South Carolina football recruiting is heating up as we get closer to National Signing Day. The Gamecocks have been busy telling the story to entice future “garnet and black” wearers to come to Columbia and continue the success that Coach Spurrier has ushered in.
USC is still on the prowl for a linebacker and trying to convince some of their top targets to say yes. So in the below “recruiting nugget,” you will see lots of talk on LB prospects. WE are just trying to keep you, the Gamecock fan, up-to-speed on what is taking shape out there from things we have picked up. For true insight, visit sites like TheBigSpur.com or GamecockCentral. Here is just our quick two-cent snapshot of some key recruiting storylines floating around the message boards:
Drew Barker. This young gun-slinger is out of Hebron, KY and has recently named USC as his current favorite over Tennessee. For the Gamecocks, this is welcomed news as he is the top target right now at quarterback for the Class of 2014. Barker plans to visit USC for the spring game and indicated that he wants to make his decision in late April or early May 2013. Last season, Barker passed for 2072 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1455 yards and 18 scores.
Jonathan Walton. This linebacking prospect out of Mobile, AL decommitted from Penn State Sunday after returning home from an official visit to Tennessee. Walton will visit USC this coming weekend and Auburn the following weekend. He's also been to Minnesota. The Gamecocks hope to convince him that USC is the right spot for him.
Quinton Powell. This former Gator commit will visit the Gamecocks on January 26th. He is scheduled to visit Southern Cal this coming weekend and is set for Arkansas February 1st. He plans to announce his decision on Signing Day on ESPNU. The Gamecocks have some work to do on him to “show the love” as many top programs want the services of this Daytona Beach native.
Da’Shawn Hand. This defensive end from Woodbridge, VA has named his top five via Twitter recently and has South Carolina in the mix with Virginia Tech, Alabama, North Carolina and Michigan. Recruiting services are touting Hand as the top player in the country for 2014.
Devaris Brunson. He had a pledge to become an ECU Pirate but now he has USC knocking on his door. Brunson, from Lake City, SC, is a linebacker that has improved his grades recently so some other programs are finally taking notice of his talents. If USC pushes for Brunson, he will say yes but will they push?
Deadrin Senat. This big defensive lineman out of Immokalee, FL has set his official visit with USC for the Gamecocks' primary recruiting weekend of January 18th. It would be nice to get this guy to help plug the middle for the USC defense. He is a former FSU commit.
Skai Moore. A linebacker, so you know USC is talking to him, has narrowed his choices to four programs after decommitting from Rutgers. Moore cited USC, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Arkansas as the four under consideration. He will visit South Carolina this coming weekend.
The Gamecocks hosted the following players this past weekend: DJ Park, Shaq Wiggins, Ronnie Martin and Connor Mitch. Everyone except Wiggins also enrolled today for the Spring semester.
Na'Ty Rodgers. The Gamecocks have tried for a long time to reel this young man from Pomfret, MD in as one of their top offensive line targets. Rodgers will take his official visit to USC this coming weekend and it likely will come down to the wire between South Carolina and Maryland.
Alfy Hill. USC is no longer an option for him due to academics. He will be attending UNC Pembroke, a Division Two school.
