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South Carolina football recruiting: Gamecocks in elite Mississippi OLB Willie Gay's top five

Good signs coming from a StarkVegas product with Dan Mullen and Mississippi State coming after him.

By David Salley
Talented LB Willie Gay has the Gamecocks in his top 5.
Talented LB Willie Gay has the Gamecocks in his top 5.
Student Sports

Willie Gay puts Gamecocks in top five

2017 4-star linebacker Willie Gay of Starkville, Mississippi released his final five schools on Twitter Thursday afternoon and South Carolina was included.

The Gamecocks are up against some stiff competitors for the 10th ranked linebacker in the class, including Gay's hometown school, Mississippi State. However, if the Gamecocks can get Gay on campus this summer and make an even stronger impression, there will certainly be early playing time to sell at linebacker in the next couple years with players like Skai Moore, T.J. Holloman and Jonathan Walton all graduating following the 2016 season. Regardless, making the cut for a coveted guy like Gay is a great sign for the South Carolina staff.

MJ Webb enjoys visit to Columbia

Coveted 4-star 2017 defensive tackle MJ Webb of Madison, Georgia visited campus on Thursday and came away impressed with what he saw.

Webb has several big-time offers including Auburn, Georgia, Alabama and Clemson, but South Carolina has made a very strong impression on him and developed staying power with him until the end. If the Gamecocks continue to make contact and show Webb he is a major priority, they have a real shot at eventually landing him. As of now, it looks to be a South Carolina and Auburn battle at the top for him.

Three new offers

- The Gamecocks extended an offer on Wednesday to 2018 cornerback Nate Thompson of Sanford, North Carolina.

Thompson, whose other offers to this point come from Virginia Tech, NC State and Charlotte, stands at 6'3, great size for a corner, but also runs a 4.5 second 40-yard dash as a rising junior. He hasn't blown up yet recruiting wise, but there is athletic potential with Thompson so it is a smart, early offer by the Gamecocks staff to get in the game with him now and track how he develops in the next two years.

- 2017 3-star defensive end Aaron Moffitt of Baton Rouge, Louisiana received an offer from South Carolina on Wednesday, his 12th thus far.

Moffitt obviously hails from the heart of LSU country, which typically means he's almost certainly Tiger-bound. Moffitt does have an offer on the table from the hometown Tigers, so that's where he is most likely to end up at this point in time. However, the state of Louisiana produces tons of under the radar, high-quality players, so it is always smart to offer a few down there who teams like LSU might pass on, but show potential and could develop into solid players at the next level. Moffitt fits that bill and is certainly one to keep an eye on going forward.

- On Thursday, South Carolina offered 2017 3-star cornerback Ameer Speed of Jacksonville, Florida.

Speed now has 35 offers on the table, so the Gamecocks are not the only ones on his trail. Having Travaris Robinson on staff always helps, though, with both players from Florida and defensive backs. At 6'3, 195 pounds, Speed has great size and length for his position, much like Nate Thompson, and is someone to watch out for should South Carolina decides to pursue him with vigor.

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