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South Carolina Football Recruiting: Class of 2016 offense big board, updates, profiles and more

Who in the class of 2016 in the mix for the Gamecocks on the offensive side of the ball?

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

On this page, we'll be tracking class of 2016 offensive targets, offers and commitments for the South Carolina Gamecocks as the rising seniors continue to mull their offers and prepare for their final year of high school. It will be updated frequently, so bookmark this page and check back often for the latest.

Star ratings are from Rivals.com. *--offer; **--commitment

Click to jump to a section: QB | RB | TEWR

Quarterback (COMMITMENTS: 1)

JaVaughn Craig Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie 6'1" 180 2 stars Video
Steven Duncan Summerville (S.C.) Ashley Ridge 6'4" 224 2 stars Video
Anthony Hasan Miami (Fla.) Central 6'2" 185 2 stars Video
Ryan Lee Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley 6'2" 196 no stars Video
Avery McCall* Dillon (S.C.) 6' 201 3 stars Video
Brandon McIlwain** Newtown (Pa.) Council Rock North 6' 188 3 stars Video
Dakota Roush Tulsa (Okla.) Holland Hall 5'11" 190 no stars Video
Davonte Turner Lake City (S.C.) 5'11" 192 no stars Video
Liam Welch Augusta (Ga.) Aquinas 6'2" 172 no stars Video

Where We Stand

12/31/14: Commitment from Brandon McIlwain

It probably isn't out of the question to think that McIlwain will be the only rising senior quarterback that commits to USC. With him in the fold, the Gamecocks could have as many as six quarterbacks on the roster in fall 2016: McIlwain, Perry Orth (r-sr. in 2016), Brendan Nosovitch (r-sr. in 2016), Connor Mitch (r-jr. in 2016), Michael Scarnecchia (r-soph. in 2016) and Lorenzo Nunez (soph. in 2016). I wouldn't rule out Nosovitch departing after the 2015 season with his studies complete, though.


Running Back (COMMITMENTS: 1)

Taven Birdow Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 6'1" 205 3 stars Video
Jordon Brown* Southern Durham (N.C.) 5'11" 179 4 stars Video
Jalin Buie* Jacksonville, (Fla.) Trinity Christian 5'8" 180 3 stars Video
Arkeem Byrd Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins 6'1" 190 2 stars Video
Shakur Chisolm Allendale-Fairfax (S.C.) 6'1 190 no stars Video
Damarea Crockett Little Rock (Ark.) Christian 5'11" 212 4 stars Video
JaQua Daniels Clarke Central (Ga.) 6'1" 219 3 stars Video
Antonio Dupree Baltimore (Md.) Gilman 5'10 225 3 stars Video
Jonathon Earl West Columbia (S.C.) Airport 5'10 185 no stars Video
Carlin Fils-Aime* Naples (Fla.) 5'11" 175 3 stars Video
C.J. Freeeman** Northern Guilford (N.C.) 5'11" 195 3 stars Video
Elijah Holyfield* College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy 5'10" 195 4 stars Video
Savion Johnson Wheeling Park (W.V.) 5'10" 205 2 stars Video
Kameron Pickett North Gwinnett (Ga.) 5'11" 205 2 stars Video
Nicquan Ramsey Pendleton (S.C.) 5'9" 190 no stars Video
Brandon Sinclair Myrtle Beach (S.C.) 5'10" 200 2 stars Video
Steven Smothers* (ATH) Reisterstown (Md.) (Franklin) 5'11" 150 4 stars Video
Tray Staten Holly Springs (N.C.) 5'10" 190 no stars Video
Jordan Tucker Giles County (Tenn.) 5'8" 196 no stars Video

Where We Stand

3/28/2015: Commitment from CJ Freeman

The Gamecocks will be saddled with the loss of Brandon Wilds and Shon Carson, a pair of very capable backs, and as of now have offered five high school RBs and a running back classified as an ATH:

--Jordon Brown: offered a few weeks back and is still sorting through his eventual choice. Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State and West Virginia are among his twelve other offers. The early thinking is that he'll stay closer to home.

--Jalin Blue: originally committed to Auburn in 2014 but eventually reopened his recruitment. However, the Gamecocks don't appear to be his landing spot as of now.

--Carlin Fils-Aime: a strong Miami (Fl.) lean. Doesn't appear likely that he will attend USC.

--Elijah Holyfield: son of former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield took a visit in February and returned in April.

--Count Steven Smothers, an ATH projecting as a back, out of the picture. USC is outside of his top six.


