Monday Morning Recruiting Notes

With the commitment of prep all-America defensive end Travian Robertson last Thursday, the Gamecocks turned the slide in recruiting momentum that had plagued it for much of July, which saw USC's lead erode on several top prospects. USC has recovered and now appears back on track with several prospects top prospects on their recruiting board.

Robertson's teammate, DE Byron McKnight 6'4 1/2 220 will be making an unofficial visit to USC on August 12th for USC's first major scrimmage. McKnight was recently offered by the Gamecocks, and could commit in the near future. McKnight is a big, raw defensive end prospect with huge upside. USC was the only school that was able to evaluate McKnight this summer, as the Scotland County product attended USC's prospect camp in June. Scotland head coach Mark Barnes believes once the season begins and film is made available, McKnight offer sheet will expand considerably. Barnes also believes that McKnight will fill out to the 270 pound range and still run 4.75 to 4.8 in the 40-yard dash.

TE Wesley Saunders 6'5 271 Durham, NC visited USC on Saturday and had a a terrific visit. USC had been Saunders leader back in the early spring, but fell out of his top 4 in April and May. After the visit to Columbia on Saturday, A source familiar with Saunders recruitment said USC is in great shape with the jumbo-athlete. This battle will likely come down to a USC/UNC battle. Saunders plans to make his announcement at his homecoming game in late September.

WR Jason Barnes 6'4 196 Charlotte, NC should make his decision this week. He has gone back and forth between USC and UNC for the past month. Earlier in the summer, Cockfather Illustrated had forecast Barnes to USC. We will stick with that prediction, as USC has several factors working in its favor, but this forecast is only given with medium confidence.

CB Jamire Williams 6'0 180 Jacksonville, FL is one of the elite CB prospects in the southeast this year. Williams has excellent speed and is great in run support. With offers from Florida, Tennessee, Miami, LSU, Ohio State, and Nebraska, among others, 54th rated prospect in the sunshine state has his pick of schools. Williams is a heavy lean to USC and could commit to USC later this summer, or when he makes an unofficial visit to Columbia for the USC-Georgia contest on September 9th.

His teammate, Safety Arkee Smith 6'1 190 camped at USC this summer, and was offered by secondary coach Ron Cooper while in Columbia. Smith has flown under the recruiting radar this summer, much like USC WR signee Moe Brown did last summer. I feel good about kids that the coaches have in camp and make an offer to. The coaches have had the chance to evaluate the player's skills, and interact with the player to see what kind of person he is. Smith is a big, strong, hard-hitting safety prospect with excellent speed. According to a source, he also favors USC, and could commit anytime.

A note to USC and Clemson fans, don't give up hope on DE Cliff Matthews. With Georgia getting a commitment form DE Neland Ball on Saturday, that gives UGA three high school DE's for this class, with super 5 star DE Allen Bailey still on the horizon. Cockfather Illustrated projects this one to come down to a USC-Clemson battle in the end. In an interview with cutigers.com, Matthews has backed off of his stance of UGA as a huge leader, and states that all schools still have a shot. The 6'5 225 pound pass rusher also stated in that interview that he plans to make at least one more campus visit to both in-state programs. USC's coaching staff is working extremely hard on this one, and I continue to hear encouraging news from USC's perspective. This battle should go down to the wire.

Cockfather Illustrated learned late last week that USC was in excellent shape with 6'4 290 pound DE/DT DeAngelo McCray of Jacksonville, FL. USC's coaching staff did not want this information made public, but the new overzealous publisher of USC's scout site, went public with the information anyway on Friday afternoon. Some things are better kept off the net for obvious reasons. McCray is a prospect USC would love to land. The number seven player in Florida has backed off his commitment to the Florida Gators, and now has USC, Ill, NC State, and Georgia Tech as his top 4. D-Lo would be a major coupe for the Gamecocks, and they are in strong position with him entering the month of August. USC recruiter Steve Spurrier, Jr. is quietly making a major push with the top prospects in the Jacksonville area.

RB Troy Pollard 5'8 180 Jacksonville, FL is the best friend and teammate of D-Lo. They would like to play together in college, and USC would like to sign both. Pollard also has Ill, NC State, and Georgia Tech on his list.

DE Cortez Myles 6'3 255 Madison, MS is still strong on the Gamecocks, and could commit before his season begins. The 4 star prospect is rated highly on USC's recruiting board, but Barnes has some academic issues that need to be addressed. It will be interesting to see if USC would accept his commitment in August.

