USC Recruiting News

[GTmorris1970]

yeah, I guess baseball will have to tide me over, even though its not one of my favorite sports...no hitting, I love contact sports....

Do you work nights?

[uscballer101]

nah im a college student...i go to USC

[GTmorris1970]

nah im a college student...i go to USC

How is the attitude around campus about the football team?

[uscballer101]

Well its always high, it was high last year when i was a freshman, it was high during this past season, but yeah since we have Spurrier it is at a new high...but the student body is always behind every sport at USC...

[GTmorris1970]

Well its always high, it was high last year when i was a freshman, it was high during this past season, but yeah since we have Spurrier it is at a new high...but the student body is always behind every sport at USC...

Do you have any classes with any of the players?

[uscballer101]

Yeah, I'm a CJ major so a bunch of them are in those classes, I have some with the basketball players too

[GTmorris1970]

Yeah, I'm a CJ major so a bunch of them are in those classes, I have some with the basketball players too

Criminal Justice?

[GTmorris1970]

What do the players have to say about Spurrier?

[uscballer101]

Yep, I'm switching to History though...I love my CJ classes, but I dont think thats what I want to do anymore

[GTmorris1970]

Yep, I'm switching to History though...I love my CJ classes, but I dont think thats what I want to do anymore

I am 2 classes away from an associates in criminal justice! :D

[uscballer101]

cool, yeah people are under the impression its one of the easiest majors at USC, i guess they havent taken any CJ classes

[GTmorris1970]

cool, yeah people are under the impression its one of the easiest majors at USC, i guess they havent taken any CJ classes

Business Law about killed me!! LOL

[uscballer101]

I havent taken many classes that deal with CJ yet, only 4 of em...

[GTmorris1970]

I havent taken many classes that deal with CJ yet, only 4 of em...

Have you seen Spurrier around campus at all?

[uscballer101]

Nah, I wish...I dont know what I would do, probably get his autograph...

[GTmorris1970]

Nah, I wish...I dont know what I would do, probably get his autograph...

LOL....What do the players say about him?

[uscballer101]

Very very exciting, one of my good friends went to HS and is best friends with Noah Whiteside and Noah cant wait....But they say he is more attainable than Holtz was, like Spurrier has meetings alot with the players and will call them and actually talk with them, which holtz would never do....

[GTmorris1970]

Very very exciting, one of my good friends went to HS and is best friends with Noah Whiteside and Noah cant wait....But they say he is more attainable than Holtz was, like Spurrier has meetings alot with the players and will call them and actually talk with them, which holtz would never do....

So their attitude seems to be better?

[uscballer101]

Yeah, alot better...but it wasnt bad when Holtz was here, its just Spurrier is alot more hands on with the players...the way a coach should be

[GTmorris1970]

Yeah, alot better...but it wasnt bad when Holtz was here, its just Spurrier is alot more hands on with the players...the way a coach should be

Well he certainly has something that works......His past record shows that. Do you know if they have the play books and things like that yet?

[uscballer101]

Nah, they dont have them yet...right now only conditioning and lifting...I guess doing one thing at a time...

[GTmorris1970]

Nah, they dont have them yet...right now only conditioning and lifting...I guess doing one thing at a time...

I wonder how much different his conditioning program is than Lou's was?

[uscballer101]

I'm not sure...but summers and some other players missed class 2 weeks ago and they couldnt run with the team for a couple of practices because "running with the team is a priviledge" so they had to run bleachers...

[GTmorris1970]

I'm not sure...but summers and some other players missed class 2 weeks ago and they couldnt run with the team for a couple of practices because "running with the team is a priviledge" so they had to run bleachers...

:p That is what we want to hear!! Put the chickens back in the pen, no pun intended..... :D

[uscballer101]

Yeah i know, I love spurrier

[GTmorris1970]

Yeah i know, I love spurrier

I think he is going to be good for those kids, and the University of South Carolina. :)

[uscballer101]

I agree 100%...things are looking good for the program...hopefully they will turn out that way

[GTmorris1970]

I agree 100%...things are looking good for the program...hopefully they will turn out that way

They are going to turn out that way. No negative intuitions!! ;)

[uscballer101]

Haha, yeah i just dont want to push things...after the spring game I will decide how well we will do, when we know who our QB is gonna be and how good he is

[uscballer101]

So where do you go to school?

[GTmorris1970]

Haha, yeah i just dont want to push things...after the spring game I will decide how well we will do, when we know who our QB is gonna be and how good he is

Good point. But, if it is Heffner, and he is good enough for BIG DADDY, then he is good enough for me. I can assure you one thing. We will have speed, and we will have the best 11 on the field on both sides of the ball. And, we will try to score until we are tired of blowing bulbs on the scoreboard!! :)

[uscballer101]

Hahaha, very nice...I agree...Ill definitely be at the UCF game...

[GTmorris1970]

So where do you go to school?

I am doing the distance learning thing through Ashworth College in Norcross, Ga. I am going on 35, and want to be a private investigator. Figured I might as well go ahead and get a degree, before I get too old to see! LOL :D

[uscballer101]

haha, true...but you live in Cola?

[GTmorris1970]

haha, true...but you live in Cola?

Right downtown. Work at Richland Memorial. That is where I am now. :D

[GTmorris1970]

The school mails me my books, and I submit my test online, on their website.

[uscballer101]

Cool, did you hear about all of the food poisoning at USC?

[GTmorris1970]

Cool, did you hear about all of the food poisoning at USC?

No, I sure didn't. :confused:

[FLgamecockJAX]

I agree. Spurrier is wanting those stands full for that one. And, knowing how excited people down here are, they will be there just to catch a glimpse of the Ole Ball Coach in action.

I was in Jax (on the field for pre-game) for the Jaguars/Redskins game when SOS returned for the 1st time after leaving UF. The fans were more excited over him than they were the Jaguars.

[GTmorris1970]

I was in Jax (on the field for pre-game) for the Jaguars/Redskins game when SOS returned for the 1st time after leaving UF. The fans were more excited over him than they were the Jaguars.

I am sure WB will be full of screaming fans, many with Carolina visors. :)

[GTmorris1970]

I never saw Lou at the first spring game. I hope Spurrier is right there on the sideline.

[FLgamecockJAX]

There are reports saying SC is full of talent for 2006. Some say it's the best year in 5 years.

[uscballer101]

I'm sure SOS will grab up all of the talent he can get his hands on...

[GTmorris1970]

If it has not been posted already, the freshman recruits for this season will report for workouts on July 2. They will not participate in the spring game.

[Dr. Pepper]

What is with all of this "Blake envy"? The guy sucks! If you knew half of it, you would be saying the same thing.

Mitchell's problem is he's a class clown and does nothing but eat pizza, drink beer and party in 5-Points.:mad: If that punk would put down the Jack Daniels, dust off his playbook and actually look at it, he may get a shot. It doesn't start there though. He needs to quit partying so freakin much and go study some film.

From the get-go, Mitchell has been a slacker and he shouldn't be rewarded with PT for his laziness. :mad:

Sorry to hear about Blake's immaturity. I had heard some things that concerned me, but I was hoping that he might grow up. He was good in HS and since he is from my home state, I wanted him to kill the dawgs. I'm OK with Heff - just throw the ball and let the people cheer.

[IrmoCock]

Hey Neo. Assuming everyone qualifies, who will SS grayshirt? Have the arrangements already been made with the kids?

[Neo]

Hey Neo. Assuming everyone qualifies, who will SS grayshirt? Have the arrangements already been made with the kids?


I haven't heard yet, but when I find out I'll post it here. :)

[Neo]

Bound for South Carolina
When Coach Steve Spurrier called, Maryville's Cade Thompson listened, but the road to wearing garnet wasn't without curves and bumps

By Lance Coleman
February 2, 2005

http://mas.scripps.com/BLNT/2005/02/02/cadethompson4_d.jpg
When University of South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier wants to talk to you about playing Division I college football, don’t take a message. "You have to listen when Steve Spurrier calls," Maryville High School quarterback Cade Thompson says.

Cade signed papers on Wednesday formally committing himself to play for Spurrier at the University of South Carolina. He talked recently about his football career, his favorite memories as quarterback at Maryville High School and the turn of events that led him to change his commitment from the University of North Carolina to the University of South Carolina.

Surprise phone call

Cade says he was "definitely not" expecting the call from Steve Spurrier early in January. "I wasn’t thinking right away I was going to South Carolina. Early on in the summer, I had two offers from the ACC. I didn’t think I’d get an SEC offer," he says.

