We're a bit late on this, but I'd like to say a few things about Grady Brown, newly hired cornerbacks coach at USC. Brown will also help with special teams. Carolina picks up Brown from Southern Miss., where Ellis Johnson retained him from the previous staff. That should tell you a little bit about Brown right there. Brown led the Golden Eagles to the seventh-best passing efficiency defense last season. He's also reportedly a solid recruiter. Certainly, recruiting to USC is a different animal than recruiting to USM, but Brown is a young, energetic guy that should be able to relate well with prep stars.

Where did this hire come from? Well, Brown has a long history with newly promoted defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. Ward has known Brown for many years, having recruited him when Brown was playing high-school ball, and Ward is very high on Brown's potential as a coach. One thing that should, thus, be noted is that this hire would seem to suggest that Ward is being given the keys to the defense--not to say that Spurrier would have any reason to be against this hire, but it's Ward who made the decision, not Spurrier. That's fairly typical of Spurrier' coaching philosophy--the HBC likes to take care of the offense, and he gives his defensive coaches lots of latitude. However, there was some uncertainty whether that would continue to be the case here, considering Ward's lack of experience as a coordinator. Apparently, Spurrier trusts Ward to make the right choices.

With all of this in mind, I think we have a lot of reason to be happy about this hire. Brown comes with solid credentials, and the confidence that Spurrier is showing in Ward would suggest that Spurrier believes Ward is ready to lead this defense. All of that bodes well for Carolina going forward.

As you no doubt recall, 22 football players signed Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2012. An additional three players (Brock Stadnik, Clayton Stadnik, and Kelvin Rainey) enrolled early for the spring semester.

That gives Steve Spurrier 25 incoming players and only 17 available scholarships. So what does that mean? We've been tracking this issue for some time now, but now that we know the size of the incoming class, it's easier to speculate about what cuts will need to be made. Sometime between now and the fall, 8 players currently on the scholarship roster must be removed from it. Where will these eight players come from?

Fifth Year Players

As I've begun to look back through what happened to previous years' recruiting classes, I've noticed that the practice of nudging out fifth year players who already have their degrees -- and are making or are expected to make minimal contributions to the team - is much more common than I remember.

This is what became of Eric Baker and what appeared to be happening to Kenny Miles. Until it wasn't. And then it was again. The last credible report came from the mouth of Miles' high school coach who said that the redshirt senior is still weighing his options, wanting to make sure that - wherever he is - he's going to play in 2012. That might be a dicey proposition at South Carolina, where new running backs coach Everette Sands' cup runneth over with talented running backs. Honestly, where does Miles fall on a depth chart that features Marcus Lattimore, Brandon Wilds, Shon Carson, and Mike Davis?

Kenny Davis seems like another candidate to leave the team. Davis came in with the 2008 class as a three-star defensive tackle out of Newberry High, redshirting during his first year on campus. He played sparingly in 2009 and 2010 before being moved to offensive guard in 2011, a year in which he never saw the field.

Qua Gilchrist is another possibility. The linebacker from Abbeville, SC only played in 3 games in 2011, recording just one tackle. (That doesn't match my recollection. I seem to remember seeing him on the field more often, but those are the numbers I got from the the athletic department's website.)

Going out on a bit of a limb, I'll submit that parting ways with D.L. Moore might not be the worst idea. I keep waiting him for him to break out and become at least a decent backup, yet he continues to disappoint. D.L. played in 11 games in 2011, with just 8 catches for 52 yards.

Non-Qualifiers

Jhaustin Thomas is the only incoming player that people are openly talking about having some academic hurdles to clear. Apparently he has to have a pretty serious improvement in his ACT score if he's going to qualify. I've heard people on the radio (Jim Baxter, Chris Clark) and "insiders" on other sites allude to at least a second player having academic issues, but I haven't been able to figure out who that might be. Two would be an unusually low number of non-qualifiers, so maybe there are others that we don't know about.

