So, How are the SEC Forum Gamecocks taking in this recruiting day??

[Galactus]

Pretty good, huh? :D

Spurrier didn't do too badly in two months time, did he?

I must say I'm pretty stunned. I thought two months ago we'd be lucky to finish in the top 40.

We definitely have a top 25 class....and according to some polls, a top 20 class.....some nice upgrades in speed, and the Hannah thing was icing on the cake....

I know we still aren't in the top 5 like UT, UGA or UF......but that wasn't going to happen this season. What we DID accomplish this offseason is flat out amazing....

[Neo]

Pretty good, huh? :D

Spurrier didn't do too badly in two months time, did he?

I must say I'm pretty stunned. I thought two months ago we'd be lucky to finish in the top 40.

We definitely have a top 25 class....and according to some polls, a top 20 class.....some nice upgrades in speed, and the Hannah thing was icing on the cake....

I know we still aren't in the top 5 like UT, UGA or UF......but that wasn't going to happen this season. What we DID accomplish this offseason is flat out amazing....

Yep...

In my honest opinion, looking at this class, it screams SECCG all over!!!! LOL!

[GTmorris1970]

Pretty good, huh? :D

Spurrier didn't do too badly in two months time, did he?

I must say I'm pretty stunned. I thought two months ago we'd be lucky to finish in the top 40.

We definitely have a top 25 class....and according to some polls, a top 20 class.....some nice upgrades in speed, and the Hannah thing was icing on the cake....

I know we still aren't in the top 5 like UT, UGA or UF......but that wasn't going to happen this season. What we DID accomplish this offseason is flat out amazing....

I cannot believe what I saw when I woke up a bit ago. I don't know why I am surprised, but I was. The speed and depth that we will now have at some of the skill positions is amazing. Keep the legs fresh, and keep the speed comin'!! Simply amazing job by Stockstill, Spurrier, and the rest of the Carolina coaching staff on a job well done.

[raptorcox]

Spurrier and Stockstill hopefully will continue this trend on the field - then, we can finally get Top 10 classes every year :)

Is it spring game-time yet???

[SamuraiTater]

It is quite an impresive haul considering the late start. Focusing on speed will make a difference in the short run. It was one attribute many of Lou's players were short on and a non-negotiable, "must have" asset in Spurrier's scheme. I didn't pay attention to the speed stats of the linebackers ya'll signed, but that is no less important than the backs and recievers. Congratulations.

[TKE223]

So any bets on how we will do this year?

[TKE223]

I guess I should give my guess...7-4 regular season, but 2 of the loses will be heartbreakers...and we will win a bowl game.

[TKE223]

Huh, I guess everyone is watching the State of the Union. I could do without his babble.

[larryt4111]

Hey Guys, You must grasp the basics
[1]SOS NEVER HAS NCAA PROBLEMS
[2]SOS hates to LOOSE
[3]SOS knows football [AND LOVES GOLF]
[4]SOS has a BIG EGO
[5] SOS hates, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE & AUBURN
[6] SOS MADE A COMMITMENT TO USC,and will throw the VISOR3-5 PER GAME
[7] SOS HAS HIS A PLAN [SPEED SPEEDand more SPEED]
[8] SOS SPREADS ALL DEFENSES BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITIES TO DEFEND
[9] SOS wins with no name QB’s
[10] ACCEPT THE FACT THAT “THE CHICKEN CURSE IS DEAD !”

NOTE:
Thanks DEL for all that you do/ enjoy the time off /you deserve it !!!!!!!!!!!!

[SamuraiTater]

It's too hard to predict at this point, but if I had to take a guess I'd say anywhere between 6-5 and 8-3. .......Some games I think are easier to picture based on match-ups of known quantities. For instance, I don't think you'll beat UGA, UT or Clemson based on the speed of their already installed offenses / defenses.

I think Georgia will be the toughest for you to score against and the toughest for you to stop.

I think Tennessee will be the second-toughest to score against, but they won't be able to generate enough offense to run away from you.

I think Clemson's defense will be a tad easier, but we'll generate more offense than UT.

Barring whichever team rotates onto your schedule from the west, I think ya'll should or could win the rest of 'em.

[cocky4ever]

It's too hard to predict at this point, but if I had to take a guess I'd say anywhere between 6-5 and 8-3. .......Some games I think are easier to picture based on match-ups of known quantities. For instance, I don't think you'll beat UGA, UT or Clemson based on the speed of their already installed offenses / defenses.

