My take on recruiting (2008)
Signing Day has passed, and after a great number of days, I have looked at both USC and Clemson classes, and tried to give each a fair, unbiased look at what was achieved, what was missed, and who I expect each school to see immediate action from. I will also look at next year, and give a top list of in state players the two will want to look at, as well as needs the two teams might want to fill.The idea for the post today comes from GoGamecocks.com's uscjeremyinca and SouthCak. Thanks guys, and enjoy.
Clemson
The tigers pulled in a monster class, made up of one 5 star, thirteen 4 stars, eight 3 stars, and four 2 stars (According to Rivals). Not only did they clean out the state of some of its top talent, they also pulled in some steals from out of state. One thing that was achieved was an upgrade in depth. Looking at the offensive recruits, the Tigers are building for the future.
QB Kyle Parker looked strong in the UnderAmour AllStar game, as did RBs Jaime Haper and Andre Ellington, and TE Dwayne Allan. They also brought in a pair of receivers; possession man Brandon Ford and speedster Marquan Jones. The Oline also received depth, adding talented South Carolina guards Dalton Freeman, Kenneth Page, and tackle Antoine McClain of Alabama. They also signed Florida guard Matt Sanders.
On defense, the Tigers pulled in the gem of the class, 5 star DE Daquan Bowers. They also signed JUCO end Jarret Crittenton. They also got a steal from Georgia, DT Brandon Thompson. LBs Tarik Rollins, Jonathan Willard, and Stanley Hunter added to the class. Safety was a need, at it was met in number, as the Tigers pulled in 4 true safeties (Spencer Adams, Rashard Hall, Carlton Lewis, Daniel Andrews) and a true corner in Xavier Brewer. ATH Jaron Brown I look to also play safety. ATH Matt Skinner also committed.
The tigers also signed two specialists. Kickers Dawson Zimmerman and Spencer Benton.
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if a good bit of these guys play this year. It is a safe bet to say that Bowers will replace the departed Phillip Merling, with Crittenton adding depth to spell Bowers. Spencer Adams will add depth at safety, and Brandon Thompson will add to the depth at DT. Hunter I expect to be in the mix at LB, competing for one of the two spots vacated by Nick Watkins and Tremaine Billie. The rest of the DBs will probably see the RS as well, as will the two athletes, and the two kickers.
I wouldn't be surprised if both Harper and Ellington are redshirted this year, but I have a feeling at least one will be. Parker will RS, as will Ford and Jones at WR. Allan I expect to see time at backup TE, and all the Olineman will should see the red as well, unless they come into camp and blow away the current competition.
Really, they didn't miss on many, except for lineman AJ Harmon.
For next year, barring early leave, the Tigers will be set at QB with Cullen Harper, and backups Willy Korn and Parker. RB may get one after James Davis graduates, and one can assume CJ Spiller will leave as well. WR may take two to replace Aaron Kelly and Rendrick Taylor. TE will be fine. Oline may sign 2 or 3 just to do so.
On defense I expect a heavy Dline class, 2-3 LBs, and maybe a DB.
My biggest question is how many of these current recruits will get in. Scholarship limit is a concern, as are grades. I see a few being held over until next year, adding to the 2009 class.
South Carolina
The Gamecocks couldn't match the outstanding class brought in last year, but still filled needs and laid the foundation for the future.
The Gamecocks brought in six 4 stars, fourteen 3 stars, and two 2 stars. Not many of the players were in national all star games, so the Garnet write up may be a little shorter.
The 3 stars of the class were holdovers from last year; RB Eric Baker and DBs Akeem Auguste and Antonio Allan. The 3 other big hauls were DB CC Whitlock, and DE Jarriel King and Chaz Sutton. Sutton, in my opinion, is the steal of the class.
On offense, Baker heads a small contingent of players. QBs Reid McCallum and Aramis Hillary look to add future depth, and fellow RB Kenny Miles comes from a strong high school program, and will be RS due to the depth at RB. DL Moore was the only WR to sign and will probably RS. TE Mike Triglia not highly rated, but could replace Andy Boyd as the blocking TE. Offensive line is a place the Gamecocks could've done better in, but they did sign C TJ Johnson, who outplayed Clemson's Freeman and Page at the Shrine Bowl. They also signed OT Elliott Williams. Both will RS.