He says he chose early to get the decision out of the way so he could focus on his senior season at Maryville High School. A state championship followed, as did a coaching change at the University of South Carolina. Cade says it was in early January that Maryville High School football coach George Quarles called the staff at the University of South Carolina.

"I think Coach Quarles had an idea he (Spurrier) would be interested. He called down there, they called back and said they’d be interested," Cade says. "Me and my dad were pretty surprised. "You have to listen when Steve Spurrier calls. He’s got a good track record with putting quarterbacks in the pros. I’d be interested in playing his offense," he says. About a week after South Carolina called, Cade and his family visited Columbia on Jan. 14, and he switched his commitment to South Carolina after the visit.

"The campus is pretty nice. I think everyone in Columbia is ready for a winning team. I know with Spurrier, they’re really excited," he says. When asked about playing his freshman year, Cade says Spurrier told him the position is "wide open right now."

"I’m hoping to get red-shirted and hopefully next year see some playing time," he says. Cade says Spurrier didn’t give him a specific weight to get up to, but just told him to get bigger. Cade says playing at his current weight could prove difficult.

"I don’t think I could play against some of those huge linebackers. They’d break me playing at this weight," he says.
Cade says Coach Spurrier’s and Coach Quarles’ styles were similar. "Both like to spread it out with four or five wide receivers," he says. "We run gun a lot and so do they. We have a lot of reads and routes that are similar." And the conversations with the coaches also had a familiar ring, Cade says. Both Spurrier and Quarles like to talk football all the time.

"When I’m with Spurrier, he’s talking about old football games. They could probably watch old film for hours," Cade says.
If he could take a former teammate with him, who would Cade choose? Cade says he would want Carl Stewart, a senior on the 2002 state championship team who went on to play at Auburn.

"He’s a great athlete," Cade remembers. "He could do about anything. Athletic-wise, that’s who I’d want to take."

High School highlights

Cade says the memory that stands out most in his high school career was his sophomore year when, right before the season, starter Alex Rouse tore his ACL during a scrimmage game. "My first play, I threw a touchdown pass to Brad Merritt on a fade route," he says. "With all the great athletes around me though, it was hard to not have a good year. I had a bunch of help around me. "I didn’t think I’d be anywhere near South Carolina," Cade says of the next step in his football life. "I didn’t have any big plans for college, maybe go to a Division II school."

When asked how he was taking all the pressure during the recruiting process, Cade says he’s just not used to all the attention. "It’s hard sometimes with coaches calling you, and you’re trying to focus on other things, but it’s not that bad," he says.

Handling the pressure

Maryville Coach George Quarles says he’s impressed with the way Cade has handled success.

"He’s won just about every award, he hasn’t changed. He doesn’t expect anything from anyone," Quarles says.
Cade Thompson’s ability to throw the football was never a question, Quarles says of the quarterback who led the Rebels to state championships in 2002 and 2004. When Cade was made a starter as a sophomore following Alex Rouse’s injury in pre-season scrimmage, the staff was concerned about how the then 15-year-old would handle the pressure, Coach Quarles says.

"He really came into his own that summer before his sophomore year. The big question or concern was, would Cade be able to handle the pressure of being in the spotlight, especially with the senior-dominated team," Quarles says. "Just putting him in that situation -- that was our biggest concern. I think he had the skills to be able to play and make decisions. It’s tough for a youngster to get in that situation and succeed," the coach says.

Quarles says Cade has improved in just about every way.

"He’s gotten stronger and bigger. He could still improve. His confidence in our offense was good. I think he started 44 games for us. That was his biggest improvement, just offensively . He could always throw it. He had a nice throwing motion and threw a very catchable ball, but the confidence and knowledge of the offense are the two biggest areas where he improved." Quarles says Cade was more of a "lead by example" type of leader.

"He’s not very talkative," his coach says. "He’s not ‘rah-rah.’ He’s there and is going to get his job done. He’s very steady; he doesn’t get rattled. He doesn’t get too down when things don’t go his way. "That’s a lesson for all of us," the coach says. "A lot of times, we all over-react to good and bad things. He reacted the same way to a good or bad thing." The South Carolina recruiting process moved quickly, Quarles says, after he contacted the USC coaches. "Basically all I did was call them to find out where to send film, like we do with a lot of kids. From there it went in a hurry. I was out of it from then on." Quarles says he worked with the South Carolina coaches to set up a visit.

"I wasn’t in the recruiting process as far as the decision," he says. "That was Cade and his family." It started with friends When Wayne and Janet Thompson let their son Cade play organized league football as a fifth grader, they didn’t have aspirations that he would one day win a scholarship to play football for a Division I school. "It never crossed my mind," Wayne Thompson says. "I wanted him to have fun, be successful, be able to come to Maryville High School to play with the coaches we’ve got. That’s all I wanted for him - have fun and be part of a good high school experience. Anything else would be ‘gravy.’"

It was also friendships, Janet Thompson says. "That’s what got him started, his friends. They all played in fifth grade."

Wayne says they wanted to keep him from playing until he was in middle school. He played as a fifth grader and then worked as a manager of the football team when he went to middle school as a sixth grader. He also played soccer and baseball that year, Wayne Thompson says. In middle school, Cade was back-up quarterback, and also started as a safety. His freshman year, he was one of three quarterbacks practicing for Maryville High School.

Continued....

[Neo]

Wayne Thompson is defensive secondary coach at Maryville High School, so his role in Cade’s high school career was from the other side. In practice, for example, when Wayne’s defense did well at practice, it usually meant Cade wasn’t having such a good day. When Cade and the offense had a great practice, Wayne’s defense might be in for a good talking to.
For the father and son, however, the roles of coach and father were separate. "We left the football at the stadium," Wayne says. "Once we’re home, it’s ‘King of the Hill.’ That’s our favorite show. We didn’t talk football."

Both parents were impressed with their son’s calmness during the recruiting and re-recruiting process. "He handled everything with maturity," Wayne says. "I don’t think a lot of kids could do that. That impressed me. He’s handled it a lot better than I would have at his age." Wayne Thompson says that while at times it was difficult dealing with phone calls from coaches and the media, the family always counted their blessings.

"Most kids don’t get this chance," Wayne says.

Deciding early to go to North Carolina was a blessing, the Thompsons believe, even with the decision changes. "You don’t realize how early the coaches start the recruiting process and how much it involves and all the rules and regulations," Janet says. But by deciding early, Cade "was able to concentrate on his senior season, then it all worked out for the best," says his mother. Of the switch to South Carolina, Janet says she and her husband let Cade make the call. "We weren’t planning for that, but once we visited, we knew. That was an opportunity that wasn’t available when Cade visited North Carolina.

"Spurrier wasn’t there, and the offer wasn’t there. Sometimes the unexpected can happen." When asked how the recruiting process, first with North Carolina and then South Carolina, affected his son, Wayne says he is sure Cade felt some stress. "He’s the kind of kid who handles it well," he acknowledges. And the stress is just beginning for the parents. Wayne says he is "scared to death" about the quarterback situation at South Carolina because it isn’t stable now. "I’d rather there be a junior in there starting. That way (Cade) would get a chance to mature. Even the great quarterbacks at UT -- the freshmen -- they took a beating. But Coach Spurrier said that if he’s ready, he’s ready." Wayne says his son needs to mature more physically to be able to play at South Carolina, but mentally, he says Cade is ready if called upon. If that happens, Wayne hopes the team has a good season. "If not, it could be hard on anyone," the father says. Wayne Thompson says Spurrier has a reputation for developing great quarterbacks.

"I hope he’s up to the challenge," he says of his son. Wayne Thompson says he doesn’t plan on missing a single game of his son’s career at South Carolina. "Because it’s the SEC, all the games are closer," he says. "We’re thankful for that, and that played into his decision." Janet isn’t worried about the drives to Columbia. The Florida native says of the four-hour trip: "Once you are over the mountains, it’s like driving in Florida," she says. "It’s flat."

Coachable kid

Ask PeeWee League Football Coach Joey Winders to describe Cade Thompson as a 10-year-old on his team, and Winders is quick to answer. "He was just a quiet, little skinny kid who was very coachable," says Cade’s first coach. "He listened and paid attention and was very mature. A lot of 10 year olds think it’s romp and play time. He was serious about what he was doing and listened well." Winders played Cade at tailback and outside linebacker.

"We won a championship in four overtimes. I can still visualize him making a last tackle to preserve a victory," Winders says. "We scored in the fourth overtime and had to hold them on four downs. He made the tackle that preserved the victory." Winders says he watched Cade improve greatly as a quarterback from his freshman to his sophomore year. "I watched him pass as freshman. He looked real tentative." says Winder.