QB Stephen Garcia 6'3 205 Tampa, FL will make the long-awaited unofficial visit to Columbia on August 5th along with his parents. Garcia has been a heavy lean to USC for some time, and I'm sure the USC coaches would prefer Garcia to make a commitment in the near future. Rated the 3rd best QB at the Elite 11 QB Camp, Garcia would be the highest rated QB to commit to USC in the Steve Spurrier era. The sooner Garcia commits, the better for USC because of the recruiting momentum it would provide. Garcia is a very charismatic young man, and would be another excellent recruiter for the class of 2007.

General Discussion for July 31st***

Post your comments and questions here.

Travian Robertson Presser Notes

I will have an in-depth interview with Travian up as soon as possible. However, there are a few things I would like to mention. First of all, this young man is class personified. He comes from a great family, and it is easy to see why he carries himself as well as he does. Coach Barnes commented that Travian was a better person than he was a player.

Hats off to TigerIllustrated's Cris Ard for coming to the presser and mentioning to Gamecock Central's Tony Morrell that Travian is under-rated in his opinion and should be a Top 50 player. Ard also provided the pictures for the press conference photo gallery.

Head Coach Mark Barnes believes that USC will be the first of many offers for 6'4 215 pound DE Byron McKnight. Expect McKnight to verablly commit to the Gamecocks in the next two weeks. Scottland County also has a class of 2008 MLB that already holds an offer from UNC, but expect the Gamecocks to become a major factor in his recruiting.

Don't expect any drama or wavering from Travian. He is 100% Gamecock and his parents are not allowing any schools to bother them...including our orange clad in-state neighbors.

USC fans should give assistant coach Brad Lawing a big pat for this one. Lawing's relationship was a major factor in Robertsons decision. TR also wanted to play for Tyrone Nix and Steve Spurrier.

Hats off to Clemson assistant coach Billy Napier for almost stealing one away from the 'cocks. He really made Travian think about it, but in the end, USC was the best fit for Robertson. Travian felt more comfortable in the role that USC wants him to play as a true DE than playing the "Bandit" position at Clemson.

We should know for sure if Travian can enroll in January within the next two weeks. Should the rivals 100 member enroll mid-year at USC, Cockfather Illustrated would project the Laurinburg, NC native to be a starter from day one of his USC career.

Cliff Matthews Tidbit

Cheraw High School defensive end Cliff Matthews recruting may be in for an unexpected turn in the next couple of weeks. The rivlas.com 100 defensive end has been listing UGA as his favorite school. The Bulldogs have two defensive ends already committed for the Class of 2007 in Conrad Obi and Justin Houston. A third defensive end prospect, Neland Ball, is expected to commit to Georgia next week. UGA is also waiting on super 5 Star prospect DE Allen Bailey to commit to them. That would be 4 TRUE high school defensive ends, excluding Matthews. Would UGA take 5 defensive ends? Would Mathews want to be the 5th and only out of state defensive end signed by UGA?

USC has a tremendous need at defensive end, and with no commitments currently, certainly this should make a difference. The Gamecocks and Tigers are anxiously awaiting Thursday's 5 p.m. press conference in Laurinburg, North Carolina, where Rivals.com top100 defenisve end Travian Robertson will announce his decision between Clemson and USC. Should Robertson commit to USC, he would become the Gamecocks first defensive end commmitment for the Class of 2007. IF Robertson commits to Clemson, he would be the Tigers second defensive end commitment in the Class of 2007, joining Kinsland, GA native Rennie Moore.

Matthews arrives back from a Las Vegas AAU tournament today. Friday he starts football practice. This is a good thing for USC. The longer he is around his football coaches, the better I like USC's chances. Matthews could still choose UGA, but the in-state schools certainly have a better story to tell about playing time and staying home to play.

As posted yesterday on Cockfather Illustrated, new information has come to light regarding the Cliff Matthews situation that leads us to believe USC could overtake Georgia for the services of the 6'5 225 pound jumbo-athlete.

Stay tuned to Cockfather Illustrated forthe lateston the Cliff Matthews situation

Tuesday Evening Tidbits

Travian Robertson's visit to USC couldn't have gone any better today. Robertson was accompanied by his father and Scotland County Head Football Coach Mark Barnes. The rivals 100 defensive end showed up on campus wearing a gamecock tee shirt. Robertson met with USC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier, Defensive Coordinator Tyrone Nix, Defensive Line Coach Brad Lawing, as well as the rest of the entire USC coaching staff.