On defense, the Gamecocks hauled in 4 DEs. King I expect to see immediate playing time either at end or tackle. Sutton will either play this year, or go to prep school, depending on his final grades. Ronald Byrd, who can also play OT, and Devin Taylor will RS, but they bring size in the continued evolution of the Gamecock Dline. The average size was 6'5, 260 lbs. DT Kenny Davis has good size, but will probably receive the RS.
Linebacker was an area I thought the Gamecocks could've done better in, but they pulled in Shaq Wilson and Reggie Bowens. Wilson I wouldn't be surprised if he played backup, while I expect a RS for Bowens. Joining the other DBs is a big safety, Darrell Simmons. I expect him to receive a RS. Auguste, Whitlock, and Allan I expect to contribute immediately.
ATH Jarrett Burns and Jay Spearman will probably play DB. Both I expect to RS, but one may play. Punter Ryan Doerr out of Katy, Texas looks to aid Ryan Succop in special team duties.
Really, the Gamecocks missed on a few big names. WRs AJ Green, Tommy Streeter and TJ Lawrence, TE Dwayne Allan, OLinemen Freeman, Page, RJ Mattes, AJ Harmon. DE Bowers, Robert Quinn, DT DeAngelo Tyson, LBs Bruce Taylor, Sterling Lucas, Larentee McCray, and Kevin Reddick. They missed on some DBs like Karnell Hatcher, and a few Clemson commits, as well as athletes like Jaron Brown and EJ Abrams-Ward.
For next year, the Gamecocks will be set at QB with at least 4 scholarship guys (Chris Smelley, Stephen Garcia, Tommy Beecher Hillary, and McCollum). RB also looks good with only Mike Davis graduating. Brian Maddox, Bobby Wallace, as well as Baker and Miles will compete. WR may need just one to replace graduating Kenny McKinley. TE should be well. The Gamecocks really need to land 4-5 Olineman.
On defense, the line should be fine, as should the Dbackfield. Linebacker will be an issue. Jasper Brinkley graduates, and I'd like to see Carolina land 3-4 LBs.
ATH will always be taken, and maybe a kicker to replace Succop and aid Doerr.
2009
Looking ahead, SC will have some good talent up for grabs, and here is my top 10.
1-DE Chris Bonds
2-S Demario Jeffery
3-ATH Stephon Gilmore
4-WR Alshoun Jeffery
5-OL Quinton Washington
6-RB Roderick McDowell
7-OL JK Jay
8-ATH David Sims
9-RB Anthony Carden
10-WR Quinton Payton
Clemson
The tigers pulled in a monster class, made up of one 5 star, thirteen 4 stars, eight 3 stars, and four 2 stars (According to Rivals). Not only did they clean out the state of some of its top talent, they also pulled in some steals from out of state. One thing that was achieved was an upgrade in depth. Looking at the offensive recruits, the Tigers are building for the future.
QB Kyle Parker looked strong in the UnderAmour AllStar game, as did RBs Jaime Haper and Andre Ellington, and TE Dwayne Allan. They also brought in a pair of receivers; possession man Brandon Ford and speedster Marquan Jones. The Oline also received depth, adding talented South Carolina guards Dalton Freeman, Kenneth Page, and tackle Antoine McClain of Alabama. They also signed Florida guard Matt Sanders.
On defense, the Tigers pulled in the gem of the class, 5 star DE Daquan Bowers. They also signed JUCO end Jarret Crittenton. They also got a steal from Georgia, DT Brandon Thompson. LBs Tarik Rollins, Jonathan Willard, and Stanley Hunter added to the class. Safety was a need, at it was met in number, as the Tigers pulled in 4 true safeties (Spencer Adams, Rashard Hall, Carlton Lewis, Daniel Andrews) and a true corner in Xavier Brewer. ATH Jaron Brown I look to also play safety. ATH Matt Skinner also committed.
The tigers also signed two specialists. Kickers Dawson Zimmerman and Spencer Benton.
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if a good bit of these guys play this year. It is a safe bet to say that Bowers will replace the departed Phillip Merling, with Crittenton adding depth to spell Bowers. Spencer Adams will add depth at safety, and Brandon Thompson will add to the depth at DT. Hunter I expect to be in the mix at LB, competing for one of the two spots vacated by Nick Watkins and Tremaine Billie. The rest of the DBs will probably see the RS as well, as will the two athletes, and the two kickers.
