South Carolina football recruiting: Gamecocks in Keisean Nixon’s top six; several Florida players offered

No surprise, but the Gamecocks are one of the teams in the lead for Keisean Nixon’s services. With just over two weeks to go before his December 17 decision date, the JUCO cornerback released his top six, and the Gamecocks found themselves in it.

Nixon recorded five TFLs and six interceptions this season for Arizona Western, two being returned for touchdowns (73 and 57 yards). He’ll also look to provide a spark in the special teams department as well with two kicks returned for touchdowns (in the same game) to his credit.

Stay caught up on the latest Gamecocks recruiting news

Getty Images

—Bookmark our recruiting section - news, updates, analysis, and more

—NEW! Sign up for our recruiting newsletter.

—Follow us on Twitter - @GABAttack or @GABARecruiting

The Gamecocks hosted Nixon on an official visit during the Western Carolina game on November 19. A player of his skill set stands a good chance of breaking into the team’s cornerback rotation in 2017 and would probably be an upgrade over now-former commit Damarri Mathis and current pledge Tavyn Jackson. As I’ve mentioned, I’m not convinced that Jackson is going to be a part of the class come National Signing Day, but if they can grab Nixon and Yusuf Corker while keeping Jamyest Williams in the fold, they should make out all right.

Several Florida offers

A trio of offers were made to Deerfield Beach (Fla.) teammates as the staff continues to scour the Sunshine State. The most notable of the two was a 2019 linebacker by the name of Ge’mon Eaford. Eaford currently has 20 offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina and Tennessee, and that number is set to grow over the next couple of years. The Gamecocks also extended an offer to Eaford’s teammate, linebacker Rosendo Louis, a junior. Georgia, LSU, N.C. State, Temple, Syracuse and USF are among the other schools that are on his list. Along with those two, a third Deerfield Beach player, Ashtan Pierre, was offered as well. (h/t Hale McGranahan for that note)

The Gamecocks also offered Miami (Fla.) Edison DE Kayode Oladele yesterday. Oladele, ranked as one of the top 20 strongside DEs in the country, currently has five other offers: Bowling Green, Florida, Pitt, Syracuse and Temple.

The staff also offered another Miami product: Southridge’s James Head. Head, 247’s #18 strongside DE, has been offered by the Gamecocks, Nebraska, Mississippi State, and N.C. State.

Ga. OT to visit in January

Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside OT Jordan Rhodes will stop by on January 13 for an official visit, as first reported by 247’s Steve Wilfong. Rhodes currently has offers from the Gamecocks, Cincinnati and Mississippi State. The Bearcats are set to host him on January 20, with nothing in the way of an OV to Starkville just yet.

Lattimore wooing Tancey Richardson

Tancey Richardson’s recruitment has been interesting, to say the least: it was reported that he had committed to the Gamecocks in June, but the team didn’t accept the commitment, leaving his recruitment open. One former Gamecock is hoping that the in-state product (South Aiken) makes the call for Carolina when it’s all said and done.

That’s obviously a ringing endorsement and should give Richardson something to think about. We’ll see what happens.