Also on campus for the unofficial visits of Robertson and Conway High School wide receiver Junior Hemingway was USC commitment and Rivals 100 member Quintin Richardson, as well as 5 star CB Gary Gray. According to a source, both had intreraction with Robertson and Hemingway, encouraging them both to attend USC. Robertson and his father were given tons of new information about both USC and Clemson that he did not previously have. USC's coaching staff left no stone unturned in their efforts to turn Robertson back to USC, including extenting a conditional scholarship offer to fellow Scotland County High School defensive end Byron McKnight, a 6'4 215 pounder with 4.8 speed in the 40-yard dash. McKnight was impressive at USC's prospect camp last month and would have multiple scholarship offers if his academics were in order. USC will sign McKnight if and only if Robertson enrolls at USC in January of 2007.

Robertson has cut off all contact with coaches and media, and plans to make his announcement public at 5 p.m. Thursday, at the Scotland County High School library.

Conway High School WR Junior Hemingway was also at USC today on an unoffical visit. According to a source, the visit went extremely well. USC is a serious factor here. In fact, it would not surprise me a bit of Hemingway announces for USC in August. Michigan and Ohio State are the strongest competition as of today.

4 Star WR Dion Lecorn of Ocala, FL will be making an unoffical visit to USC either this weekend or next weekend. The 6'0 205 speedster is a heavy lean to USC. He feels shunned by Florida, and Cockfather Illustrated is forecasting Lecorn to commit to USC while on campus. Teammate SS Antonio Allen will accompany Lecorn on his visit and is also expected to commit to the Gamecocks.

USC is in strong position with JC defensive tackle Jonathan Williams. The 6'4 285 pound native of Augusta, GA would love to finish his college career at USC. Williams, despite an early commitment to Mississippi State, actually favors the Gamecocks. USC likes Williams, but would prefer to sing all high school defensive linemen IF they can get the right guys. In fact, according to a very reliable source, USC would prefer to sign five high school defensive ends and grow some of them into takcles. Among prospects most likely to grow into DT's are Mississippi natives Cortez Myles 6'3 1/2 255 and Markeno Lee 6'5 255. USC currently leads for both of these outstanding prospects.This will be an interesting situation to follow.

Cockfather Illustrated was prepared to forecast Cheraw High School defensive end Cliff Matthews to Georgia, but today new information has come to light that will cause us to postpone that forecast. We now believe that USC is back in the game with Matthews and will be a major factor right up until Matthews decsion.

USC will also be hosting Richmond County North Carolina linebacker Melvin Ingram. The 6'2 225 pound prospect should be in on Wednesday to make his first visit to the Columbia campus.

USC is in very strong position with Fort Dorchester DE's Carlos Dunlap, a four-star prospect, and rising junior and future four star prospect Robert Quinn. The 6'3 245 pound Quinn is on the record as saying he will play his college football at the same school as Dunlap. USC is trying to secure Dunlap's verbal commitment by Labor Day, and Cockfather Illustrated believes that USC is clearly the team to beat for Dunlap's serivices as August approaches.

Contrary to Clemson media reports by Roy Philpot and Cris Ard, USC is still very much in the game with Bamberg rising junior defensive lineman DaQuan Bowers. The 6'5 255 pound future five star prospect has built a strong relationship with USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing, and acording to a source familiar with Bowers recruitment, Lawing is not conceding Bowers to Clemson. While the deck is stacked against the Gamecocks in Bamberg, as B-E Head Football Coach Ron Duncan is pushing Bowers, in the same manner as he did Ricky Sapp to Clemson, Lawing and USC are confident. USC will work hard to get Bowers and both his parents on campus in August.

WR prospect Matt Clements is another player to keep an eye on. Shold he make it to USc's campus prior to the beginning of football season, a commitment to the Gamecocks is likely. The 6'1 185 sprinter with 4.34 speed in the 40-yard dash has been favoring USC for some time. USC assistant coaches Robert Gillespie and Steve Spurrier, Jr. have done an excellent in recruiting Clements, who holds offers from Auburn and Clemson, among others, and could be elevated to four-star staus by Rivals.com later in his senior season.

Elite 11 QB Stephen Garcia and his family will be in Columbia on August 5th for an unoffical visit. USc is the leader here and Cockfather Illustrated is ready to forecast Garica to USC. It is unclear when Garcia will make his deision public, but Steve Spurrier and David Reaves will push for Garcia's commitment during the visit to get the top flight QB on board and bolster their recruiting momentum.

Stay tuned to Cockfather Illustrated, as we hope to have an update on the Travian Robertson situation later tonight.