I think Georgia will be the toughest for you to score against and the toughest for you to stop.

I think Tennessee will be the second-toughest to score against, but they won't be able to generate enough offense to run away from you.

I think Clemson's defense will be a tad easier, but we'll generate more offense than UT.

Barring whichever team rotates onto your schedule from the west, I think ya'll should or could win the rest of 'em.
Thanks for the congrats in an earlier post. I dont mean to rub it in but Stockstill is going to come in VERY handy in the upcoming years. I think you are greatly over-rating UGA. They will be a great team and will compete like they have the last few years. However, I dont see them being the hardest team to score on and the hardest one to keep from scoring. They lose a lot of key players, but they will be stocked with talent. The big problem will probably be at qb. They will not score like they have the last few years with Greene. They also lost one of the best DC's in the country. There will be adjustments on both sides of the field. How hard Clemson will be with depend on how they come out of the gate. They have a hard first half and it could start out pretty bad. Bowden has a habit of turning things around in Nov. but next year has the poential to get really ugly. I said in an earlier post that I think the 2 games we will win next year will be the UGA game and the Clemson game. That sounds about right to me at least unitil spring practice.

[SamuraiTater]

I think many people have had a tendancy the last couple of years to look at Georgia as the David Greene / David Pollack show, and discounted the value of the other talent that's there. Seems you always heard those two names whether it was their offense or defense on the field....and rightfully so. I just have a hard time believing they do not have similar talent on hand to hold the line again next season. :(

I understand your thinking about Shockley. I've seen him get wild throwing the ball, but then again in his freshman year I saw him thread the needle with consistency a few times as well. With the starting job his to lose, he might settle down and (speculating here) not feel pressured to make big plays in limited appearances. In short, I think he has considerable upside potential.

As for Clemson, I know part of the problem was a green offensive line. It began to come together in the latter part of the season and with almost all of it returning (as well as better size and depth than I can ever remember) they should get off to a respectable start.

Another factor, and this is gonna shock you.....Whitehurst played most of the season with a broken rib (suffered in the GT game). It stayed classified info all season long and the only way I knew was because I work with the father of one of our players. Believe me, once I figured out I had an inside source I inquired on a daily basis. :) I've never had any inside sources before, so this is fantastic for me. :)

We recruited and redshirted a very good core group of recievers last year. The only one we lost was Currie, so I think we'll have intense competition to be the go-to-guys. Same for tailbacks. A few guys who have proven they can get the job done and now we're going to run more of the 1-back set.

Among returners on the defensive line we have just enough there to field the two deep without touching the ones we redshirted last year. We have 3 hard hitters to replace Leroy Hill: David Dunham (the guy who popped Boyd at the 5 yard line on the kick-off), Nick Watkins and Anthony Waters.

We'll replace Justin Miller with better speed and agility in C.J. Gaddis, Robert Reese or Sergio Gilliam.

I don't see how we do not improve from a talent standpoint next year. Our problem lies mostly in keeping up with the Jones'. Miami and FSU are Miami and FSU. Maryland, NCSU and even UVa have hauled in steller classes lately. :(

[Drakeman]

The thing that impresses me the most about this class is the effort that was made to get it. In short, to me Spurrier & his staff worked it's tails off in a very short time to bring this group together, & it's no doubt a good group.

As for predictions we all need to remember that these are incoming freshmen. As a group they wont be the ones who take us to another level next fall. A couple may get into the act (Murdoch, Thomas), but for the most part if Spurrier takes us to 8 wins next fall it will happen predominately with the guys he's inheriting.

What he has now is a class that he can start to sink his teeth into & build around. It's a group that will begin learning the systems from day one while shoring up some areas that need depth. It'll be neat to see how these guys are a couple of seasons from now. I think we've got a solid staff that'll be able to coach these guys up as a group.

Any ideas on who'll redshirt?

Samurai, the big difference in our schedule next fall is we drop 04's home game vs Ole Miss for a road game @ Auburn. Definitely a harder game IMO & to me that makes our schedule tougher. Otherwise we've got the same SEC opponents as last year, CU, & 2 early season OOC wins.

Basically here's what I see

4 sure home wins vs Troy, UCF, Vandy, UK.