The next season, however, was different. "The difference between his freshman and sophomore year when they threw him out there, it was just incredible -- the amount of progress he made in those two seasons." Winders says Cade continued to get better and better each season.

"One of the most exciting things for me is, I’ve got a son who aspires to be a quarterback, and Cade has spent the past two summers working with him," Winders says. "Cade is passing back some of the stuff that he’s been given. My son hopes to follow in his idol’s steps," Winders says. Winders says Cade had the same demeanor when playing baseball as when playing football.

"I saw the same demeanor when he was pitching. He was just a ‘money man’ when the game was on the line." It’s in the genes, Winders says. "His dad was always that way. I graduated with his dad. He reminds me a lot of his dad." And Winders echoed the sentiment of many of Cade’s hometown fans:
"I’m just awful proud of him," he says, "and excited for him."

http://www.blounttoday.com/blnt/news/article/0,2355,BLNT_18869_3516830,00.html

[SPURED]

lol maybe in a few years we will have a QB by the name of Winders!!!

[Neo]

lol maybe in a few years we will have a QB by the name of Winders!!!

Maybe....who knows?


I think Spurrier will only take one (1) QB next year and he may go by the name of Tebow.

[SPURED]

i hope we can get that kid

[Chivas]

sheesh this is a big thread, someone mind filling me in on the last 256 pages

[Neo]

sheesh this is a big thread, someone mind filling me in on the last 256 pages


Lou Holtz retiring
Steve Spurrier being hired
Recruiting
And now Spring Training :D

[FLgamecockJAX]

I think Spurrier will only take one (1) QB next year and he may go by the name of Tebow.


Neo, is this just hopeful thinking or does the coaching staff believe they are in real good shape with Tebow?

[FLgamecockJAX]

And now Spring Training


Not only Spring Training, but we are already discussing recruiting for class of 2006!

[Neo]

Not only Spring Training, but we are already discussing recruiting for class of 2006!

That's right.... :D

We all decided to keep this thread going so years down the road, we can look back at what we were saying when Spurrier was first hired. :D

[Neo]

Neo, is this just hopeful thinking or does the coaching staff believe they are in real good shape with Tebow?

It's still early, but I was told that the conference with Tebow went really well. :)

[FLgamecockJAX]

It's still early, but I was told that the conference with Tebow went really well.


That it is, but first impressions mean alot! I'm sure that first meeting was very important to both parties. Our coaching staff showed that when they really want a player, they will not quit until the ink dries.

To get involved this early with Mr. Tebow, they must really want this young man.

Neo, do you think the staff will go hard after early commits or wait on those wanting to play the game?

[Neo]

That it is, but first impressions mean alot! I'm sure that first meeting was very important to both parties. Our coaching staff showed that when they really want a player, they will not quit until the ink dries.

To get involved this early with Mr. Tebow, they must really want this young man.

Neo, do you think the staff will go hard after early commits or wait on those wanting to play the game?

Now this is my opinion and it has nothing to do with anthing I have been told.

For starters, I think that Spurrier and company will go after specific recruits. If we have a semi-successful year, you can bet your bottom dollar that the recruits will be there. I see Spurrier seriously "cherry picking" this coming recruiting year.

[FLgamecockJAX]

I see Spurrier seriously "cherry picking" this coming recruiting year.


I agree with you. SOS is in a completely different situation than Holtz was in. He has a solid core of players and with the speedsters he just signed, he has players to win now! In this next class, I believe he will only go after those that he believes can lead him to championships.

They did a wonderful job in 71 days and I don't believe they SETTLED for many players, but I'm sure there were a few that he may would swap. Due to the ground work Coach Holtz did, SOS will have better options available to him. And that's part of the reason he took the job. He wouldn't have taken the job that Lou Holtz took.

This is why I believe he really wants Mr. Tebow. I know they are watching BJ Phillips along with some others. If Mr. Tebow wants to come and BJ has an incredible senior season (and wants to come), well maybe SOS would take 2 QB's. But I don't see him stretching on any projects.

[Neo]

I agree with you. SOS is in a completely different situation than Holtz was in. He has a solid core of players and with the speedsters he just signed, he has players to win now! In this next class, I believe he will only go after those that he believes can lead him to championships.

They did a wonderful job in 71 days and I don't believe they SETTLED for many players, but I'm sure there were a few that he may would swap. Due to the ground work Coach Holtz did, SOS will have better options available to him. And that's part of the reason he took the job. He wouldn't have taken the job that Lou Holtz took.

This is why I believe he really wants Mr. Tebow. I know they are watching BJ Phillips along with some others. If Mr. Tebow wants to come and BJ has an incredible senior season (and wants to come), well maybe SOS would take 2 QB's. But I don't see him stretching on any projects.

I agree completely. I think he wants Tebow so bad, it's like battery acid in his mouth. Personally, I don't think he settled for anyone. I think he went after the ones he wanted and that's it. Now he may have preferred to have certain players, but I wouldn't exactly call it "settling" for someone. :cool:

[FLgamecockJAX]

I agree completely. I think he wants Tebow so bad, it's like battery acid in his mouth. Personally, I don't think he settled for anyone. I think he went after the ones he wanted and that's it. Now he may have preferred to have certain players, but I wouldn't exactly call it "settling" for someone.


Exactly, I may have used the wrong wording. What I was saying is that if he could have landed Olsen, the #1 recruit Williams, Atkins, etc. Well, he may have backed off someone that we signed for those players. Who knows?

What we do know is: We can only take 25 per year and I'm sure he wants the BEST 25 he can get. I'm sure the staff feels that with a strong season and a year to recruit, they can get 25 great ones.

For programs to get where UF was under SOS, where OU and Southern Cal are now, you have to have OJ Murdocks that don't see the field until Sophomore or Junior years. You have to have 85 big time players.

[Neo]

Exactly, I may have used the wrong wording. What I was saying is that if he could have landed Olsen, the #1 recruit Williams, Atkins, etc. Well, he may have backed off someone that we signed for those players. Who knows?

What we do know is: We can only take 25 per year and I'm sure he wants the BEST 25 he can get. I'm sure the staff feels that with a strong season and a year to recruit, they can get 25 great ones.

For programs to get where UF was under SOS, where OU and Southern Cal are now, you have to have OJ Murdocks that don't see the field until Sophomore or Junior years. You have to have 85 big time players.

To a certain extent, I would agree with that. It's like I tell most people, I'm expecting USC to go 8-3 this year or better. Have you seen the last few recruiting classes? They are stacked with top-tier players. Check it out;

2005:
http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2005&School=69

2004:
http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Sport=1&Year=2004&School=69

2003:
http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Sport=1&Year=2003&School=69

2002:
http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Sport=1&Year=2002&School=69

If we even remotely have success this year, the recruits will flock in. That's why this year is so important and that we be bowl bound. If we have a losing season, the recruits are going to start second guessing Spurrier like they did Holtz towards the end.

[FLgamecockJAX]

Lowly Gamecocks have visored visions of glory

By Matt Hayes - SportingNews







They unveiled the recent stadium expansion at South Carolina last week, a shiny new addition with a fancy weight room, meeting rooms and -- for the first time -- a place to prominently display the program's trophies and tradition.

That case, as you might expect, doesn't take up too much space.

Want to know why Steve Spurrier is back in college football but at the opposite end from where he left? Look at that trophy case. Want to know why one of football's best coaches walked away from $5 million per year in the NFL to live in a hotel in Columbia, S.C., for the past 2 1/2 months while trying to convince 17-year-old kids that 100 years of futility doesn't mean the next four will follow suit? Look at that trophy case.

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"They haven't done much here," Spurrier says. "That doesn't mean it can't change."

It wasn't that long ago that Spurrier and his wife, Jerri, were sitting in their living room in Virginia. Snow was falling, and reality was chasing it. He was uncertain about his future for the first time since 1979, when new Georgia Tech coach Bill Curry decided -- in what has to be one of the more boneheaded personnel decisions -- not to retain a young quarterbacks coach named Spurrier.

To this day, that single event, that fear of failure, drives Spurrier. It drove that moment last winter in Virginia, too.

"We looked at each other and said, 'What are we doing?' " Jerri says. "He's found that fire again."

In South Carolina, of all places. And it just doesn't look right. What made Spurrier who he was as head coach at Florida, his alma mater, was his loyalty to and passion for the school. Think of the most obnoxious, fanatical fan, and then give him the best offensive mind in the game and set him loose. No wonder he won so many games.