General Discussion Thread for July 24th***

Post your comments and questions here.

Monday Morning Recruiting Notes

USC appears set to make a huge haul from Florida this recruting season. Look for an in-depth feature on all of these prospets later in the week here at Cockfather Illustrated.

USC still leads on QB Stephen Garica, WR Dion Lecorn, FS Antonio Allen, and WR Matt Clements. It appears that all just need to make it up to campus and they will commit.

USC is in the lead group for DE Jabaal Sheard, DT Donte'e Nicholls, LB Brian Rolle, CB Akeem Auguste, OL Thomas Edenfield, CB Jamir Williams, and CB Aaron Henry.

USC is also getting involved with Jacksonville, FL super DL DeAngelo McCray, who ealrier this summer committed to Florida. The 4 star defensive lineman is looking around and, according to sources, had a conversation with USC assistant coach Steve Spurrier, Jr. last week about setting up an unoffical visit to USC.

QB Josh Nesbitt 6'1 205 of Greensboro, GA has strong interest in USC and has been contacted about making an unoffical visit in the next couple of weeks. The 4 star Georgia athlete is rated the number 8 dual threat QB by rivals.com and is similar to Syvelle Newton. He would be the perfect replacement for Newton's role in the Head Ball Coach's offense. Right now, Georgia Tech leads, but that could all change after a visit to Columbia.

WR Jason Barnes is still split between USC and UNC. Earlier this month, Cockfather Illustrated forecast the 6'4 197 pound wide receiver to USC. We still hold to our earlier prediction, as Barnes parents are sold on USC. A commitment could still come at any time.

WR Junior Hemingway will be making an unofficial visit to USC's Columbia campus tomorrow. I am liking USC' chances more and more. His decision is likely to come down to Florida State, USC and Michigan. The decision will be a simple one, stay at hime and play in a great offense, or go away from home to play college football.

DL Jonathan Williams, 6'4 285 from Mississippi Delta JC committed earlier this summer to MIssissippi. The Augusta, GA native has since made an unofficial visit to USC and playing close to home may help the GAmecocks land this JC stud. He is the all-time sack leader at his high school, and runs very well for a bigman. Cockfather Illustrated projects Williams will ultimately choose USC should they push for his commitment. At present time, USC is looking to fill their needs with high school players, but as a mid-year graduate, Williams is very appealing to USC.

DE Cortez Myles of Madison, MS now favors USC over Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Georgia. A commitment could come before the season if his transcripts look good.

Defensive Ends: Where does USC go from here?

The loss of Travian Robertson to Clemson is hard to swallow. From a fan's perspective, it's like being kicked in the stomach. USC had two veteran recruiters, both with deep ties to the state of North Carolina involved with Robertson's recruitment, in Fred Chatham and Brad Lawing. Robertson has known Lawing for two years. The two had built a close relationship. Just one month ago, it appeared that Robertson was a lock to USC. Then Clemson and Billy Napier entered the picture. Now, Robertson is just waiting on Thursday to don his Clemson apparel at a news conference, when his commitment will become public.

Make no mistake about it, this is a big loss, and it is a statement by Clemson. This is the second player that has committed to Clemson this summer after being a one-time strong lean to USC. The other is Lake City, SC linebacker Scotty Cooper. Clemson is winning the battle head-to head against USC both in and out of South Carolina. And until USC starts beating Clemson on the field, I don't think it is going to change, even with Steve Spurrier as the Head Ball Coach. What makes it worse is, from all indications, another one-time USC lean, Cheraw High School defensive end Cliff Matthews is all but committed to the University of Georgia. He had been considered a strong USC lean since the early spring.

USC's top priority for the 2007 signing class, along with wide receiver, is defensive linemen. More specifically, jumbo-athlete pass rushers, just like Matthews and Robertson. So, USC is left to ask itself this question: Where do we go from here?

Below is a list of the top defensive ends left on USC's board, and Cockfather Illustrated's evaluation on each as a prospect and USC's chances.

1)Carlos Dunlap 6'6 240 4.7 Fort Dorchester High School. Dunlap is the top rated defensive end prospect on both Clemson and USC's in-state board, ranking ahead of Cliff Matthews. Dunlap is very athletic and has the frame to carry 270 pounds with out losing any speed. His father, Carlos Dunlap, Sr.. played basketball at USC in 1979 and is in strong favor of is son making an early commitment to USC. Florida, Georgia, and Clemson appear to be the biggest competition here. Brad Lawing and Stece Spurrier, Jr. are recruiting for USC.

