Gamecock Football Recruiting 2014: D.J. Smith commits to South Carolina

A combination of bad luck and suboptimal roster management has left South Carolina frantically searching under its pillow cushions for warm bodies to occupy its cornerback two-deep in 2014. But the Gamecocks finally caught a break on Monday night when D.J. Smith, the No. 12 cornerback prospect in the country according to 247Sports' Composite Recruiting Index, went on Fox Sports South's The New College Football Show to announce his commitment to South Carolina.

4-star defensive back DJ Smith (6-0, 190) of Marietta, Ga., has committed to the #Gamecocks. pic.twitter.com/NmhCA5dHrg

— GoGamecocks.com (@gogamecocks) January 14, 2014

Smith chose Carolina over Tennessee after publicly ruling Clemson out last week. At 6'0, 196, Smith has the size and athleticism to be immediately useful at a number of positions. Because of depth issues at the position the four-star defender is all but a lock to begin his Gamecock career at cornerback, but many feel as though his highest upside is as a safety. With South Carolina returning just one scholarship player who saw the field as a corner in 2013, Smith seems a sure bet to play as a freshman.

Smith becomes the 17th commitment in South Carolina's 2014 class and the third defensive back--along with Al Harris, Jr. and Darrin Smalls--to pledge to sign with the Gamecocks. USC can sign up to 22 players in this recruiting cycle, leaving room for up to five more. Chris Lammons, who decommitted from Florida this week, and Wesley Green, who decommitted from South Carolina in September, are a pair of cornerbacks that remain high on the Gamecocks' board and provide enough talent at a position of need that it would be hard to turn either of them down.

More from Garnet And Black Attack

Follow @GABAttack Follow @SBNationCFB

• Farewell, Victor Hampton
• Gamecock Basketball: Sindarius Thornwell SEC Freshman of the Week
• South Carolina Women's Basketball: Lady Gamecocks Win at Auburn
• The Cock Watch: Gamecock Social Media Report
• South Carolina vs. LSU final score: Gamecocks can't rebound with a win, fall to LSU 71-68