But now he's selling South Carolina, which in the body of work that is college football is somewhere near the armpit. No tradition, no history, just -- as former coach Lou Holtz said -- a culture of losing. In other words, the perfect place to rebound after flopping in the NFL.

"I admit it -- it beat me down," Spurrier says of his two years with the Redskins. "I did a lousy job. I was embarrassed for myself the way I attempted to coach. And I won't do it again, I can assure you of that."

Coaching in the NFL isn't about taking chances; it's about playing percentages. It isn't about motivating players to perform beyond expectations; it's about baby-sitting and massaging egos. It is, more than anything, everything Spurrier isn't.

That's why he has that pep in his step again for the first time in three years. Why, for the first time in just about ever, he's bragging about a recruiting class that is ranked among the top 25 in the nation. The lowest point of humility, it seems, is the first step toward rejuvenation.

He used money earmarked for his salary to lure and hire an impressive staff, which includes four former Division I-A defensive coordinators, and has been motivated by South Carolina's rabid fan base and the university's unwavering commitment to football. The new weight room is for football only, and the 70-yard indoor training facility is as impressive as any in the nation.

Spurrier is humble and reserved, a long throw from his days at Florida. He doesn't have a quarterback yet, and he's talking about his offensive line and renewed commitment from talented tailback Demetris Summers. Says the Gamecocks might just be a running team.

Then the subject of Tim Frisby, South Carolina's 39-year-old walk-on receiver, is mentioned. The same walk-on wonder who schmoozed with Jay Leno and David Letterman, yet barely sniffed the field.

"We're going to get him a catch this year," Spurrier says with an I-know-something-you-don't look.

Thank goodness there's room in that trophy case.

They're going to need it.

Senior writer Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. Email him at mhayes@sportingnews.com

[Neo]

Yeah I saw that article too. A few things he was a little off, but overall a truthful and sincere assessment. :D

[FLgamecockJAX]

Neo, I follow recruiting 365 days a year. I've been following our classes very close since the 2001 class. Yes, we have signed some top players. We have players.

You don't get up 16-0 on #3 UGA without players. You don't play UT as close as we have without players. We just need to KNOW that we can win.

[Neo]

Neo, I follow recruiting 365 days a year. I've been following our classes very close since the 2001 class. Yes, we have signed some top players. We have players.

You don't get up 16-0 on #3 UGA without players. You don't play UT as close as we have without players. We just need to KNOW that we can win.

That's what I believe was Holtz's true intentions when it came to a "culture change". We as fans have to LOSE the losing mentality and start expecting success. Don't you think some of our losing attitudes may have rubbed off onto the players?

With any change in the culture of USC football, it starts right here with us as fans. When we start expecting perfection, the players will have no choice but to give us perfection. Playing 110% and still coming up short is fine. Playing and giving up on a game or not playing your very best is unacceptable. That's exactly what Spurrier will do too. He will demand perfection. Bank on it.

[FLgamecockJAX]

That's what I believe was Holtz's true intentions when it came to a "culture change". We as fans have to LOSE the losing mentality and start expecting success. Don't you think some of our losing attitudes may have rubbed off onto the players?


Yes, I do! I was watching the UGA game this year from Hawaii. I could sense the uncertainty in the fans during the second half. My friend was at that game and he said, when UGA started coming back, you could feel everyone holding their breathe.

As a player, in the middle of 85,000 fans thinking negative, it has to be tough. This is why we must upset some big schools. We need confidence! SOS will instill that.

[WayzUp]

Yes, I do! I was watching the UGA game this year from Hawaii. I could sense the uncertainty in the fans during the second half. My friend was at that game and he said, when UGA started coming back, you could feel everyone holding their breathe.

As a player, in the middle of 85,000 fans thinking negative, it has to be tough. This is why we must upset some big schools. We need confidence! SOS will instill that.
Maybe I'm wrong but I seriously think that just having our players know that they're running an offense that can come back from nearly any deficit will provide all the confidence they're going to need. With all due respect for Coach Holtz, I can think of many many games over the past few years that we would have won going away if we could have just strung together three or four FIRST DOWNS.

How many times have we gotten a lead and promptly go 3-and-out in the next 5 possessions with a turnover on the 6th? From my seat in the Big Mitten (MI), that inability to deal a death blow left way too many doors open for comebacks and when you're playing SEC teams, you can't do it and expect to win consistantly.

I firmly believe that with the system Spurrier brings, we won't be sitting on a 3 point lead in the second quarter....we'll be going for the 10 point lead and then the 17 point lead and so on. We never had that mentality before and that, as a former football player (albeit high school) instills confidence.

It's the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose that makes all the difference. :D

[Neo]

Caz Piurowski
Land-O-Lakes, FL
TE/DE
Height: 6-7
Weight: 240 pounds

Brandon Spikes
Shelby, NC
DE
Height: 6-5
Weight: 225 pounds

Prince Miller
Duncan (SC)
DB/WR
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.4 seconds

[Neo]

Tim Tebow Film:

http://sunshinepreps.net/oldclips/Tim%20Tebow.wmv

This kid looks good!

[Neo]

Tim Tebow Film:

http://sunshinepreps.net/oldclips/Tim%20Tebow.wmv

This kid looks good!

Be sure to look at the 70 yard throw at 3:56 on the video! :eek:

[bigrob32]

Strong Arm!

[Neo]

Strong Arm!

That's an understatement! :eek:

Did you notice how patient he was in the pocket? That shows maturity.

[JBryant12]

He kinda reminds me of Big Ben Rothlesbirger...

[Neo]

He kinda reminds me of Big Ben Rothlesbirger...

Yep....

He looks really good in my eyes. :D

[JBryant12]

Yeah and look at the way he can throw on the run....Just like my man Brett Favre

[Neo]

Yeah and look at the way he can throw on the run....Just like my man Brett Favre

That kid Tebow can flat out play. :D We have a shot at him.

[JBryant12]

I hope so...what year is Leak?

[Neo]

I hope so...what year is Leak?

Chris Leak is a Jr. if I'm not mistaken :)

[JBryant12]

If Leak doesnt go pro...maybe Tebow wont wanna have to wait a season before he can start...i dont know with Leak going to leave after a season the spot will be open for him...seems kind of hard to resist..

[Neo]

If Leak doesnt go pro...maybe Tebow wont wanna have to wait a season before he can start...i dont know with Leak going to leave after a season the spot will be open for him...seems kind of hard to resist..

Leak won't go pro. He would be stupid to do so. I don't think he's ready for the NFL just yet.

[JBryant12]

Yea but even then Tebow might want to redshirt his first year so that he can have Leak as his mentor and then be able to start next year....and we might have a good QB by then

[Neo]

Yea but even then Tebow might want to redshirt his first year so that he can have Leak as his mentor and then be able to start next year....and we might have a good QB by then

Just to give you a heads up, Tebow isn't sold on Florida just yet. ;)

[JBryant12]

After lookin at those tapes i hope he comes here...

[Neo]

After lookin at those tapes i hope he comes here...

With patience comes virtue. Good things come to all those that wait. :D

[JBryant12]

When does the team start practices....and whats happenin with Syvelle Newton

[Neo]

When does the team start practices....and whats happenin with Syvelle Newton

March 22nd I think.

Syvelle is going to be pardoned by the school for his role in the thefts. My sources are telling me Spurrier is going to give him a shot at QB, but realistically, he's going to the WR position. :)

[FLgamecockJAX]

Not only does UF have Leak, a returning Junior, but they also signed a high profile QB this year that was recruited specifically for Meyer's system!

[GTmorris1970]

With patience comes virtue. Good things come to all those that wait. :D

I wanna see Heffner!! :D

[sosbest]

I am looking forward to seeing Hefner play at the spring game April 16.
He might just be the man for the job!
She says Go Ole Ball Coach and Gamecocks! :D

[JBryant12]

USC Jumps On Hot Quarterback
By Phil Kornblut
QB Tim Tebow (6-3 225) of St. Augustine, FL had an amazing junior season breaking the state of Florida total offense record, single season passing record and total touchdown record. The lefthander passed for 4800 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1500 yards and 26 touchdowns. "He has the ability to scramble and is a good drop back passer," said his coach Craig Howard. "He makes big plays off the scramble. He scrambles to throw the ball, not to run it." Tebow started to show his skills as a sophomore when he passed for 30 touchdowns and rushed for 19. He is also a basketball and baseball player. And he is home schooled. Howard said Tebow has over 40 offers at this point. USC is among them. Gamecock recruiter Rick Stockstill was by the school last week to pick up film on Tebo. Clemson has shown interest but has not offered which his coach says is surprising because they run an offense similar to what Clemson has done in the past, particularly when Rich Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator. Louisville was the first school to offer. Among the others are Michigan, Florida, Florida State and Georgia. Howard said Tebow has not started to narrow his list and does not have favorites. This summer Tebow will spend a month with his father on a Baptist mission in the Philippines. And his coach feels he'll get an invitation to the Elite 11 quarterback camp.