2)Jabaal Sheard 6'4 240 4.6 Hollywood Hills, FL- Sheard is a prospect that burst on the scene at the Miami Nike Combine in April. USC, Ala, Aub, Pitt, and Rutgers appear to be at the top of Sheard's list. If and when USC make a big push, I really like their chances. Sheard has been in contact with USC defenisve line coach Brad Lawing in the past tow weeks, and I like that relationship as Lawing and USC were the first to offer. Robert Gillespie and Brad Lawing are recruiting for USC.

3)Cortez Myles 6'3 255 4.7 Madison, MS- Myles is a big-time prospect, but academics are a concern. His offer sheet would expand greatly if his academic situation improves. USC has been on him from the start. Auburn Ole Miss, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are the other major players for Myles services at the present time. Hopefully Myles is this year's Darian Stewart. Robert Gillespie and Brad Lawing are recruiting for USC.

4)Jarius Wynn 6'5 270 4.7 Georgia Military JC- Wynn is from the historic Lincoln County program that produced Garrison Hurst. Due to the relationship between the two schools, I really like USC's chances for Wynn, should they push for his commitment. As a mid-year graduate, Wynn would be able to go through USC's winter program and spring practice. Wynn could be this year's version of asper Brinkley. Ron COoper and Brad Lawing are rexruiting for USC.

5) Jazzmen Guy 6'5 250 4.8 Hazelhurst, MS- Guy was an early commitment to Mississippi State, but appears ready to look around this fall for the perfect fit. USC is among his most recent offers, and word is that USC recruiter Robert Gillespie is set to turn up the heat. If USC can get this magnolia state gem on campus, they could be difficult to beat. Robert Gillespie and Brad Lawing are recruiting for USC.

These are just five names that are at the top of the recruting board for now. Rest assured that USC's coaches are not down and out over the recent weeks events with Mattews and Robertson. USC will continue to recruit both players hard right up until signing day. But there are planety of outstanding prospects stil out there. USC is looking to sign three defensive ends in this class, and should be able to meet that need with quality SEC caliber players.

Look for sime other names from the state of Florida to pop up on USC's board soon at both defensive end and defensive tackle.

General Discussion for July 18th***

Post comments and questions here.

USC's Lead Evaporating With Top Prospects

Just one month ago it appeared that USC was going to have a stellar start to the 2007 recruiting class. At that time, USC held commanding leads for DE Cliff Matthews, DE Travian Robertson, WR Jason Barnes, QB Stephen Garcia, and CB Gary Gray was firmly committed. Thirty days later, The Gamecocks are now in real danger of losing Matthews to Georgia, Robertson to Clemson, Barnes to North Carolina, and Gray to Notre Dame. What has caused USC's lead to erode with so many top prospects?

1) Negative Recruiting. When a prospect is getting ready to commit to a certain school, the other schools go on a negative assault against the school the prospect favors. It is a last ditch effort to turn the prospect. If it works, then the other school(s) are back in the game, if not, then they really haven't lost anything. I don't think USC has done a good job in combating the negative recruiting. Many schools have used Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier's comments from his summer press conference against USC on the recruiting trail saying that Spurrier won't stay at USC because his players aren't dedicated. Portraying Spurrier as a coach that doesn't care about his players and only cares about winning, and the one that is always used is that USC will never win. USC's coaches need to get back on the offensive and talk about beating Tennessee and Florida in the same season for the first time. Five straight SEC wins for the first time, a bowl game in Spurrier's first season, etc...

2) Some staff members have taken the summer off. Besides the obvious that has been stated on Gamecock message boards and on this Blog, I think USC relaxed when it appeared that several of the names mentioned were thought to be"in the bag" for USC. Almost half of the USC staff just does not get how intense summertime recruiting is. David Reaves and Brad Lawing are trying to change the culture of USC's staff when it comes to recruiting, but I think the events of the past week will be enough that Steve Spurrier himself is going to have to address the way his staff has handled some of these situations.

3) Facilities, Championships and Domination. USC is fighting an uphill battle gone up against Georgia, North Carolina, and Clemson when it comes to facilities. The West Zone Project at Clemson has given Clemson an even bigger edge when it comes to recruiting head to head against USC. Add in that Tommy Bowden is 6-1 against his in-state rival and 1-0 versus Steve Spurrier, and Clemson has a lot of ammunition. Georgia has won 3 of the past 4 SEC Eastern division titles. They have won 2 SEC Championships under Mark Richt. Their facilities are as impressive as anyone's in the country. The University of North Carolina may have the best football facilities in the country, not to mention the most attractive campus. What North Carolina does not have is big-time football. They are and always will be a basketball school. Georgia has beaten USC four straight and dominates the overall series. USC has played UGA tough in recent history, but until they get over the hump and actually finish off Georgia and Clemson with some victories, those schools are going to be difficult to beat in recruiting, even by Steve Spurrier.