Greyshirts

Kendric Salley injured his knee during his senior season at Williston Elko and is not expected to be ready for the start of fall practice. Salley maintains that the coaching staff has never broached the subject of greyshirting, but this is still something to keep an eye on.

Two Sport Players

Bruce Ellington remains inscrutable on the question of whether he will choose to focus on one sport next year and, if so, which one. Everyone's hunch seems to be that it would be basketball, but it's not entirely clear on what these hunches are based - and honestly, if I had the kid's ear, I'd tell him to get as far away from Darrin Horn's basketball program as possible. Besides, Devan Downey-lite isn't exactly a skills profile that screams "future NBA player."

As with D.L. Moore, I feel like I'm stepping out on a limb with this one: Shon Carson. This is wild speculation, and I'd guess that the possibility of this happening is extremely remote, but since the possibility exists at all and there don't seem to be many other possibilities, it's at least something worth exploring hypothetically. Carson is probably a better baseball than football prospect at the next level. He was taken in the 44th round of the MLB draft out of high school and expressed some regret via his Twitter feed at not seizing the opportunity to turn pro. He later recanted, stating that he was quoting a song lyric, but I must confess that I'm ignorant as to which artist the line "I shoulda gone pro" belongs. Admittedly, the kid is going through a lot. I can't imagine what it would be like to have everything riding on your legs and suddenly have them fail you. So maybe the tweet was just an act of frustration. After all, anyone who follows him knows that he isn't particularly discriminating when it comes to deciding which of his thoughts are worth sharing with the public.

Currently Suspended Players

Byron Jerideau and Brison Williams are currently suspended indefinitely from the team. I wouldn't think that either of their actions (Jerideau, Williams) are worthy of getting kicked off the team, but you never know with this stuff. Williams in particular would be expected to contribute in 2012.

Doing the Math

The players mentioned above total ten, but a few of them aren't very realistic candidates to leave or be dismissed from the team. More likely, it will be some combination of the more obvious choices above and others that we won't see coming.

Over the past few years, the days leading up to National Signing Day have been fairly anxious for South Carolina fans. We've had to wait on high-profile players; we've had to worry over possible defections. This year, though, things have been fairly quiet. Is that a good or a bad thing?

For Steve Spurrier, it seems that it was a good thing. Spurrier reports being glad he didn't have to play the waiting game. It wasn't just not having to deal with drama kings that has Spurrier happy, though. The OBC had this to say:

"Another thing I like about all these players is every player that committed to us stuck," Spurrier said. "We didn't have any defections. Statistics show that players who stick to their commitment usually stick in college. I think we have a good class of young men that will represent our school in a first-class manner on the field and off."

In other words, Spurrier feels like this is a group that will continue to contribute to the new, team-first vibe that seems to have taken hold at Carolina.

The players are also pretty darn good. The class is rated 9th by Scout, 15th by 247, and 18th by Rivals. I tend to think that 247 has it about right; Scout always seems a bit hokey to me, as its rankings tend to vary highly with those of the other services, while Rivals, although authoritative, is clearly the service most likely to intentionally inflate name-brand programs and to pump up players who wait until Signing Day to commit. 247 is a nice medium. Plus, they don't like Clemson's class, which is gravy in my book.

The biggest narrative for Carolina this year seems to be the success we had in Georgia. Over the past couple of years, convincing big-name players not to go to places like UGA has marked our new-found success. This year, we both kept some good players home (Shaq Roland is likely the class's crown jewel), but we also signed a whopping 12 players from the Peach State--a few of them guys who Mark Richt wanted very badly. We took the next step. That speaks to this program's rising visibility vis-a-vis the SEC's old guard.

The other thing to note is that we largely filled our needs. It would have been nice to have signed one more DE, but outside of that, we filled our needs to the brim, and Carolina fans shouldn't be disappointed with the ends we did get, as Darius English and Jhaustin Thomas are likely the real deal.

