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Name: Mon Denson
Position: Running Back
Height/Weight: 5'10, 225 pounds
Hometown: Lagrange, GA
Rating: 247Sports: Three Stars Rivals: Three Stars ESPN: Three Star
The Gamecocks coaching staff planned to only take two running backs in this recruiting cycle and with AJ Turner already committed, Denson decided to go ahead and commit to the Gamecocks. He selected USC over offers from the Arkansas Razorbacks, Cincinnati Bearcats and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. His primary recruiter is listed as Joe Robinson, with Everette Sands acting as a secondary recruiter.
Strengths:
Denson is definitely the best running back in this class. Not only is he an absolute wrecking ball, but he has some speed to go with it. He is able to just shed tackle like they were nothing and just keep chugging along. Unlike Turner, Denson looks to also be a valuable asset in the passing game. He shows the ability to act as an every down type of running back and has the ability to employ multiple running styles. He can run north-south or east-west to relative effectiveness. This means that he will be a valuable asset to the Gamecocks, since they can use him in many different situations.
Weaknesses:
While he is fast for his size, that speed disappears when he tries to get to the outside. He is definitely more dangerous as a north-south runner, but it is more difficult for him to gain yards from the east-west style. There is also the matter of blocking. His film didn't contain any examples of him acting as a pass protector, so it is hard to know if he will have any prior practice with this before arriving on campus. Since Spurrier really values running backs who can also act as effective blockers, Denson will have to learn the blocking schemes if he wants to see the field.
Overall:
I really want to see what Denson is capable of, but like Turner, there is just so much experienced depth at the running back position. Between the two running backs, Denson is the most likely to see the field early, and could be effective as a freshman.