USC and Clemson are also showing interest in WR Ryan Ellis (6-3 190) of St. Augustine. He caught 70 passes for 1488 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He's also a hurdler in track. Other schools showing early interest include Miami, Ohio State and Alabama. He has not been offered.

[Neo]

Boswell Will Be One Of State's Best
By Phil Kornblut
Greenville High WR Lamarckus Boswell (5-11 165) was the point man in the wide open passing offense for coach Larry Frost last season. Boswell caught an eye popping 131 passes for over 2000 yards and 25 touchdowns. "He has great hands and he changes directions well in his routes," Frost said. "He runs precise routes. And if it's close to him, he's going to catch it. And he makes great decisions on running the football." Frost said USC and Clemson head up the schools showing strong early interest in Boswell. Most of the other SEC and ACC schools are corresponding with him including Miami, Notre Dame, Maryland, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Kentucky. He is also hearing from Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan and Arizona. Frost said Boswell has not trimmed his list and does not have a group of favorites at this point.

[Neo]

Spring Valley QB Has First Offer
By Phil Kornblut
QB B.J. Phillips (6-6 235) of Spring Valley has picked up his first offer. According to Vikings coach Jimmy Noonan, Rutgers has offered Philllips. He is also getting widespread contact from the likes of USC, Clemson, Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Stanford, North Carolina, NC State, Maryland, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. "He has very good arm strength," Noonan said. "He is physical with the mentality of a linebacker." Last season Phillips passed for 1380 yards and 8 touchdowns and rushed for 600 yards and 4 scores. He attended games last season at USC, Clemson, Maryland and Virginia. He will attend the Nike camp in May and summer camps at USC and Clemson.

[pc72687]

Does anyone have film of Hefner? I would really like to eyeball his playing style.

[orlandogamecock]

Last season Phillips passed for 1380 yards and 8 touchdowns and rushed for 600 yards and 4 scores.

DAM-YUM! :D

[uscballer101]

Thats alot or something? Cause I do not want another QB who can rush, and I dont want a QB from Spring Valley HS...

[cocky4ever]

Thats alot or something? Cause I do not want another QB who can rush, and I dont want a QB from Spring Valley HS...
What's wrong with getting a qb from Spring Valley?

[Neo]

USC Makes Offer To Miller
By Phil Kornblut
USC has come on board with an official offer to DB Prince Miller (5-10 185) of Byrnes High School according to his coach Bobby Bentley. Miller has also been offered by Tennessee, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Duke. Bentley said Clemson is very interested and has said they will offer. Miller is also hearing from most of the other SEC and ACC teams. "He's as good as I've had," Bentley said of Miller. "Probably overall, he's the best as far as offense and defense. He is very physical. He can run, jump, throw and catch. He can do it all. He can cover and he can tackle." Miller also plays some running back and schools like him for both positions. Last season he had 6 interceptions returning three for scores. He also returned 3 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns.

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in BLUE indicates we have officially offered that recruit. Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease) (Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC
Adam Patterson - 6-3/262/4.75, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ


I will update the list as we go along.... :)

[USC2001]

From all that I hear Tim Tebow is the real deal, but I can not wait to see what Cade Thompson can do for us.

[JBryant12]

id like to see some more reds up there :) but thatll surely come as Spurrier wins some games here...

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in BLUE indicates we have officially offered that recruit. Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease) (Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC
Adam Patterson - 6-3/262/4.75, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ


I will update the list as we go along.... :)

[pc72687]

I think it is great that already we are getting so many Rivals100 athletes on our radar. This is a sign of brighter days ahead for Gamecock football. I also must say that many of those Rivals100 are SC players. SC is going to have a great year as far as prospects are concerned!

[LesR923]

South Carolina high schools do seem to be looking good for next season. This whole recruting talk is getting me fired up again. What like 340 days until NSD or what. .... When are we all going to have that beer we discussed

[FLgamecockJAX]

Looking back at SOS's UF days, does he tend to push for early commitments or does he take his time and try to close strong?

If you look at FSU, they seem to close strong every NSD. They don't seem to get early commits from the big guys.

[FLgamecockJAX]

Neo,

Can you check to see if our coaching staff has been in contact with Percy Harvin from Va Beach, VA? He is a speedster! All the top teams have already offered him.

Also, it's interesting to see that UF has not offered Tim Tebow yet. Hopefully this will help us!

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. The names that are highlighted in BLUE are players that we have currently offered. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease)(Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

ATH
J. R. Carter - 5-10/190/4.5, Camden, SC
Armanti Edwards - 6-0/170/4.5, Greenwood, SC
Deon Singleton - 6-0/185/4.64, Sumter, SC
Deunta Williams - 6-3/185/-, Jacksonville, NC

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ


I will update the list as we go along....

[LesR923]

FSU closes strong late like UT because they have to spend the year trying to figure out which method of payment goes most unnoticed

[Neo]

Ayers Has Two Offers
By Phil Kornblut
Marlboro County DE Jayson Ayers (6-4 235) has received early offers from Tennessee and NC State according to his coach Dean Boyd. Ayers is the brother of Tennessee freshman defensive end Robert Ayers. "He has a nose for the football," Boyd said. "He's very athletic with good speed off the corner. He comes off the edge well and is a sure tackler." Last season as a middle linebacker, Ayers had 116 tackles and 5 sacks. He is also drawing interest from USC, Clemson, Nebraska, Michigan, Duke, Georgia and Georgia Tech according to Boyd. Ayers has been invited to the Nike combine and the Adidas camp this spring.

[pc72687]

I was just reading on Rivals that there is a QB that we haven't contacted but is interested in being contacted because of Spurrier. He is a rivals100 athlete.

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. The names that are highlighted in BLUE are players that we have currently offered. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease)(Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

ATH
J. R. Carter - 5-10/190/4.5, Camden, SC
Armanti Edwards - 6-0/170/4.5, Greenwood, SC
Deon Singleton - 6-0/185/4.64, Sumter, SC
Deunta Williams - 6-3/185/-, Jacksonville, NC

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ


I will update the list as we go along....

[BigSpur]

Thanks for your work Neo, A good season this year (7-4 or 8-3) will bring a lot of recruits running for a chance to play for Spurrier. A bad year this year, and next year, I'm not sure Spurrier can recover from. A lot of recruits will be watching closely this year to see if we have a chance to be a top team in the next couple years. Never has a first year meant so much for a head coach. Damn I can't wait. It's going to be a tough year. Only 4 down games all year if you include UK, VU, UCF,Troy. Every other game is going to be serious business.

[Neo]

Crestwood Has Two To Watch
By Phil Kornblut
Crestwood High emerged as a 3A power last season going 13-1 losing to Dillon in the state semi finals. Coach Keith Crolley loses 24 seniors from that team but two returning players figure to draw much recruiting attention. DB Derrick Loney (6-3 185) had 111 tackles and 3 interceptions last season. He also plays receiver and scored 5 touchdowns on just 7 receptions. "He moves well and is always around the football," Crolley said. "He covers a lot of ground. And he's physical, he's not shy at all." ATH Deon Singleton (6-1 185) plays quarterback for the Knights but could play defensive back or receiver in college. Last season he rushed for 177 yards and 5 touchdowns and passed for 362 yards and 7 scores in a wing-t offense that featured three 1000 yard rushers. "He's a leader and knows how to get things done," Crolley said. "He has good hands and could be a good defensive back in college." Neither player has been offered but they are drawing interest from USC, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Duke.

[Neo]

Taylor Rank, from Evergreen High School

http://www.katu.com/news/images/story2005/050215taylor_rank.jpg
Football standout, Taylor Rank of Evergreen High School is the KATU Les Schwab tire dealers athlete of the month for December 2004.
Taylor has scored 33 touchdowns this season with Evergreen and has helped the team finish the year undefeated.

http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=74846


Video Footage:

http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/aotm/050124aotm_rank.wvx

[pc72687]

This has slowed waaaaaaay dooooowwwwn!! Cat has ya'lls tongue?

[Neo]

This has slowed waaaaaaay dooooowwwwn!! Cat has ya'lls tongue?

Nah...

There just hasn't been that much news on the wire so to speak.