3 sure road losses vs UGA, Aub, UT

1 sure home loss vs UF

That leaves home games vs 'Bama & CU, & a road game @ Arkansas. Frankly, I like our chances at home vs 'Bama, but don't have the same confidence vs CU at home & Ark on the road. Those 3 games will probably determine our season.

7 wins will be a doable but daunting task.

[Neo]

I say we will go 8-3 this year with losses to Auburn, UT, and UF.

[Stockcock]

If SOS only wins 7 games next year the fans might be happy, but I guarantee you he won't be. He is used to winning 9 games at the least and anything less will be unacceptable to him.

[Dr. Pepper]

I think that we will take UGA next year. If we lose to UF, it will be the last time we do so until Spurrier retires.

SC A & T could be an all out war.

I predict we lose 3 next year at the most. Spurrier has a good group to work with from last year.

[Neo]

I think that we will take UGA next year. If we lose to UF, it will be the last time we do so until Spurrier retires.

SC A & T could be an all out war.

I predict we lose 3 next year at the most. Spurrier has a good group to work with from last year.


We are in agreement on that. :D

[IBC2]

I honestly have felt all along that we will go anywhere from 5-6 to 7-4.
Any winning season next yr will be gravy. And I will go on record as saying that next yr is the last time we even think about 6-5.
Our schedule next yr is just about as hard as we have had in my memory.
Even back when we played ND, Uga,Neb, Miami and the like.

So much depends on how well the players pick up new systems. I think Defense is where we will still struggle. Players like Hurley who have yet to show why they are on scholarship need to step up and play.
The talent is not at level of most of our opponents.
UGA, Fla, Ala, Aub, Tn are def. more talented, CU is at least as good
but this yrs class is going to start a movement that no team can stop.

[Galactus]

Anywhere from 6-5 to 8-3 sounds right to me.

The Clemson game I am NOT putting down as a loss. I think that game, especially being in Columbia, will be a toss-up. In fact...that has all the makings of the best USC-Clemson game we've seen in quite some time. Two highly charged offenses....two pretty good defenses.....both teams coming off 6-5 seasons.....This USC-Clemson game could be a heart-wrencher....but a great game if you don't care who wins!!

I don't see us beating UGA in Athens......Spurrier may throw a scare or two into 'em, but I agree with Samurai on UGA: They were more than just Greene and Pollack.

Auburn is another loss. Even when Spurrier was at UF, I remember Auburn giving him fits.

The Tennessee game will be extremely interesting......but I see us losing that one in Knoxville.

So that's three definite losses I'm looking at. The season will hinge on the games with Clemson, Florida, Alabama and Arkansas. Three of those games we have to find ways to win. (And one of 'em better be Clemson!!)

Like Drake, I don't see the freshmen contributing a whole lot this season. The QBs will probably redshirt. Best chance for big contributions this year lie with either Murdock or Thomas.....the kicker.....and, of course, Hannah. Beyond that, it's going to be up to our returning players to come through and give a much better effort on the field than what we saw last season.

[Djshockley3]

Yeah my dawgs are gonna take yall this season.

[CockyTatGuy]

I just can't see us losing to UGA this year, we had them beat this year. If meat might've been able to hold 'em off for just enough to win it. This year the ball will be in the air more and the D won't know to just jam the middle and take out the QB draw play or simply put the stop on the running game. I don't think Auburn will have enough to beat us this year either, I think it will be really close, like a field goal difference (but hey, we might hit 1 or 2 this year). The games I am worried about are UF and UT, I don't think anyone in the SEC has what it is going to take to beat UT (ouch, my fingers are burning like crazy now). I think UF is going to be tough again and I don't think we will be able to contain Leak. As for Clemson, I think SOS is going to show the team the 63-17 debacle and demand at least that kind of win if not more.

[OmahaBound]

I think it will be really close, like a field goal difference (but hey, we might hit 1 or 2 this year)

To be fair, Josh Brown had a really solid season for us this year. He doesn't have the distance that hopefully Succup will have, but Brown was definitely the most consistent kicker we've had in years.

[Neo]

To be fair, Josh Brown had a really solid season for us this year. He doesn't have the distance that hopefully Succup will have, but Brown was definitely the most consistent kicker we've had in years.

He has been the most consistent kicker. I'll give ya that! :D

[CockyTatGuy]

true true, I just hated being in what most fans would think is field goal range but not being able to bring out the kicker and put points on the board.