All in all, today was a day that Carolina fans can feel happy about. Spurrier believes that the program's new-found presence has helped it bring in more of this caliber player:

"We’ve got more to offer than we ever have at South Carolina," Spurrier said. "We have a track record for winning and graduating our players. We play in the SEC, and so forth. The facilities are about as good as anybody in the country. We have a good football program, and our job is to keep it going."

To paraphrase: we've arrived.

Apparently, his last-minute visit over the weekend went well, as McDonough, GA athlete Chris Moody has decided to drop his commitment to James Franklin and Vanderbilt in order to commit to South Carolina. (Let's hope our momentum against the up-and-coming 'Dores continues through the first week of the 2012 season.) Moody's recruiter was Lorenzo Ward, whose efforts in Georgia this cycle have been nothing short of outstanding. Indeed, Ward has been having an all-star year all around, you'd have to say.

Moody was primarily known for being a dual-threat QB in high school, and Steve Spurrier has told him that we'll give him a good look at Wildcat QB. However, he principally projects as a cornerback or safety at this level. He doesn't have a lot of experience playing defense, so he'll have some learning to do. That said, he has the body type and athleticism to make a big impact, and considering that we have some need for players in the defensive secondary right now, you have to really like the staff's success in making this happen. Welcome aboard, Chris.

As most of you know, Melvin Ingram is projected to be the first Gamecock off board at this year's NFL Draft. He's currently practicing in preparation for the Senior Bowl, the Mobile, AL event that is considered the premier senior all-star game. The Senior Bowl is one of the first showcases of the pre-draft season; the event is as much an opportunity for scouts to get a good look at the players as it is about the game itself. To that end, Ingram has done nothing but help himself this week. The Sporting News's Russ Lande had this to say about the Gamecocks sack machine:

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina, 6-2, 276, 4.75 (South). Ingram was impressive for the second consecutive day. He is explosive off the ball and sudden with his initial movements, which makes it difficult for offensive linemen to sustain their blocks on him. He displayed an excellent variety of pass-rush moves during the one-on-one period to consistently beat the offensive tackle. He has a rare combination of quickness, agility and power closing. If he continues playing at this level the rest of the week and has a strong spring, we are confident Ingram will end up as a first-round pick.

As expected, although for different reasons than expected, this year's crop of moving-on Gamecocks is projected to do as well as any such group in quite some time--perhaps ever. The Gamecocks have a large group of players who are likely to be drafted, with some likely to go very early. Let's take a look at some of those guys.

Melvin Ingram. Ingram has made himself millions with his blockbuster 2011 campaign. Merely another good SEC DL coming into the season, he's now considered one of the best in the nation as a hybrid DE / OLB. His freakish combination of speed and strength will have scouts drooling, as will his knack for getting in on big plays.

Alshon Jeffery. Although his stock seems to have fallen a bit after a lackluster year (for the most part not his fault), most mock drafts still have Jeffery going in the first round, although some have him dropping into the second. I think most scouts understand that his lack of production owed to poor QB and OL play; they've seen what he can do when the passing game is clicking and are willing to draft him based on that. I do think his stock could rise or fall a bit based on the combine. The concerns about his conditioning are a myth based on internet rumors, but it remains the case that he seems to lack true breakaway speed. If he can impress with his speed and route running in his workouts, that could help him move into the higher part of the first round. He could also hurt himself if he doesn't perform well.

Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore has a chance to make into the first round--in fact, SB Nation's mock draft has him being taken at 32. However, right now, it looks more likely that he'll be taken in the second or third rounds. I do, though, think it's possible that he'll move up after workouts. Gilmore's measurables are as good as any CB in the draft; he has the ideal blend of speed, agility, and height. His seeming flaws, like Jeffery's, likely owe as much to questionable scheme (notice how much better Gilmore played when we moved to more aggressive coverages mid-season 2011) and poor depth in 2010. More so than Jeffery, though, Gilmore is likely to see his stock rise between now and draft day.

