South Carolina football recruiting: Could Marlon Character flip due to Gamecocks' struggles?

It's been a less than optimal year for the South Carolina Gamecocks on the field, and there is a chance that it could cost them one of their top recruits. Marlon Character, a four-star defensive back from Atlanta (Ga.) Grady that committed a few months back, is reportedly "concerned" with the team's direction right now and might possibly be reconsidering his decision. Part of it is the team's situation at defensive coordinator.

Before I committed, I didn't really know (Jon Hoke) was the defensive coordinator. I knew he was the co-defensive coordinator, but I didn't know he was the defensive coordinator officially, now, and the defensive backs coach.

Lorenzo Ward was Character's primary contact at South Carolina during his recruitment process. However, with Ward's lessened responsibilities with the team, Character's mind may be telling him to go somewhere else. That "somewhere else", according to the article linked above, could be Auburn, who the Gamecocks had to fight off in order to grab Character's services and where he stopped by this past weekend (though not on an official visit). It is important to note that the Tigers are undergoing an underwhelming season of their own and that Will Muschamp hasn't exactly set the world on fire just yet as Gus Malzahn's DC down on the Plains. On the same token, though, Character is "confident" that Auburn will turn things around. Also of note: Character's statement that he and Hoke "don't speak as often" as he and Muschamp do.

The Gamecocks lost several recruits in the offseason and certainly don't want another big name flipping to another in-conference program. Character's departure could set off a chain reaction among the team's current crop, so the staff undoubtedly will be working him hard when he takes an official here soon.