[Neo]

Phlllips Lands SEC, ACC Offers
By Phil Kornblut
QB B.J. Philllips (6-6 235) of Spring Valley has seen his offer list expand into SEC and ACC terretory. Phillips has had an offer from Rutgers and recently landed offers from Kentucky and Maryland according to coach Jimmy Noonan. And Stanford is showing strong interest and appears close to offering according to Noonan. The coach says film has been sent to all the SEC and ACC schools. Phillips is also getting strong interest from Iowa State. He has made unofficial visits to USC, Clemson, Duke, Kentucky and Maryland. He has 6-8 summer camp invitations. He will attend either the USC or Clemson spring game. They will both be played on April 16th.

[Neo]

USC & Clemson Hanging With Tebow
By Phil Kornblut
Highly recruited QB Tim Tebow (6-3 225) of St. Augustine, FL seldom has a dull moment. The three sport standout has moved from football to basketball and is now getting into his baseball season. At the same time, he and his family are dealing with recruiting. According to his coach Craig Howard, Tebow has well over 40 official offers including USC and Clemson. Tebow has not officially trimmed his list but Howard acknowledged Thursday that the Gamecocks and Tigers are two of the stronger contenders. Howard said he met Thursday with Tebow's father and they went over the offer list and circled and checked off the schools of stronger interest at this point. USC and Clemson were among the ten or so schools identified by Mr. Tebow. Among the others were Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Nebraska. "Spurrier being at USC is a big thing," Howard said. "And Clemson's situation is also interesting with their new offensive coordinator. We're waiting to get to know them better." Howard said Tebow is not likely to make it to many junior days because of his baseball schedule but he made several unofficial visits to schools for games last season.

[Neo]

USC, CU Checking Florida Trio
By Phil Kornblut
USC, Clemson and most of the other SEC and ACC schools are showing interest in teammates from Jefferson County High School in Monticello, FL. According to coach Felix Curry, the schools like WR Brandon Whitley (6-4 185), RB Ricky Young (5-9 185) and OL Thomas Lewis (6-5 270). Curry said Whitley "is as talented as they come. He's a Fred Gibson type receiver. He's a good all purpose player." Young rushed for 1400 yards last season.

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. The names that are highlighted in BLUE are players that we have currently offered. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease)(Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)
Jeremy Ricker - 6-3/205/4.55, Harrisburg PA (Bishop McDevitt) (Rivals 100)

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC
Johnny White - 6-0/195/-, Asheville, NC

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL
Lavelle Parker - 6-0/168/4.65. Leesburg, GA (Lee County)
Quinton Hancock - 6-2/185/4.6, St. Augustine, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA
Pierre Andrews - 6-3/275/5.1, Charlotte, NC (Independence)

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC
Keidrick Kelley - 6-2/290/5, Simpsonville, SC
Ben Anderson - 6-2/260/4.9, Aiken, SC

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

ATH
J. R. Carter - 5-10/190/4.5, Camden, SC
Armanti Edwards - 6-0/170/4.5, Greenwood, SC
Deon Singleton - 6-0/185/4.64, Sumter, SC
Deunta Williams - 6-3/185/-, Jacksonville, NC

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ
Clay Baldwin - 5-9/170, Greenwood, SC


I will update the list as we go along....

[Neo]

Ben Alexander DT TL Hanna HS in Anderson, SC
This 6'1 280-odd lb DT is getting rave reviews for his JR campaign. I've heard him compared to Langston Moore a couple of times. He's just as quick and bigger than Langston was at the time. Bobby Bowden has already offered. He's the top DT thus far in what appears to be a group of 5-6 serious D1 DL prospects in SC for next year.

Others of note include DE Ricky Sapp(Bamberg-Erhardt), DE Jason Ayers(Marlboro Cty), DE DeKoda Watson(South Aiken) DE Zach Middleton(RNE), maybe DE Deandre Robinson(Fairfield-Central), maybe DE Jarvis Glenn(B-C) ...

and DT Adam Patterson(RNE), DT Keidrick Kelley(Hillcrest), DT Ben Anderson(South Aiken), DT Clay Champion(Gaffney).

[YouGotSpurred]

Hey Neo, You Remember The Video Of That Running Back From Florida That You Posted A While Back? I Was Just Wondering If You Ever Got A Name To Go With The Videos. I Have Been Looking But I Cant Seem To Locate Anything. I Would Like To Be Able To Get His Name So That I Could Keep Up With Him Cause That Kid Was A Freak!!

[Neo]

Hey Neo, You Remember The Video Of That Running Back From Florida That You Posted A While Back? I Was Just Wondering If You Ever Got A Name To Go With The Videos. I Have Been Looking But I Cant Seem To Locate Anything. I Would Like To Be Able To Get His Name So That I Could Keep Up With Him Cause That Kid Was A Freak!!

Nope...I never did get a name, but don't worry. I haven't forgotten about that kid. :D

[uscballer101]

Theyve already posted his name before, it was Noel something...

[JBryant12]

yeah and they said he was a junior in HS...i think

[uscballer101]

yeah, going to be a junior in HS

[YouGotSpurred]

So The Kid Is Just Going To Be A Junior This Coming Football Season? I Seen Video On Him Back In Like October On Pigskin Prep Which Is A High School Site For South Carolina Preps, The Guy That Posted It On There Said That He Thought He Was A Freshman This Past Season, If That Is The Case This Kid Will Break All Kind Of High School Records. But They Said The Team He Played For Was Like 1-3(at The Time He Posted The Video) Which To Me Makes It That Much More Remarkable!

[uscballer101]

I mean, I have no clue what year he is, im just rememberring what someone else posted on here...Said he was a sophmore this past fall, but the video was from his freshman year...So who knows...

[YouGotSpurred]

Ok I Gotcha. I Wish That I Could Find Some Video From This Past Season Just To See If He Had The Same Type Of Year This Season As He Did His Freshman Year.

Talkin About Recruiting, I'm From A Small Town In South Carolina And My Former High School Team Has Three Wr/rb That Are In The 6-2 Range And All Of Them Run Under 4.5 Forty. But They Will Never Get The Recognition They Deserve Because They Play At A 1a High School. They Went 14-1 Last Season And Lost In The State Title Game.

[uscballer101]

What HS would that be?

[YouGotSpurred]

Calhoun Falls, Ever Heard Of It?

[uscballer101]

Haha, actually, no I havent, upstate?

[Neo]

Haha, actually, no I havent, upstate?

I haven't either....Sorry. :(

[YouGotSpurred]

Yeah It's Upstate. Its Like The 5th Smallest Public School In The State. But We Always Manage To Have Between Forty And Fifty Boys On The Football Team. We Had Three Running Backs Rush For Over 1,000 Last Season And Two More That Was Close. We Run A Wing-t Type Offense So We Don't Throw The Ball An Awful Lot But We Still Manage To Throw For Right At A 1,000 Yards. Our Qb Was Forth On The Team In Rushing With 927 Yards. But I Really Thin That All The Kids Have The Potential And Size To Play Wr Or Rb At The Next Level. I Have Watched Some Top Notch D1 Talent And I'm Telling These Kids Are Just As Good. I Watched Blake Mitchell Play, Kenny Irons, Willie Reid, Chauncy Stucky, Just To Name A Few.

[uscballer101]

Oh, yeah im from the grand strand, so thats why I havent heard of it...That's awesome, but if they continue to put yards up like that, someone will get them...

[YouGotSpurred]

They Get Attention From Some Of The Smaller School But Not Many D1. We Had A Linebacker Go To Furman Two Years Ago And He Made The Two Deep Charts As A Redshirt Freshman, So I Mean The Talent Level Is Definitely There.

[uscballer101]

Yeah, Furman is pretty good, I got the GaSouthern-Furman game this past fall, it was awesome...

[WoffordCock]

That kid who name you were wondering about from the other post with the amazing video is Noel Devine from N. Ft. Myers, FL, there is some stuff (videos) on sunshine preps.

[pc72687]

I am going to have to see this video ya'll are raving about. Unfortunely I am going to have to miss the Spring Game this year. I hope we break records with the attendence though!

[Neo]

I am going to have to see this video ya'll are raving about. Unfortunely I am going to have to miss the Spring Game this year. I hope we break records with the attendence though!

Now we are entering the "slow" period. There's not much to report on recruiting. :(

[Neo]

Hanna Trio Getting Early Attention
By Phil Kornblut
T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson has emerged as one of the state's top 4A programs and coach Scott Parker has another talented team for 2005. Two of his prospects have already picked up major offers and a third is close.

