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South Carolina Gamecocks Recruiting: Your questions, answered (we'll try)

Any potential players on the verge of flipping? That and more in our first recruiting mailbag!

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

With National Signing Day right around the corner, we thought it would be fitting to do a recruiting mailbag in an attempt to answer what questions you might have! We tried our best to give you our informed opinion! However, if we messed something up, let us know in the comments section below.

As far as realistically in the mix for this class, I think the team has a great shot at Kiel Pollard. It will come down to whether he wants to play in a pro-style offense that Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos specializes in or if he wants a shot at getting a shot at some good playing time early. With the Gamecocks in search of a consistent receiving threat, I feel that Pollard would be a great fit for what they're looking for and would be another potential piece - along with early enrollees Bryan Edwards and Brandon McIlwain - to build around in the passing game. We will know either way on Sunday.

I'd definitely keep an eye on Mykelle McDaniel and former ECU commit Jamil Dukes as well. McDaniel is a DE and has reportedly all but committed to the program. Dukes decommitted from the Pirates shortly after Ruffin McNeill's firing and has no other visits planned other than the one he already took to Columbia a few weeks back. Another player I'd watch is Southern Miss pledge Jeriko Morris. Golden Eagles coach Todd Monken was suddenly hired to be Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter's offensive coordinator a few days ago, so that potentially throws Morris's situation into flux. He will visit this weekend.

As far as surprise flips, I would have said Marlon Character a few weeks ago; however, his mind appears set on Auburn even after Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson surfaced at South Carolina. They are working North Carolina WR pledge Korey Banks at the moment. Banks, a Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek product, has been committed to the Tar Heels since this past July, and I guess it would qualify as a "surprise" if he flips because he was still a sold commit even after Alabama offered him. He still took a visit to Tuscaloosa and will take one to Columbia this weekend. I mentioned Morris above, but it wouldn't be much of a surprise with Monken's departure. Also, this wouldn't be a "flip" per se, since he already decommitted, but former UGA verbal Randrecous Davis just might pick Carolina when it's all said and done, though he's likely a Miami lean.

Some backstory: Jackson, who played part of one game in 2014 before redshirting following a shoulder injury, was arrested (later cleared) on armed robbery charges. He visited South Florida this past weekend and will take an OV to South Carolina this coming weekend, according to Scout (Muschamp, of course, was his former coach in Gainesville). If he does end up here, he does come with some baggage, moreso than recent JUCO commit Tyren Jones, so the leash for an individual who is very fortunate to not be doing time in prison right now would be very, very short.

Whether it's McDaniel, Dukes or someone else, this pass rush needs help off the edge, so I'd say DE would be one of the more pressing needs. Keir Thomas should help with that, but with Javon Kinlaw opting to go JUCO instead of enrolling right away, the program would do well to tack on another.

WAIT THIS ISN'T A RECRUITING QUESTION. Is Muschamp a truck guy? There has to be a car dealership in the Columbia area needing him. Let's come back to this one down the road.

Finally, from Facebook:

question

This is a fair and legitimate question. Just to get everyone up to speed, in case you missed it, Jacorey Morris and Tre Jackson decommitted from the program the other day. Long story short: this is far from an isolated incident and doesn't necessarily equate to "distasteful". Whenever a new staff takes over a program, they evaluate which recruits the old staff were looking at and make their decision whether or not to continue to pursue them. By no means are they obligated to honor a commitment; on the flip side, by no means is an athlete bound by his verbal commitment until he signs his letter of intent formally declaring his decision to attend a specific school.

Thanks for the questions, everyone. Be sure to keep following us at @GABARecruiting and @GABAttack before and after National Signing Day for the very latest recruiting news and updates.