, a three-star prospect, is the No. 72 athlete as ranked by 247Sports and the No. 65 player in the state of Georgia.
Welcome Chris to Gamecock Nation!
The South Carolina Gamecocks are not done recruiting for the Class of 2012 as they are still pushing hard for the services of Chris Moody.
Moody (McDonough, Ga./Henry County) is a Vanderbilt commitment but he is not strong with that.
USC has been pursuing the 3-star athelete and recently got him to make an official visit to South Carolina this past weekend. Good thing too as the Gamecocks are squarely in the mix to sign him on Wednesday, which is national signing day.
By looking at reports surrounding his visit, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder had a very good one as he met Coach Spurrier, Coach Lorenzo Ward and running back Marcus Lattimore. All three made a impact on him but the thing that was said that could get him to switch is that Coach Spurrier promised him a shot to be under center. It will be in designed plays like the Wildcat but it is exactly what Moody wants in his college destination as he played quarterback, along with defense, in high school.
So what does the LOHD crystal ball say...based on his experience on the official visit and the promise to get a shot under center then our outlook is he will sign with the Gamecocks. Don't go bet the house on it but it looks real good that he will be wearing the garnet and black in 2012. If we are wrong blame Moose.
The South Carolina Gamecocks have set their sights on Christian Hackenberg. He is the first quarterback offer for the 2013 class by USC.
Hackenberg (6-4 215) of Fork Union, VA. has offers from the likes of: Tennessee, Rutgers, Virginia, Alabama, Connecticut and Miami.
Hackenberg, labled a 4-star recruit by 247Sports, passed for 2200 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. He is more in the pro-stlye mold but can make plays with his feet.
In April 2011 at the National Underclassmen Combine Will Garlick wrote "The quarterbacks had to deal with a strong wind but they may have been the best looking group as a whole. Fork Union's Christian Hackenberg (6-foot-3, 200) looks the part with his size and he has all the fundamentals you want in signal caller. The combine quarterback coach said Hackenberg had great form and he was named the top sophomore quarterback."
What could play into the Gamecocks favor in this recruiting battle is the fact that Hackenberg’s father was the backup quarterback at Virginia behind Shawn Moore. But in high school he was recruited by Steve Spurrier while he was at Duke. Hackenberg now has the same opportunity his father had, and that is to play for Spurrier.
He has not set any future visits but said he will try to get to USC, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia. Hackenberg said he has no timeline for a decision but would like to decide sometime this summer.
Surely you will hear of other names that USC is going after to be the future quarterback of the Gamecocks but this is the first name on the recruiting board.
You can follow him on Twitter - HERE and you can also view his junior highlights below:
The South Carolina Gamecocks have landed their first commitment for the Class of 2013 as they have received a pledge from D.J. Park out of Dillon High School.
Park is a highly sought after offensive line prospect and many consider one of the top five recruits in the State of South Carolina for the 2013 class.
He had offers from the likes of: LSU, Florida, Clemson, UNC, VT, UT, East Carolina, Auburn and NC State before deciding to commit to South Carolina. Proximity to home was a big factor as was his developed relationship with Coach Elliott.
Park is 6'5" and weighs about 315 pounds. Just look at that photo to the right. This guy is huge and will only get better.
He is a four-star recruit by most recruiting services and could play at offensive tackle at the next level.
Landing Park is a great start to the Class of 2013. (pic is courtesy of TheBigSpur.com)
South Carolina football landed a extremely talented running back in Mike Davis out of Stone Mountain, Ga. The upcoming Stephenson High graduate has committed to play for the Gamecocks and made it known via twitter.
As we noted earlier, this young man had been rumored to already be a "secret commiment" entering his official visit this weekend.
Davis committed to South Carolina over offers from the likes of: Georgia, Clemson, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, and Oklahoma. He was once once committed to Florida for several months before decommitting and opening the recruiting process back up.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is commitment No. 24 for the Gamecocks.
Most major recruiting services rate Davis as a four-star recruit, and most regard him as one of the top ten backs in the country.
Great pickup for USC.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are pursuing Mike Davis to be the next running back in the garnet and black as a member of the Class of 2012. Davis is visiting USC this weekend but is he already a "secret commitment?"
The AJC labeled him this. If true this is wonderful as he is exactly the type running back USC could use in the future.
Davis has indicated that he has made his decision but is taking more visits. He will go to Georgia next weekend and Clemson the last weekend of the month. He also has visited Tennessee and Florida State. He plans to announce on Signing Day.
Most say it is down to UGa or USC. Recently, the 'Dawgs got Todd Gurley as their second running back in the class. This likely hurts UGa's chances.
No reason to keep your love for the Gamecocks a secret even if your brother is James Davis.
Here is the highlights of Davis in action:
