lacene
07-16-2007, 02:16 PM
Carolina Offense Attracting Top Talent
July 16, 2007
Keith Allsep
GamecockCentral.com Columnist
Analysis and commentary by Keith Allsep.
Eleven years after capturing a national championship and posting some unbelievable offensive numbers, the reputation of head coach Steve Spurrier and his pass-happy offense is still attracting top talent. The Gamecocks were paid a visit by the nation's No. 3 rated receiver on Friday and are expecting more visitors in the coming weeks leading up to the opening of the 2007 season.
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/DEIONWALKER2_15200.JPG
Deion Walker is ranked as the No. 3 receiver in the nation.
Five-star receiver Deion Walker was on campus Friday and was shocked by the facility upgrades that are underway in Columbia. Following a tour by his recruiter, defensive line coach Brad Lawing, and dinner with longtime friend and USC receiver Freddie Brown, it appears a return trip to Columbia is likely. The Gamecocks have several factors working for them in the race for the services of the 6-foot-4, 183-pound Rivals100 member. Not only does Walker's grandmother reside in the Palmetto state, but his father, and an aunt and uncle all graduated from South Carolina. Another factor is the longtime friendship shared between Brown and Walker, as Walker's father coached Brown as an eighth grader, and the two have been close ever since.
Now, Walker resides in Christchurch, Va., And has an offer list that ranges from coast to coast. However, no matter what the family ties or connections, without the draw of Spurrier's high octane offense, the Gamecocks would not be a factor in his recruitment. The only negative to Walker's visit was that he did not get to meet with Spurrier or his potential position coach Steve Spurrier Jr.. Both were out of town and therefore unavailable. It does appear that the odds of a return trip are favorable for Walker and his family to meet with coach Spurrier.
Another prospect that was tentatively scheduled to be in town over the weekend was four-star running back Jamie Harper of Jacksonville, Fla. The 6-foot, 210-pound speedster is considering Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia. While Florida and Clemson lead, Harper has not visited Columbia and has friends that are pushing him to Clemson. If Harper makes a visit to South Carolina, expect the Gamecocks and recruiter Spurrier Jr. to become more of a factor.
Another of the top running back targets on the Gamecocks recruiting board will make an unofficial visit to Columbia Monday and Tuesday. Sierra Vista, Ariz., product Jamal Womble is making several stops in the Carolina's over the next several days. The 5-foot-10, 216-pound three-star prospect is also considering offers from Nebraska, Louisville, Boston College, and Wisconsin, among others. He will be joined by teammate Jake Muasau, who holds an offer from Nebraska, which sits atop Womble's leader board, along with the Gamecocks. While on campus, Womble is expected to meet with his recruiter and potential position coach Robert Gillespie, in addition to a meeting with coach Spurrier to discuss how the blue chip back would fit in with the Gamecocks. Womble has already scheduled his official visit for the weekend the Gamecocks host Clemson in the regular season finale.
One in-state prospect the Gamecocks covet as a receiver and kick return specialist is Chester super star Charles Whitlock. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound athlete is electric with the ball in his hands. The four-star prospect, who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays quarterback for his high school team, but is being recruited as a receiver and cornerback by Gamecock assistant head coach Ron Cooper. While it was once believed that Whitlock would choose to play his college football outside of the Palmetto State, the Gamecocks have made major strides due to the work of both Cooper and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. The Gamecocks appear to be in the thick of it with the Rivals250 member, who could make a decision prior to the beginning of his senior season.
Miami, Fla., receiver Tommy Streeter is another big-time prospect considering the Gamecocks primarily due to the attraction of playing in Spurrier's offense.
"The possibility of playing for Coach (Steve) Spurrier is something that is appealing to me because they like to throw the ball. As a wide receiver it is always exciting to think about playing in an offense like that." Streeter said in a recent interview.
While Miami would appear to be the team to beat for the services of the 6-foot-6, 200-pound receiver, the Gamecocks are in the mix and should receive one of Streeter's five official visits after his senior season. Other schools in the mix include Boston College, Minnesota, Central Florida, and South Florida.
GamecockCentral Link (http://southcarolina.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=691604)
With the smaller recruiting class for '08, we are going to be as selective as we can be with our offers. It's great to see the top talent placing USC up among their top choices. I understand that our coaches have basically promised Womble that they won't offer any other RB other than him. I hope he decides who he commits to sooner than later, so we can still go after other top RB's interested in us, in case Womble chooses Nebraska or whoever....
