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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 | TE | WR
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 |
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 |
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 Upshur, who 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 |
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 |
Tre Nixon | Viera (Fla.) | 6'1" | 168 | 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 |
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:
Coming soon pic.twitter.com/KPkLFvlTcx
— Tre Jackson (@CB_EJ3) July 1, 2015
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.
#Gamecocks make top six for #Rivals250 WR Kelvin Harmon @Wide_Receiver9 : http://t.co/7w0oquw68e
— Chris Clark (@GCChrisClark) June 18, 2015
--A couple of names to keep on the radar: local product Larry Collins. Back 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.