Recruiting Roundup: South Carolina Football
In this segment, we’ll look at the Class of 2017 commits for all the teams in the SEC. To start us off, we’ll look at the class first year coach, Will Muschamp, has put together at South Carolina.
Commits
Shi Smith, 5-9.5, 175, Four-Star, ATH Union (Union, SC)
Kyshaun Bryan, 5-10, 190, Three-Star, RB St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Will Register, 6-4, 241, Three-Star TE, Chapin (Chapin, SC)
Shawn Smith, 5-11, 160, Three-Star ATH, Brunswick (Brunswick, GA)
Dennis Daley, 6-6, 280, Three-Star OT, Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, GA)
Devonte Wyatt, 6-4, 300, Three-Star SDE, Towers (Decatur, GA)
Eric Douglas, 6-5, 282, Three-Star OT, Mallard Creek (Charlotte, NC)
Tavyn Jackson, 5-9.5, 170, Three-Star CB, James Rickards (Tallahassee, FL)
Jaylin Dickerson, 6-0, 174, Three-Star S, Pinecrest (Southern Pines, SC)
Damani Stanley, 6-1, 200, Three-Star OLB, Ridge View (Columbia, SC)
Jay Urich, 6-4, 198, Three-Star Dual-Threat QB, Wren (Piedmont, SC)
Tyreek Johnson, 6-4, 245, Three-Star SDE, Lakewood (Sumter, SC)
Summie Carlay, 6-5, 265, Three-Star OT, Laurens Dist. 55 (Laurens, SC)
Elridge Thompson, 6-2, 218, Three-Star OLB, Coffeyville CC (Lawrence, KS)
Damarri Mathis, 5-11, 175, Three-Star CB, Lakeland (Lakeland, FL)
Davonne Bowen, 6-2, 220, Three-Star WDE, Woodmont (Piedmont, SC)
Analysis
This class is loaded with in-state players, so kudos to coach Muschamp and his staff for keeping some local talent close to home. I like the addition of Elridge Thompson, a seasoned outside linebacker, who’s matured during his time at Coffeyville CC.
The star of this class is Shi Smith, the second best player in the state of South Carolina. An outstanding athlete, Smith is explosive on film. He is blazing fast, running a 4.40, 40-yard-dash. He’s a dangerous deep threat. He’s incredibly elusive.
Quarterback Jay Urich has great size, a strong arm and excellent vision. Tavyn Jackson is an underrated cornerback who nearly committed to Auburn in April. He has built a strong relationship with the South Carolina coaching staff, and already knew Will Muschamp from his coaching days at Auburn. Jackson constantly fights for the ball with receivers, which usually ends in an interception for him.
Tavyn Jackson is a cornerback coming out of Tallahassee that could be an instant playmaker for the Gamecocks. He’s as good as it gets on the outside, and we’ve seen what Muschamp can do with talented playmakers in the secondary.
Looking at the commit list, the Gamecocks have some big boys looking to bring their talents to Columbia. Needs were addressed on both the offensive and defensive lines.
In The Mix
Anthony McFarland, a four-star running back from Maryland, listed the Gamecock’s in his top 10 schools. The shifty, 5-foot-8 prospect could be a very effective weapon in USC’s offense (really he’ll be great in any system in his top 10).
Chances are slim that he’ll commit to South Carolina, but the fact he mentioned them in his top 10 is promising.
Next: How Every Coach can Win 2016 SEC Coach of the Year
Class Grade: A-
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and give the Gamecocks an A-. Although this class only has one four-star recruit, it’s loaded with some 3-star gems. The cocks did a great job at securing some in-state guys. For a team that finished 3-9 last year (1-7 in the SEC), they’ve still managed to put together a respectable class to this point. South Carolina needs to rebuild with young talent, and this will be Will Muschamp’s first class that he and his staff selected.