Antonio Allen. Allen hasn't been shown a lot of love by the mock drafts, just as he wasn't by the post-season awards lists. However, ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper thinks that Allen may go in the third or even second round. As a former spur in Ellis Johnson's defense, there are no doubts about Allen's tackling ability. However, as Kiper notes, what may help Allen move up the boards is his improved pass coverage in 2011. Remember how badly Arkansas's TEs killed us when Allen was out? That should tell you a lot about the impact Allen had.

We'll take a look at some more prospects soon.

As tryptic reported earlier today, USC has hired Everette Sands to be its new runningbacks coach. Sands replaces Jay Graham, who departed to return to Tennessee, his alma mater.

I'm a big fan of this hire. Folks have been throwing Sands's name around as a good candidate for this position for a while now, and with good reason. He brings both coaching expertise and recruiting potential to the position. A standout, 1AA All-American in the early 1990s while at The Citadel, a stint that included a 100+ yard game in a win over the Gamecocks, Sands has coached runningbacks at various programs, most recently N.C. State, since the late 1990s. In that time, he has helped produce a number of solid rushing attacks. In sum, our stable of runningbacks should be in good hands.

I'm most excited about Sands as a recruiter. Sands only had a single year in Raleigh, and his other experience came at various mid-major and FCS programs, so he hasn't had a lot of time to show off his recruiting skills at the highest level. That said, he's thought to bring a lot of potential in this regard, as he's a young, high-energy guy with a character that people respect and admire. Needless to say, moreover, he has deep ties to the state of South Carolina due to his successful playing and coaching career at The Citadel and longtime coaching career in the Carolinas. He should be able to use these ties to help build a good pipeline and bring in solid talent from around the area.

All in all, I think we got our man here.

Several days ago, I looked at our potential offensive two-deep for next fall. Today, we're looking at the defense.

DE: Jadeveon Clowney; Chaz Sutton
DE: Devin Taylor; Byron McKnight
DT: Kelcy Quarles; Phillip Dukes
DT: Aldrick Fordham; Byron Jerideau
LB: Shaq Wilson; Quin Smith
LB: Reginald Bowens; Qua Gilchrist
Spur: DeVonte Holloman; DeMario Jeffery
CB: Akeem Auguste; Ahmad Christian
CB: Victor Hampton; Jimmy Legree
S: Brison Williams; Sharrod Golightly
S: D.J. Swearinger; Sheldon Royster

Notes:

--The pass rush will again be a major asset. The Clowney / Taylor due will be more or less unblockable.

--Another defensive lineman I've read good things about is Deon Green, a three-star tackle who redshirted after coming in with last year's class. The coaches are high on Green and believe he will be able to compete for a spot in the rotation. J.T. Surratt will also be in the mix there.

--Another interesting storyline at DT will be whether or not Byron Jerideau can compete with Fordham for the second starting position alongside Kelcy Quarles. Fordham is really more of a defensive end who plays tackle due to necessity, and one would prefer to see the Wall of Jerideau live up to his potential and take that spot, as he's got the body to be more of a force against the run.

--Linebacker was a bit of a weak spot at times for us this year, but as Shaq Wilson returned to form and Reggie Bowens and Quin Smith matured, it became a strong point by year's end. Look for that trend to continue this coming season. Also note that redshirt freshman Cedrick Cooper is a guy the coaches are high on who could earn some playing time.

--Secondary is likely my biggest concern going into next year, particularly at CB. Auguste and Hampton should be solid as starters, but depth will be the the question. I've never been impressed by Jimmy Legree, although he's shown flashes at times. Ahmad Christian and Kadetrix Marcus have tons of potential, but they're inexperienced. There are also the incoming freshman, but they're again inexperienced. One or two of these guys will need to step up and be able to give us quality snaps next year, or we may be in trouble at corner. Safety I feel a bit better about; D.J. Swearinger will likely be All-SEC, Brison Williams is very solid, Sharrod Golightly got some PT at times this year and should be ready for a bigger role, and Sheldon Royster should eventually be an All-SEC-type player. Plus, we can always move DeVonte Holloman back to safety if need be, as well as some good incoming talent.