July 16, 2007
Keith Allsep
GamecockCentral.com Columnist
Analysis and commentary by Keith Allsep.
Eleven years after capturing a national championship and posting some unbelievable offensive numbers, the reputation of head coach Steve Spurrier and his pass-happy offense is still attracting top talent. The Gamecocks were paid a visit by the nation's No. 3 rated receiver on Friday and are expecting more visitors in the coming weeks leading up to the opening of the 2007 season.
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/DEIONWALKER2_15200.JPG
Deion Walker is ranked as the No. 3 receiver in the nation.
Five-star receiver Deion Walker was on campus Friday and was shocked by the facility upgrades that are underway in Columbia. Following a tour by his recruiter, defensive line coach Brad Lawing, and dinner with longtime friend and USC receiver Freddie Brown, it appears a return trip to Columbia is likely. The Gamecocks have several factors working for them in the race for the services of the 6-foot-4, 183-pound Rivals100 member. Not only does Walker's grandmother reside in the Palmetto state, but his father, and an aunt and uncle all graduated from South Carolina. Another factor is the longtime friendship shared between Brown and Walker, as Walker's father coached Brown as an eighth grader, and the two have been close ever since.
Now, Walker resides in Christchurch, Va., And has an offer list that ranges from coast to coast. However, no matter what the family ties or connections, without the draw of Spurrier's high octane offense, the Gamecocks would not be a factor in his recruitment. The only negative to Walker's visit was that he did not get to meet with Spurrier or his potential position coach Steve Spurrier Jr.. Both were out of town and therefore unavailable. It does appear that the odds of a return trip are favorable for Walker and his family to meet with coach Spurrier.
Another prospect that was tentatively scheduled to be in town over the weekend was four-star running back Jamie Harper of Jacksonville, Fla. The 6-foot, 210-pound speedster is considering Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia. While Florida and Clemson lead, Harper has not visited Columbia and has friends that are pushing him to Clemson. If Harper makes a visit to South Carolina, expect the Gamecocks and recruiter Spurrier Jr. to become more of a factor.
Another of the top running back targets on the Gamecocks recruiting board will make an unofficial visit to Columbia Monday and Tuesday. Sierra Vista, Ariz., product Jamal Womble is making several stops in the Carolina's over the next several days. The 5-foot-10, 216-pound three-star prospect is also considering offers from Nebraska, Louisville, Boston College, and Wisconsin, among others. He will be joined by teammate Jake Muasau, who holds an offer from Nebraska, which sits atop Womble's leader board, along with the Gamecocks. While on campus, Womble is expected to meet with his recruiter and potential position coach Robert Gillespie, in addition to a meeting with coach Spurrier to discuss how the blue chip back would fit in with the Gamecocks. Womble has already scheduled his official visit for the weekend the Gamecocks host Clemson in the regular season finale.
One in-state prospect the Gamecocks covet as a receiver and kick return specialist is Chester super star Charles Whitlock. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound athlete is electric with the ball in his hands. The four-star prospect, who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays quarterback for his high school team, but is being recruited as a receiver and cornerback by Gamecock assistant head coach Ron Cooper. While it was once believed that Whitlock would choose to play his college football outside of the Palmetto State, the Gamecocks have made major strides due to the work of both Cooper and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. The Gamecocks appear to be in the thick of it with the Rivals250 member, who could make a decision prior to the beginning of his senior season.
Miami, Fla., receiver Tommy Streeter is another big-time prospect considering the Gamecocks primarily due to the attraction of playing in Spurrier's offense.
"The possibility of playing for Coach (Steve) Spurrier is something that is appealing to me because they like to throw the ball. As a wide receiver it is always exciting to think about playing in an offense like that." Streeter said in a recent interview.
While Miami would appear to be the team to beat for the services of the 6-foot-6, 200-pound receiver, the Gamecocks are in the mix and should receive one of Streeter's five official visits after his senior season. Other schools in the mix include Boston College, Minnesota, Central Florida, and South Florida.
GamecockCentral Link (http://southcarolina.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=691604)
With the smaller recruiting class for '08, we are going to be as selective as we can be with our offers. It's great to see the top talent placing USC up among their top choices. I understand that our coaches have basically promised Womble that they won't offer any other RB other than him. I hope he decides who he commits to sooner than later, so we can still go after other top RB's interested in us, in case Womble chooses Nebraska or whoever....