DL Ben Alexander (6-0 290) had 77 tackles and 22 sacks last season. "He is explosive with unbelievable strength," Parker said. "If height matters, I don't think it does in Ben's case. He's now raw, he's just mean. When he hits you, you can feel it. He just explodes through you." Alexander's father played defensive tackle at the Citadel in the mid eighties. He has been offerred by Florida State and Georgia Tech and is also drawing interest from USC, Clemson, Maryland, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia, Auburn, Notre Dame and NC State. He will attend USC's junior day March 19th. USC and Clemson are indicating offers. He has attended North Carolina's junior day.

DB Ameer Salahudin (6-1 185) also plays receiver and tailback. Last season he had 35 tackles with 12 knockdowns and 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 300 yards and 6 touchdowns. "He's a big kid who can run and is powerful," Parker said. "He makes things happen. He can cover. We put him on Reynaldo (Hunter) in the Byrnes game and he covered him up except for one play." Salahudin has an offer from Clemson while USC, Maryland, Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia, Auburn, Notre Dame and NC State are very interested. He will attend Clemson's junior day this Saturday.

DL Kenny Scott (6-3 300) compares favorably to his teammate Alexander according to Parker. "He's everything Ben is," Parker said. "He probably doens't have the first step, but he's bigger and that's what's drawing the attention. He's a real smart player. He's a finesse guy but you can't move him." Scott is drawing interest from USC, Clemson, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Duke, Boston College and NC State. He will attend USC's junior day on the 19th.

[drkralc]

This is the info on Noel Devine I posted in the "Who is this recruit" thread. Just an FYI...

His name is Noel Devine from N. Ft. Myers, FL. and he's on;y going to be a junior this coming year.

http://southcarolina.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=36104

http://sunshinepreps.net/clips/Noel%20Devine.wmv

[gamecock98]

This is the info on Noel Devine I posted in the "Who is this recruit" thread. Just an FYI...
in light of what is going on at carolina these days with our players, maybe the high school coaches need to start giving character background and well as atheletic background references.

[dudeman0501]

Welcome to SEC Talk, gamecock! If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me or one of the other admins.

[Neo]

Offers Roll In For Geathers
By Phil Kornblut
OL Clifton Geathers (6-8 270) of Carvers Bay has seen his official offer list multiply in recent weeks, to the point where he can't recall them all. But among the offers he can think of are USC, Clemson, Southern Cal, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina, Duke and Georgia Tech. Geathers said he does not have a favorite and has no plans for junior days or combines. He said he did attend games at USC and Clemson last season. Geathers, of course, is part of a football playing family that has sent three members to the NFL. And there is another big Geathers prospect on the horizon. Kwame Geathers is an eighth grader who plays on the offensive line, and according to his brother, he checks in at 6-4, 295 pounds.

ACC Schools Offer Bulldog WR
By Phil Kornblut
WR Brian Bradford (5-11 175) of Marlboro County has been offered by North Carolina and NC State according to his coach Dean Boyd. Bradford is also hearing from USC, Clemson, Wake Forest and Duke. Bradford had 10 catches for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. He also plays defensive back and had 40 tackles and 2 interceptions. Marlboro County DE Jason Ayers (6-4 235) is holding with offers from Tennessee and NC State. He is also hearing from USC, Clemson, Nebraska, Michigan, Duke, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Jackson Waiting For First Offer
By Phil Kornblut
North Augusta LB Marcus Jackson (6-0 196) has not yet been offered but says several schools are showing interest. They are USC, Clemson, Georgia, Auburn and Ohio State. Jackson does not have a favorite. He will attend the Nike camp in May.

[Neo]

This list was compiled from myself and from the USC page at Scout.com

Names in RED indicate we currently lead for that player. The names that are highlighted in BLUE are players that we have currently offered. (Rivals 100) indicates that the player has been placed on Rivals' preseason Top 100 list.



QB
Brett Brackett - 6-5/220/4.80, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.J. Phillips - 6-5/230/4.85, Columbia, SC
Tim Tebow - 6-3/225/4.6, Jacksonville, FL (Nease)(Rivals 100)
Philip Moore - 6-3/180, Millbrook, AL
Omar Haugubook - 6-2/225/4.5, Dodge City CC
Jamie Childers - 6-4/220/4.68, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Wando)
Daniel Barton - 6-3/195/4.80, Duncan, SC (Byrnes)
Jeremy Ricker - 6-3/205/4.55, Harrisburg PA (Bishop McDevitt) (Rivals 100)
Kelley Rawls - 6-1.5/190, Charlotte, NC (Christian)
Chad Cunningham - 6-3/210/4.7, Dawsonville, GA

RB
Chappell Rose - 5-9/183/4.50, Wellborn, FL
Dustin Lindsey - 6-1/215, Alcoa, TN
Graig Cooper - 6-0/180/4.5, Memphis TN
Desmond Collins - 5-10/180/4.5, Ridge View SC
Johnny White - 6-0/195/-, Asheville, NC
Brandon King - 6-2/240/4.6, Doylestown, PA
Gerald Legree - 5-11/185/4.60, Beaufort, SC (Beaufort)

WR
Lamarckus Boswell - 5-9/175/4.40, Greenville, SC
Justin Saldana - 5-11/244, Natalia, TX
Tori Childers - 6-5/215/4.6, Rock Hill, SC
Ryan Ellis - 6-3/190, St. Augustine, FLA
Crawford Kilpatrick - 6-6/185/4.66, Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Carlton Salters - 6-1/190/4.51, Tallahassee, FL
Lavelle Parker - 6-0/168/4.65. Leesburg, GA (Lee County)
Quinton Hancock - 6-2/185/4.6, St. Augustine, FL
Lattarius Thomas - 6-2/194/4.5, New Smyrna Beach, FL

OL
Clifton Geathers - 6-7/280/4.8, Carvers Bay, SC (Rivals 100)
Jevon Davis - 6-3/255/4.96, Sumter, SC
Jake Johnson - 6-4/335/5.3, Hartsville, SC
Kiedrick Kelley - 6-3/280, Simpsonville SC
Aaron Brown - 6-6/283, Cincinnati, OH
Matt Long - 6-2/280/5.22, Snellville, GA
Pierre Andrews - 6-3/275/5.1, Charlotte, NC (Independence)
Gary Gregory - 6-5/295/5.7, Apopka, FL
Kayson Wharton - 6-2/290/5.1 Simpsonville, SC (brother of Travelle)

TE
Caz Piurowski - 6-7/240, Land O' Lakes, FL
Foxy Foxworth - 6-4/245/4.74, Mount Pleasant, SC
Yameen Thomas - 6-3/210/4.7, Charlotte, NC

DT
Clay Champion - 6-1/270/4.9, Gaffney, SC
Keidrick Kelley - 6-2/290/5, Simpsonville, SC
Ben Anderson - 6-2/260/4.9, Aiken, SC
Kenny Scott - 6-3/300, Anderson, SC (TL Hannah)
Ben Alexander- 6-1/288, Anderson, SC (TL Hannah)

DE
Jon Bell - 6-1/216, Shreveport, LA
Ricky Sapp - 6-4/225/4.45, Bamberg, SC (Rivals 100)
Deandre Robinson - 6-3/250/4.95, Winnsboro, SC
Darius Powell - 6-4/210/4.65, Waldorf, MD
Adam Patterson - 6-3/255/4.7, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
DeKoda Watson - 6-4/210/4.6, Aiken, SC (South Aiken)
Jayson Ayers - 6-4/238/4.7, Bennettsville, SC (brother of Robert)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN

LB
Brandon Spikes - 6-4/230, Shelby NC (Crest) (Rivals 100)
Jarvis Glenn - 6-2/235/4.75, Cayce, SC (Brookland-Cayce)
John Brownell - 6-0/195/4.6, West Deptford, NJ
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/200/4.6, North Augusta, SC
Rodney Paulk - 6-0/200/4.6, Columbia, SC (Richland NE)
Brandon Warren - 6-3/230, Alcoa, TN
Julius Wilkerson - 6-3/-, Gaffney, SC
AJ Jones - 6-2/200/4.5, Tampa, FLA (Middleton) -- OJ's Teammate
Zachary Middleton - 6-3/245/4.5 Orangeburg, SC (Wilkinson)


S
Eric Haislah - 5-7/161, Cleveland, OH
Donkay Degraffenreid - 5-10/180/4.55 Rock Hill, SC
David Erby - 5-11/193/4.5 Rock Hill, SC
Darius Gaither - 6-0/180/4.3 Winnsboro, SC
Racheed Gause - 5-11/217/4.5, Conway, SC
Marcus Jackson - 6-0/185/4.5, N Augusta, SC
Terrell Harris - 6-3/180/4.66, Camden, SC
Jason Whitehead - 6-2/185/4.5, Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)