USC will still get it's share of top notch recruits in 2007. This class will be Spurrier's best at USC to date. It just may not look like we thought it would a month ago. Robertson will decide sometime next week. Right now, with no plan to make a return visit to USC, I think Clemson should feel very confident. Both Gray and Matthews will visit USC this week and sit dowwn with Steve Spurrier and staff. USC will have to do a great job to make things right with both of thses prospects. Cockfather Illustrated still projects Gray to USC. we also like USC's chances with Stephen Garcia. Jason Barnes is anyone's guess right now. His parents want USC, but Jason favors UNC. As of today, we would, for the first time, project Travian Robertson to Clemson, and Cliff Matthews to Georgia.

2007 Signing Class Projection

Toay Cockfather Illustrated will offer it's first early look at what USC's 2007 Recruiting Class could look like on National Signing Day. This is a very early look and will change multiple times before players actualy sign their letters of intent.

QB Stephen Garica- Will commit to USC shortly after his parents visit next month
RB Brian Maddox-already committed.
RB Darrell Norman- if USC takes a 2nd back, Norman is a great compliment to BMadd
WR/FS Mark Barnes- could announce for USC at theUS Army Al-American Game
WR Jason Barnes- could commit as early as this week.
WR Dion Lecorn- CFI projects a commitment when he visits campus in August.
WR Matt Clements- Troy Williamson comparisons could be accurate
WR Keith Graham- Prep placement will be too good for USC to pass on
OL/DL Quintin Richardson- two-way standout is firmly committed to USC
OL-Branden Curry- will select USC over Pitt
OL Maurice Holloway- bigtime sleeper prospect. Manchild with a 420 lb bench press.
DE Carlos Dunlap- could be the next Courtney Brown
DE Travian Robertson- could commit to USC as early as this week.
DE Jabaal Sheard- South Florida product would be a major acquisition.
DT Dontee Nicholls- will select USC over Auburn
DT Corez Myles- academics will be close, so he could be a prep placement
DT Markeno Lee- Big Miss. product will bypass in-state schols for USC.
LB Brian Rolle- UCS neve misses Scotty Cooper
CB Gary Gray- Gray reaffirms within the coming weeks
CB Addison Williams- signs with USc after a stellar senior season
CB Jamir Williams- SOS Jr. scores big with Jax First Coast product
FS Jeremy Davis- Bigtime player and prep placement
SS Antonio Allen - Ocala Trinity product follows in Lecorns footsteps.


Michael Bowman was left off the list for a specific reason.

General Discussion for July 17th***

psot your comments and questions here.

HSSR Media Day Report

Cockfather Illustrated was on hand for the annual HSSR Media Day held at Williams-Brice Stadium today, and there is plenty of good news to report.

First of all, OL/DL Quintin Richardson and RB Brian Maddox both stated today that their commitment to South Carolina is firm and they have not been influenced by Gary Gray's decision to re-open his recruitment between USC and Notre Dame. The 6'4 270 pound Richardson, a Rivals.com 100 member, looks the part of an SEC defensive tackle right now. Each time I see the Spring Valley star I am more and more convinced he will play on the defensive side of the ball at the collegiate level. Maddox, a 4 star prospect from Anderson T.L. Hanna High School was also very impressive in his uniform and looks great at 6'0 215.

A source familiar with his recruitment also told Cockfather Illustrated on the condition of anonymity that Richland Northeast WR Mark Barnes would definitely be a Gamecock.

There is good news out of the low-country with 6'6 240 pound Fort Dorchester High School DE Carlos Dunlap. The 6th rated prospect, regardless of position, in the 2007 SC Sweet 16 was the most impressive rising senior athlete on hand. Dunlap's father, Carlos Dunlap, Sr., feels that his son will be ready to make a college decision before Labor Day. The elder Dunlap is completely sold on South Carolina for several reasons, including his relationship with both Steve Spurrier, Jr. and defensive line coach Brad Lawing. Mr. Dunlap told Cockfather Illustrated that he believes USC is the best place for his son, and believes without a doubt that Steve Spurrier will look after his son's best interests away from football. All of this bodes extremely well for the Gamecocks, who currently lead for the services of the big defensive lineman. If Dunlap makes an early decision, Cockfather Illustrated forecasts Dunlap will choose South Carolina.

