College Football recruiting is heating up as the final stretch is beginning with National Signing Day approaching.  Below are some South Carolina Gamecocks recruiting notes to feed your hunger today concerning guys still on the USC board.

If I am missing anything or anyone, let this Gamecocks blog know as we will update.  Please share this post and this blog with your sports pals.  Here is your breakdown of the USC recruiting targets without the fees....

In reading this article about current USC Gamecock commit Sharmier Jeffery out of Calhoun County, I feel Coach Spurrier may have gotten a steal.  Jeffery, much like his brother Alshon, has loads of talent and presents huge upside for the South Carolina program.  Sharmier is a playmaker and that is exactly what USC needs.  Would love to seem him get a chance in the return game at some point in his career as he could solve the issue of the current guys running straight into opposing players.

This is what the article says...

South Carolina: Shamier Jeffery, WR, St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County

Jeffery, the younger brother of Gamecocks All-American Alshon Jeffery, showed flashes of being similar to his sibling during practices for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl. During the O-D game, he caught a 41-yard touchdown pass. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is a big, athletic target.

The Gamecocks would love to land this four star recruit to play in the USC secondary.  He has all the tools a coach desires with quickness, coverage skills and the ability to lay a hit on the opposing receiver. 

The AJC has released their Top 50 list for College Football recruits out of the state of Georgia over the weekend and it has four future Gamecocks listed.  This list is intended to represent the 50 best “college football prospects” in the state.

Here is who and where the future Gamecocks land on the list -

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team got some bad news from LB Lateek Townsend today as he chose to go to Clemson over South Carolina on national television.

He made his pick at the US Army All-American Game after just yesterday saying he was not going to select his school until Signing Day.  I hate that South Carolina lost out on him but honestly I feel USC may still be able to sway him.  I don't think it is over in his recruiting, at least let's hope so.  He could provide some great depth at the linebacking position at Carolina but I guess he drank too much orange kool-aid.

Townsend had 134 tackles and 11 sacks this past season.

It is being reported by GamecockCentral.com (Rivals Pay Site) that the University of South Carolina has backed off the recruitiment of OT Josue Matias due to "numbers."  Meaning the Gamecocks are running out of scholly's to give and given the fact that USC currently has six offensive linemen in the 2011 class.

Hate to hear this as Matias is a big body that could certainly be used on the line to create running lanes for Marcus Lattimore.  Matias is a four star recruit and a highly sought after kid due to his size and talent.  Some program will be happy when they land Josue and we wish him much success in life.

Marlboro County LB Lateek Townsend has yet again backed off his decision plans.  You may recall that he said he was going to be a Clemson Tiger then backed off.  Most recently, he was going to announce during Saturday's US Army All American Game but now has backed off that plan.  On his facebook page, he stated he would not give his decision today but his coach still thinks he will in the 4th quarter.  His latest plan is to make his decision known on Signing Day.  This has all the makings of a recruiting soap opera but landing this kid is worth it.

He is a four star recruit that is a terror on defense.  Loves to hit, make the plays but just needs some extra coaching at the college level.  He is the real deal and in time could be poised for life in the NFL.

It is being reported that he is going to choose a in-state school and seems to be a Tiger lean as of this second.  If he does announce today, it could be for Clemson.  He is still on the schedule to announce in the 2nd quarter of the game today. 

USC should not lose hope on him, even if he decides today as he changes with the wind.  USC can close this deal and I feel that is what is occuring behing the scenes.  Just when he gets close to saying he is going to be a Tiger, USC steps in to remind him the reason he needs to be a Gamecock.  The Gamecocks have a strong chance to ink this kid but need to work him hard these last few weeks.  Coach Spurrier needs to step up and say all the right things to this kid as he would be a game-changer after one season of growth.

Stay tuned to this recruiting soap opera.... 

The University of South Carolina will learn the fate of two of their recruiting targets during the week of January 16th as TE Rory Anderson and LB Marquis Roberts have indicated they will announce. Both are expected to pick USC though Anderson is scheduled for a visit to Tennessee this weekend.

Landing these two would be very good for USC as both bring a skill set that USC needs.  Roberts is a stud at linebacker and rated by Rivals as a 3 star recruit.  Roberts would be a nice fit in the LB corps after one season under his belt of growth.  He can play the pass or stuff the run.  He is a perfect fit for Coach Johnson's defense.  Anderson, a 3 star recruit, is the type TE that can stretch the field, present the mis-match but also block when needed.  He could be the next Jared Cook...just saying.

More on these two when they say they want to wear the garnet and black....

Defensive back Thomas Finnie of Miami, one of the top recruits in USC's 2011 class, changed his commitment to Miami from USC today.  The irony is he was suppose to head to Columbia today to enroll in school as classes start Monday.

CaneSport.com reported that Finnie and his father drove to the Miami campus this morning and committed to Coach Al Golden. He now plans to enroll as a 'Cane on Jan. 18.

Finnie is a 3-star recruit on the Rivals.com database and is currently listed as the 29th ranked defensive back overall coming out of high school. Finnie is a 5'10" 170 pound but don't let that size fool you as he is a stud.  He has a knack for making plays and laying the big hits down.  This is a blow for USC in losing Finnie and dang you Al Golden!  AS USC fans know going into 2011 that making the secondary better is a priority and this hurts that plan.

USC now has 26 commitments for the upcoming class due to losses of Finnie and Golson.

QB Tanner McEvoy (6-6 205) of Oradell, NJ will not name a leader but it the three-star recruit is trying to decide if he should go with the University of South Carolina or the University of North Carolina as his college destintation for 2011.

Phil Kornblut is reporting that USC Assistant Coach / QB Coach G.A. Mangus is meeting with Tanner tonight to make the final pitch.  McEvoy has been quoted in saying that he will make a decision in the coming weeks after his scheduled UNC visit.

Some more thoughts after the jump...