I wouldn't be surprised if both Harper and Ellington are redshirted this year, but I have a feeling at least one will be. Parker will RS, as will Ford and Jones at WR. Allan I expect to see time at backup TE, and all the Olineman will should see the red as well, unless they come into camp and blow away the current competition.
Really, they didn't miss on many, except for lineman AJ Harmon.
For next year, barring early leave, the Tigers will be set at QB with Cullen Harper, and backups Willy Korn and Parker. RB may get one after James Davis graduates, and one can assume CJ Spiller will leave as well. WR may take two to replace Aaron Kelly and Rendrick Taylor. TE will be fine. Oline may sign 2 or 3 just to do so.
On defense I expect a heavy Dline class, 2-3 LBs, and maybe a DB.
My biggest question is how many of these current recruits will get in. Scholarship limit is a concern, as are grades. I see a few being held over until next year, adding to the 2009 class.
South Carolina
The Gamecocks couldn't match the outstanding class brought in last year, but still filled needs and laid the foundation for the future.
The Gamecocks brought in six 4 stars, fourteen 3 stars, and two 2 stars. Not many of the players were in national all star games, so the Garnet write up may be a little shorter.
The 3 stars of the class were holdovers from last year; RB Eric Baker and DBs Akeem Auguste and Antonio Allan. The 3 other big hauls were DB CC Whitlock, and DE Jarriel King and Chaz Sutton. Sutton, in my opinion, is the steal of the class.
On offense, Baker heads a small contingent of players. QBs Reid McCallum and Aramis Hillary look to add future depth, and fellow RB Kenny Miles comes from a strong high school program, and will be RS due to the depth at RB. DL Moore was the only WR to sign and will probably RS. TE Mike Triglia not highly rated, but could replace Andy Boyd as the blocking TE. Offensive line is a place the Gamecocks could've done better in, but they did sign C TJ Johnson, who outplayed Clemson's Freeman and Page at the Shrine Bowl. They also signed OT Elliott Williams. Both will RS.
On defense, the Gamecocks hauled in 4 DEs. King I expect to see immediate playing time either at end or tackle. Sutton will either play this year, or go to prep school, depending on his final grades. Ronald Byrd, who can also play OT, and Devin Taylor will RS, but they bring size in the continued evolution of the Gamecock Dline. The average size was 6'5, 260 lbs. DT Kenny Davis has good size, but will probably receive the RS.
Linebacker was an area I thought the Gamecocks could've done better in, but they pulled in Shaq Wilson and Reggie Bowens. Wilson I wouldn't be surprised if he played backup, while I expect a RS for Bowens. Joining the other DBs is a big safety, Darrell Simmons. I expect him to receive a RS. Auguste, Whitlock, and Allan I expect to contribute immediately.
ATH Jarrett Burns and Jay Spearman will probably play DB. Both I expect to RS, but one may play. Punter Ryan Doerr out of Katy, Texas looks to aid Ryan Succop in special team duties.
Really, the Gamecocks missed on a few big names. WRs AJ Green, Tommy Streeter and TJ Lawrence, TE Dwayne Allan, OLinemen Freeman, Page, RJ Mattes, AJ Harmon. DE Bowers, Robert Quinn, DT DeAngelo Tyson, LBs Bruce Taylor, Sterling Lucas, Larentee McCray, and Kevin Reddick. They missed on some DBs like Karnell Hatcher, and a few Clemson commits, as well as athletes like Jaron Brown and EJ Abrams-Ward.
For next year, the Gamecocks will be set at QB with at least 4 scholarship guys (Chris Smelley, Stephen Garcia, Tommy Beecher Hillary, and McCollum). RB also looks good with only Mike Davis graduating. Brian Maddox, Bobby Wallace, as well as Baker and Miles will compete. WR may need just one to replace graduating Kenny McKinley. TE should be well. The Gamecocks really need to land 4-5 Olineman.
On defense, the line should be fine, as should the Dbackfield. Linebacker will be an issue. Jasper Brinkley graduates, and I'd like to see Carolina land 3-4 LBs.
ATH will always be taken, and maybe a kicker to replace Succop and aid Doerr.
2009
Looking ahead, SC will have some good talent up for grabs, and here is my top 10.
1-DE Chris Bonds
2-S Demario Jeffery
3-ATH Stephon Gilmore
4-WR Alshoun Jeffery
5-OL Quinton Washington
6-RB Roderick McDowell
7-OL JK Jay
8-ATH David Sims
9-RB Anthony Carden
10-WR Quinton Payton
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