Tight End

Chris Ellington Neptune Beach (Fl.) Fletcher 6'4" 220 3 stars Video
Thaddeus Moss* Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek 6'4" 240 4 stars Video
Christian Roberson McEachern (Ga.) Powder Creek 6'4" 231 3 stars Video
Naseir Upshur* Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Inst Charter School 6'2" 238 4 stars Video

Where We Stand

--Count one of two TE offers out: Thaddeus Moss, son of Randy Moss. The Gamecocks were left out of his top eight.

--USC is still in the running for Naseir Upshurwho will decide on August 8. However, Michigan is considered the favorite.

--With Moss out and Upshur on the bubble, two of four TE targets could be off the board. With three scholarship TEs on the roster (one a senior), it's likely that we'll see several offers extended soon.


Wide Receiver (COMMITMENTS: 2)

Trevion Armstrong Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal 6'2" 220 3 stars Video
RJ Bacon Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley 6'2" 175 no stars Video
Kyran Bowman Havelock (N.C.) 6'1" 169 no stars Video
Johnathan Boyd Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview 6'1" 203 2 stars Video
Marquez Callaway* Warner Robins (Ga.) 6'2" 170 4 stars Video
Larry Collins* Lower Richland (S.C.) 6'2" 188 3 stars Video
Nate Craig-Myers* Tampa (Fla.) Catholic 6'2" 205 5 stars Video
Kyle Davis* Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer 6'2" 224 4 stars Video
Chavis Dawkins Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes 6'2" 195 2 stars Video
Divine Deablo* Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor 6'4" 207 3 stars Video
Bryan Edwards** Conway (S.C.) 6'3" 205 4 stars Video
Kelvin Harmon* Palmyra (N.J.) 6'2" 196 4 stars Video
Brad Hawkins Jr.* Camden (N.J.) 6'2" 195 4 stars Video
Jayson Hopper Lexington (S.C.) 6'1" 190 3 stars Video
Tre Jackson* Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab 5'10" 178 3 stars Video
Brandon Johnson* Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage 6'2" 175 3 stars Video
Devin Judd Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 5'11" 156 no stars Video
Jamarion Mathis Saluda (S.C.) 6'3" 175 2 stars Video
Eddie McDoom* West Orange (Fla.) 6'1" 170 3 stars Video
Dreshun Miller Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry 6'2" 183 no stars Video
Ahmir Mitchell* Cedar Creek (N.J.) 6'3" 203 4 stars Video
Tre Nixon Viera (Fla.) 6'1" 168 4 stars Video
Diondre Overton* Greensboro (N.C.) Page 6'5" 194 4 stars Video
Freddie Pinder* Miami (Fla.) Southridge 6'4" 201 3 stars Video
Cavin Ridley Deerfield Beach (Fla.) 6'1" 190 4 stars Video
Jarel Rowe Carrollton (Ga.) 6'4" 175 2 stars Video
Darnell Salomon* Miami (Fla.) Central 6'2" 205 5 stars Video
Dredrick Snelson Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Flanagan 6'0" 192 4 stars Video
Montray Smith Miami (Fla.) Carol City 6'3" 170 3 stars Video
Donald Stewart Paramus (N.J.) Catholic 6'4" 185 3 stars Video
Tyrin Summers* Clewiston (Fla.) 5'9" 162 Video
Freddie Swain* North Marion (Fla.) 6'1" 174 4 stars Video
Binjimen Victor* Coconut Creek (Fla.) 6'4" 173 4 stars Video

Where We Stand

3/28/2015: Commitment from Bryan Edwards

7/18/2015: Commitment from Tre Jackson

7/3/2015: Brad Hawkins is off the board. He has chosen Michigan over South Carolina.

7/2/2015: Tre Jackson released his top 5, and the Gamecocks are in it:

The CB/WR (likely a WR in college) is the son of former Florida wideout Jack Jackson, who played under Steve Spurrier from 1992-1994 and is a former SEC player of the year

--Kelvin Harmon--USC is in his top six. Has shown strong interest, especially with Brandon McIlwain in the fold.

--A couple of names to keep on the radar: local product Larry CollinsBack in May, he didn't have a favorite, but did attend camp a few weeks ago. Also, Divine Deablo, who has USC in his own top four.

--Kyle Davis is also still in play. The one-time USC commit reopened his recruitment in May and is thought to be a Georgia lean right now. Depending on how things are looking right now, his window of opportunity to play in Columbia could be closing.