The news out of Fort Dorchester gets even better, in that super rising junior DE Robert Quinn was also on hand, and publicly stated that he and Carlos want to play their college football together. The 6'3 245 pound junior will be one of the top five prospects in the class of 2008.

Another impressive player on hand was UNC commitment William Brimfield. The 6'6 287 pound DT from Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School in Orangeburg county definitely passes the eye ball test. He was timed at 5.0 in the 40 yard dash at UNC's camp last month.USC has received Brimfields junior film and will be evaluating this physically gifted defensive line prospect. Should USC offer, I think they will be a major factor.

Blufton High School's Jansen Hamilton was also in attendance, and is another big defensive tackle to watch for the 2007 season. The 6'5 290 all-state basketball star runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds. He is currently under evaluation by USC. Hamilton also passes the eye ball test. He reminds us of a taller Darrell Shropshire.

Perhaps the most physically gifted player on hand was rising junior super star Daquan Bowers. The Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive linemen checked in at 6'5 250 pounds and currently bench presses 340 pounds. A source familiar with his recruiting believes that USC is gaining ground, and according to my source has informed the USC coaching staff that he intends on postponing his college decision. I still believe he is a longshot for the Gamecocks, but a postponement of his decision at least shows that he has legitimate interest in the Gamecocks.

Cheraw DE Cliff Mathews was also on hand and told Gamecock Central recruiting analyst Tony Morrell that his top 3 are still the same, with USC currently running third behind Georgia and Clemson. However, Cockfather Ilustrated spoke with a source very familiar with Matthews recruitment, and the source feels that ultimately, Mathews will sign with South Carolina. I believe that as things stand today, the two-sport star will sign with the University of Georgia. USC will get its last chance to impress Mathews this Thursday, as the jumbo-athlete will be on campus to meet with USC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier, assistant coach David Reaves and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix.

One Travian Robertson rumor floating around today is that the 6'4 230 pound rivals 100 member could be making an announcement this week between USC, NC State, and Clemson. ESPNU is planning on covering Robertson's announcement, and they have requested that it be this week if at all possible. Stay tunes to Cockfather Illustrated for the latest on The Laurinburg, NC native.

One negative note, Cockfather Illustrated has learned that 6'6 309 pound OT Clarence Bailey did not make it academically, and therefore will not play for the Gamecocks.

Stanley Doughty was spotted today underneath Williams-Brice Stadium, and the red-shirt junior NG appears to be shaping up. Doughty currently weighs in at 311 pounds. That is assuming he has lost the 15 pounds that was reported earlier this week on Gamecock Central.

We were unable to get pictures today, but should be getting the entire picture CD from the HSSR this week and I will post a link to those as soon as they are available.

Coming Sunday...

Cockfather Illustrated will be on hand in Columbia for the annual High School Sports Report Media Day from Williams-Brice stadium. We should have a full report on the prospects in atendance, their college favorites and leanings. I also hope to be able to have a photo gallery of the prospects on hand. I am not going to promise, but I will try my best.

Have a great weekend!

Breaking News: Gary Gray

Cockfather Illustrated has confirmed that USC commitment and 5 star CB preospect Gary Gray is making an unoffical visit to Notre Dame this weekend. Gray has been upset in recent weeks with USC DB coach Ron Cooper's lack of interest in communicating with the Richland Northeast High School product.

I will update this report when more information becomes available.

Genereal Discussion- July 14th

Post comments and questions here.

Commentary: Travian Robertson and Cliff Matthews

So much has been made about JC's article yesterday on Travian Robertson and Cliff Matthews that a few points need to be addressed. First of all, Travian Robertson is one of the most critical recruits for the Gamecocks this year. Defensive end is probably the biggest need for this recruiting class. The 6'4 230 pound Robertson is not only a blue chip prospect, but he is also a mid-year graduate which would allow him to enroll at USC in January and go through winter workouts and spring practice. In my opinion, if Robertson does choose USC, he will start from day one.

Matthews is just as important as Robertosn to USC's in-state recruiting efforts. The Gamecocks jumped off to a fast start in recruiting by securing springtime commitments from Rivals 100 CB Gary Gray and OL/DL Quintin Richardson. It appeared at that time that USC was poised to bring home several key commitments by the end of summer, including Robertson and Matthews. USC has lead most of the spring and into the summer on both Robertson and Cheraw HS DE Cliff Matthews. USC's lead has now completely eroded with Matthews, and the lead is in danger of slipping with Robertson. Should USC lose both of these priority recruits, their momentum would be seriously damaged and it could cause a downward spiraling effect with other key recruits that could be crippling to the 2007 recruiting class.

