October 29, 2009
Mack Shrine Bowl omission shocking
By Phil Kornblut

Calhoun County OL Eric Mack (6-4 310) was not chosen for the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team announced Thursday, a stunning decision considering Mack is regarded among the nation's top linemen. The omission raises the question of whether politics once again seaped in to the selection process. Mack isn't the first heavily recruited player over the years not to make the Shrine Bowl team. Demetrius Summers and Syvelle Newton are two other famous examples. One source said the offensive staff wanted smaller, quicker offensive linemen for this team. Perhaps that also explains the omission of Clemson commitment OL Kalon Davis who weighs in at around 350 pounds. Mack will play in the North-South Game and the Under Armour All America Game. Meantime, his recruiting continues despite his commitment to USC. A source said "his USC commitment is still good. I think he's solid. But he wants to have something to compare. He wants to have some fun. He's looking to play as a freshman." Mack has taken an official visit to Auburn and will take one to Clemson November 6th. "Clemson has made him a priority," the source said. "Rumph is coming after him hard. They talk weekly." Mack will also set official visits with USC and Kentucky. He was at the USC-Vanderbilt game and plans to attend USC's final home games with Florida and Clemson. And he will go to Auburn for the Alabama game if his team is not in the state championship game that day.

October 30, 2009
USC baseball lands centerfielder
By Phil Kornblut

The USC baseball team Friday landed a commitment from centerfielder Mason Williams of Winter Garden, FL. Williams is touted as one of the top centerfield prospects in the country. His team won the Connie Mack national championship this year. He's a lefthanded hitter, and he's also a righthanded pitcher. His father is former New England Patriots rerceiver Derwin Williams.

October 30, 2009
Williams off USC commitment list for now
By Phil Kornblut

USC will not sign OL Elliot Williams of Georgia Military JC with the 2010 class. A USC source confirmed today that Williams, who is redshirting this season at GMA, has not done the academic work necessary to sign in February. Should Williams return to the junior college next season, the source said USC line coach Eric Wolford will re-evaluate him. And if he improves his grades enough to earn another offer, Williams could be resigned by the Gamecocks then. Williams originally signed with the Gamecocks in February of 2008.

November 01, 2009
Sophomore kicker likes USC
By Phil Kornblut

PK Matt Ehasz of Kingsland, GA is a prospect for the 2012 signing class, and USC is one of the schools he'd like to become involved with down the road. He has been drawing interest from Wake Forest, North Carolina and Virginia. This season Ehasz is 6-6 on field goals with a long of 37 yards, and he's 32-34 on extra points. And nearly 50% of his kickoffs are touchbacks.

November 01, 2009
Hubbard gets another major offer
By Phil Kornblut

Fast rising prospect DE Adrian Hubbard (6-7 227) of Norcross, GA has been offered by Alabama, the latest major program to evaluate and decide to go after the former basketball player. He also holds offers from Clemson, USC, Florida State, NC State and Kentucky. Hubbard made an unofficial visit to Auburn Saturday, and he's thinking an offer from the Tigers could arrive this week. Hubbard is going to Alabama this Saturday for the LSU game, and he will return to USC for the Florida game. And then he'll go to Florida State. After that unofficial visit, he'll decide on his official visits. Hubbard said USC and Alabama are definite for official visits. He does not have a favorite.

November 01, 2009
Wade makes his decision
By Phil Kornblut

USC target WR Marquel Wade (5-10 180) of Jacksonville, FL committed to Arkansas over the weekend while on an official visit with the Razorbacks. Wade had narrowed his list to Arkansas and USC. He had scheduled an official visit with the Gamecocks for the Florida weekend.

November 01, 2009
Ferguson takes visit to LSU
By Phil Kornblut

DL Ego Ferguson Jr. (6-3 269) of Hargrave Prep, VA made his official visit to LSU over the weekend. That was his first official visit. "It was quite impressive," said Ego Ferguson Sr. who joined his son on the trip. "We were really impressed with the facilities. They talk about winning national championships. We met with coach Miles. You have an image of somone. He's very personable. Ego spent time with his kids and met his wife. It was quite interesting to sit down and talk with him. He's very intense." The Fergusons will take an unofficial visit to USC for the Florida game. They will go to Notre Dame on an official visit November 20th and are working on setting an official visit with Oklahoma for November 27th. And Miami might get a visit. Mr. Ferguson said is son should have his SAT score Monday or Tuesday and soon after that they will cut his list to a final five. Right now there is no favorite.

Brantley can't catch up with USC
By Chris Rodgers

WR Tehvyn Brantley (5-10 175) of Raleigh, NC has not received any new offers in a while, despite his amazing statistics. Brantley has racked up over 1000 all-purpose yards and hauled in 14 TDs in just seven games for Mt. Zion Christian of Raleigh. Brantley has no leader right now, but says USC has been calling him quite a bit although “we seem to be playing phone tag right now.” Brantley has also been hearing quite a bit from NC State and ECU who are “on me hard right now.” Brantley has offers from Central Michigan, Wyoming, UNC and USC, and is also hearing from Tennessee, Cal and UCLA.