CB
Kelly Rawls - 6-1/185, Charlotte, NC
Rashad Carmichael - 5-9/157, Brandywine, MD
C.J. Bailey - 5-10/180, Moss Point, MS
Prince Miller - 5-10/185/4.40, Duncan SC (Byrnes) (Rivals 100)
Yerik Fortson - 5-8/167, Dallas TX
Byron Maxwell - 6-1/185/4.38 North Charleston (SC) Fort Dorchester (Rivals 100)
Marvin Hodge - 6-0/165/4.5, Sumter, SC
Derrick Loney - 6-3/190/4.45, Sumter, SC
Nick Melton - 6-1/175/4.6, Gaffney, SC
Jamar Hornsby - 6-4/195/4.45, Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood) (Rivals 100)
Calvin Harrison - 6-1/180/4.47, Columbia SC (Richland NE)
Coco Hillary - 5-10/180/4.5 Johnston, SC (Strom Thurmond)
Myron Rolle - 5-10/185/4.40, Princeton, NJ (The Hun School) (Rivals 100)
Sherman Kind - 5-10/175/4.58, Jeffersonville, GA

ATH
J. R. Carter - 5-10/190/4.5, Camden, SC
Armanti Edwards - 6-0/170/4.5, Greenwood, SC
Deon Singleton - 6-0/185/4.64, Sumter, SC
Deunta Williams - 6-3/185/-, Jacksonville, NC

K
Cody Casper - 5-10/189, Bridgeton, NJ
Clay Baldwin - 5-9/170, Greenwood, SC


I will update the list as we go along....

[Neo]

CU First On Board With Super Soph
By Phil Kornblut
Clemson has wasted no time in showing its love for highly regarded sophomore QB Will Korn (6-2 195) of Byrnes. Rebels coach Bobby Bentley says the Tigers have made Korn an official offer becoming the first school to do so. Bentley said USC also is expressing strong interest in Korn who passed for 2900 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 11 touchdowns season in his first year as the varsity starting quarterback.

Miller Holding Handful Of Offers
By Phil Kornblut
Byrnes DB Prince Miller (5-10 185) has five official offers on the table right now and could have two more major offers next week. Coach Bobby Bentley said Miller currently has offers from USC, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Duke. He said Notre Dame and Michigan plan to let them know next week if they are ready to offer. Clemson is also very interested and is close to making an offer as well. Miller will attend junior day at Tennessee this weekend. He has been to junior day at Duke and also went to a recent basketball game at Wake Forest.

Boswell Has First Offer
By Phil Kornblut
WR LaMarckus Boswell (5-11 165) of Greenville High recently landed his first official offer from Kentucky according to former Greenville High coach Larry Frost. Many other schools continue showing strong interest in Boswell who had 131 receptions last season. They include USC, Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska, Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. Frost said Boswell attended junior day at North Carolina last week and has been invited to the Nike Combine in May.

[Neo]

Patterson Close On First Offers
By Phil Kornblut
Richland Northeast DL Adam Patterson (6-3 260) is closing in on his first official offers. Patterson says Georgia Tech and East Carolina have told him they will offer but have not done so officially. He says he is also hearing from USC, Clemson, NC State, Florida, Georgia and Michigan. He has been to junior days at East Carolina and NC State. He will go to Clemson’s junior day this weekend and will also go to junior days at USC and Florida. Patterson said he will attend the Nike Camp and team camps at USC, Clemson, Georgia and Michigan. He said he does not have a favorite at this time.

Lakewood Duo Drawing Attention
By Phil Kornblut
Lakewood High coach Keith Crolley says his WR Marvin Hodge (6-0 155) and OL Jevon Davis (6-3 235) are getting major college recruiting attention with letters coming from several schools. Crolley said both players are hearing from USC, Clemson, NC State, Georgia Tech, Georgia, North Carolina, Purdue and Notre Dame. Neither has been offered. Hodge caught 27 passes for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. He also plays defensive back and has 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. "He has real good hands and runs good routes," Crolley said. "And he's real quick." Davis graded out at 84% last season and had 19 knockdown blacks. He also plays on the defensive line and had 24 tackles and 1 sack. "He has real good feet and he moves real well," Crolley said. "He's got to get stronger but he's good coming out of his stance and holding his position." Crolley said neither player has made any plans for junior day visits or summer camps at this time.

Speedy Corner At Columbia High
By Phil Kornblut
Columbia High coach Kemper Amick feels he has another major college prospect to follow on the heels of USC bound running back Mike Davis. Amick says DB Ryan Turner (5-9 178) will get a lot of attention because of his blazing speed. Amick said Turner runs a true 4.4 and won the state championship in the 200 meters as a sophomore. He has run a 10.7 100 meters. Turner also plays quarterback and receiver but the colleges will like him as a cornerback. "He has outstanding speed, he's a terror," Amick said. "He played outside linebacker as a sophomore and is a big hitter. He's still learning and he's got to get better at some things. But he's a big hitter and real aggressive." Turner had 6 interceptions last season and he caught 4 touchdown passes. Amick said USC and Clemson are showing interest and Turner is also hearing from Maryland, Wake Forest and Duke. Amick adds that his program has picked up a transfer from Chester in offensive tackle Phillip Young (6-8 380). Young will be a junior next season.

[Neo]

*USC Football Update*

According to what I'm being told, Blake Mitchell has officially stopped partying so much and has begun to study film and plays during his free time. It would appear that he has decided to get serious and make a run at the starting QB position. Best of luck to ya.

[uscballer101]

picked up a transfer from Chester in offensive tackle Phillip Young (6-8 380). Young will be a junior next season....Jesus thats a big boy right there....

[uscballer101]

Good, I hope blake turns out to be good enough for spurrier, I think he is spurrier's type...

[Neo]

Good, I hope blake turns out to be good enough for spurrier, I think he is spurrier's type...

Blake's problem from day 1 was his work ethic. It SUCKED! All he wanted to do was go out every night and party in 5-Points. A question I pose to a lot of people is that maybe there's a reason why Holtz didn't play him that much.

I know from my sources, Holtz had to reprimand him a couple of times for the partying and not putting the football team first. I think with Heffner and these freshmen coming in, he has decided to get serious and take advantage of this clean slate with Spurrier.

On paper, he has the resume of a SEC Championship type QB. He just needs to get his priorities straight. :cool:

[WayzUp]

He just needs to get his priorities straight. :cool:
I think most of us have been guilty of this at some point in our lives.

Cuz you're right, ON PAPER, Mitchell is the best QB we have for Spurrier's offense. The problem is football isn't played on paper.

I just hope Blake realizes the uniqueness of the opportunity before him and that the doors that could be opened by his turning it around will never be unlocked again....I have no problem whatsoever with "late bloomers"; i'm one myself in many ways. :rolleyes:

[JBryant12]

good article on Mitchell http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/colleges/university_of_south_carolina/11123593.htm

[Neo]

*USC Football Update*

According to what I'm being told, Blake Mitchell has officially stopped partying so much and has begun to study film and plays during his free time. It would appear that he has decided to get serious and make a run at the starting QB position. Best of luck to ya.


It's about time. Told ya! :cool:

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11123593.htm

[Neo]

Blake's problem from day 1 was his work ethic. It SUCKED! All he wanted to do was go out every night and party in 5-Points. A question I pose to a lot of people is that maybe there's a reason why Holtz didn't play him that much.

I know from my sources, Holtz had to reprimand him a couple of times for the partying and not putting the football team first. I think with Heffner and these freshmen coming in, he has decided to get serious and take advantage of this clean slate with Spurrier.

On paper, he has the resume of a SEC Championship type QB. He just needs to get his priorities straight. :cool:

Now I feel vindicated. Sooo many people said I was full of it about Blake. Well now they're seeing it with their own eyes from that news article that came out today. :cool:

[pc72687]

Thank you for who ever posted those clips on Devine. He is amazing. He is probably one of the best athletes in the country and he is only going to be a Junior this coming year. The only negative I see is that he already favors Miami.

[Neo]

House Contacts USC Staff
By Phil Kornblut
Former high school quarterback sensation and Pittsburgh Pirate farmhand J.R. House (6-1 215) has contacted USC about possibly starting a college football career. House, a catcher, was released by the Pirates March 9th. He was the team's fifth round draft pick in 1999 but suffered through an injury plagued career capped by another surgery for a rotator cuff tear just two weeks ago according