November 02, 2009
USC continues to lead for Fulton
By Eric Guimaraes

DB John Fulton (6-0 180) of Manning says USC is still atop his list. "South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and LSU are my top five," said Fulton. He is scheduled to take an official to Florida this weekend and USC the following weekend. He says he will not likely go to Michigan which was planned for November 27. "I'll be in the state championship game that weekend so I don't think I'll go up there," he said. "I'll probably take one more visit but I don't know where I'll go." Fulton has 30 tackles and two forced fumbles this year. He also has nearly 1000 total yards between offense and special teams with five receiving touchdowns and two more on the ground. "I don't think it's been a successful season because I don't have any picks," he said. "No one will throw at me." He says he has some schools talking to him about playing some on offense and returning kicks. "That kind of interests me because I've played both ways all through high school," said Fulton. "It would be weird to not play any offense." He plans to graduate in December and enroll in January. "I'm probably going to commit in early December." USC as a slight lead of Alabama for Fulton.

November 03, 2009
Mack delaying official visit to Klimp Sin
By Phil Kornblut

North-South All Star selection OL Eric Mack of Calhoun County had planned to take an official visit to Clemson this weekend for the Florida State game, but he'll just go up Saturday for the game on an unofficial visit and reschedule his official visit for January. Mack has taken an official visit to Auburn and also plans to set officials with USC and Kentucky.

November 03, 2009
Blue sees orange and garnet
By Eric Guimaraes

WR Atuawn Blue (6-0 185) of Dillon likes both USC and Clemson. "I've been to a couple of South Carolina games this year," said Blue. "I really like their defense and their atmosphere." Blue, who plays wide receiver in high school, says the Gamecocks are looking at him on the defensive side of the ball. "They want me to play cornerback," he said. "I don't mind." He is heading to Clemson this weekend for the FSU game. "They're talking to me about playing wide receiver and special teams," said Blue. "I prefer offense." Blue has not received his first offer but says USC, Clemson, and Coastal Carolina are the three schools showing the most interest. "I think South Carolina will offer me first," he said. "I like Coastal, but I want to visit them to get a better idea of what it's like." This season, Blue has 492 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He was recently named to the Shrine Bowl. "I'm really excited," said Blue. "We're going to win that game." He did not name a favorite.

November 03, 2009
Ladler still considering USC
By Chris Rodgers

DB Kenny Ladler of Stone Mountain, GA (185 6-0) is still a Vanderbilt commitment, but continues to explore his options including with USC. He heard from Miami for the first time last week and will be sending film to them in the near future. “I like Miami, I always have since I was a kid,” says Ladler. He definitely wants to take official visits to USC and Vanderbilt and will also consider Kentucky. Ladler also mentioned that Coach Ward had recently discussed next year’s depth chart with him and showed him “I could be a second string player as soon as I step on campus next year.” He has 58 tackles and three interceptions for his team this year, who is the number one seed in their playoffs. Ladler will decide on his visits after his playoff season (which culminates on December 12th in the Georgia Dome).

November 03, 2009
Radley taking first visit this weekend
By Phil Kornblut

ATH Lucky Radley (5-11 185) of Woodland Hills, CA will take his first official visit this weekend to North Carolina. His mother and younger brother will join him on the trip. Radley has not set any other visits but wants to schedule one with USC. He plans to call recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. Wednesday. Radley said he's getting daily, handwritten mail from Gamecock coaches. "They are still showing a lot of interest," he said. "I want to go to school down south." Radley said he's watched a lot of USC's games on television. He's friends with Gamecock freshman receiver Alshon Jeffery. Radley has offers from USC, North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado State, Iowa State, San Diego State, Western Michigan, Utah, San Jose State, Nevada and Utah State.

November 04, 2009
Corneilus still planning multiple visits
By Phil Kornblut

LB Tyrone Cornelius (6-2 198) of Stone Mountain, GA remains firmly committed to Miami but is planning to set up other official visits. "My commitment his very strong," Cornelius said. "Unless something goes crazy down there, I'm pretty firm with Miami." USC is one of the schools still working Cornelius and he talked with recruiter Lorenzo Ward a couple of weeks ago. "He was just checking on me," Cornelius said. He is looking to set official visits with USC, Tennessee, Michigan and Miami. The only unofficial visit he's made this season was to Miami for the Oklahoma game.

November 04, 2009
USC interested in Byrnes tight end
By Phil Kornblut

One player who has gone largely overlooked at Byrnes is TE Craig Weick (6-6 220). But USC and East Carolina have taken notice and like him according to assistant coach Bobby Bentley. USC recruiter Jay Graham contacted Bentley Tuesday to tell him of his interest in Weick after viewing film. This season Weick has 21 catches for 398 yards and 6 touchdowns.