With Georgia clearly leading on Matthews heading into his last unofficial visit to USC, it looks like the best USC can hope for is a split with these two rivals 100 members. Losing the 6'4 225 pound Matthews would be a blow to USC's first year recruiting coordinator David Reaves. It would represent the second top in-state prospect that Reaves could lose, after being named the clear leader earlier in the recruiting process.

That makes Robertson even more critical for USC. Just as Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst JC Shurburtt wrote yesterday, much in recruiting is based on perception. In most cases, perception is reality. USC has held a lead with the Laurinburg, NC native due to his relationship with USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing. Should USC lose Roebrtson to Clemson, the perception by many recruits would be that USC is not a place all top notch recruits should attend, but that USC only got a couple of players in their back yard, while others continue to go elsewhere. Gaining a commitment from Robertson would be a coupe for Clemson first year assitant Billy Napier, and show Clemson's continued dominance over USC in recruiting.The commtment speeches made by Gary Gray and Quinitn Richardson specifically naming other blue-chip recruits such as Junior Hemingway, Mark Barnes, Cliff Matthews, and others would appear not to have hang rang true with Matthews and Robertson.

USC does have one final shot at Matthews, with the jumbo-athlete scheduled to visit the Columbia campus this coming Thursday, July 20th. At that time, he will sit down with USC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier, assistant coach David Reaves and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. The outcome of that meeting will be a tell-tale for USC's chances to turn Matthews. The next day, Travian Robertson will be meeting face to face with Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. The outcomes of those two meetings will go a long way to determining the success of USC's 2007 recruiting class.

General Discussion Thread for July 13***

Post questions and comments in this thread.

Carlos Dunlap Update

Fort Dorchester High School is the home of 4 star defenisve end Carlos Dunlap. The 6'6 240 pound jumbo athlete is rated the number 13 strong-side defensive end in the country by rivals.com. Dunlap has put recruiting on the back burner this summer to focus on academics and to deal with the loss of two close family members. The sixth-rated prospect, regardless of position, in Cockfather Illustrated's SC Sweet 16 for 2007, Dunlap enters his senior year with four schools at the top of his list. That short list is comprised of USC, Florida, Georgia, and Clemson.

USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing is recruiting Dunlap and he has an ally inside the Dunlap home. It just so happens that Carlos Dunlap played basketball at the University of South Carolina back in the 1970's under Frank McGuire. Dunlap was a smooth, left-handed junior college transfer that was an excellent shooter. The Caros Dunlap I'm talking about is the father of Carlos Dunlap Jr. According to reliable sources, Carlos Dunlap, Sr. would like nothng better than for his son to follow in his footsteps and play at the University of South Carolina.

Don't expect a decision any time soon from the younger Dunlap, but as of today, USC is looking good to gain Dunlap's signature on National Signing Day.

Prospect Stock Report: ATH Jeremy Davis

This week's edition of the stock report features future Gamecock Jeremy Davis. The 6'3 190 pound athlete from West Craven High School in Vanceboro, NC flew well beneath the recruiting radar screen until USC's prospect camp last month. Davis is a very fluid athlete with excellent speed and ball skills. He was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and put on a performance that left on-lookers scratching their heads and wondering; just who is Jeremy Davis?

Cockfather Illustrated discovered in May that Davis would be placed at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia this fall, and would sign with USC in February. The WR/FS prospect was a 4th year junior this past season at West Craven, the same high school that sent QB Anthony Wright to play for the Gamecocks. He will be too old to play this season according to the North Carolina High School Association guidelines. Therefore, he is attending Fork Union on a scholarship, where he will play out his senior season on FUMA's Prep School team. Not many programs realized that Davis would not be eligible to play his senior season at West Craven but was actually a recruitable athlete. It was USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing's relationship with West Craven coaches, and the fact that he was recruiting that area the University of North Carolina at the time that gave him an advantage in landing an early commitment from the 6'3 Davis.

After playing for West Craven Middle School, the junior transferred to North Lenoir for his freshman season before coming back to join the Eagles. "We really didn't know what we were getting, but he's a great athlete," said West Craven head coach Clay Jordan. "He's got speed Â… but we thought he best helped our team at free safety and he's just been unbelievable back there. He can cover a lot of ground; he can hit you when he gets to you. Â… He's been a big asset." Indeed it has. Davis led the area in interceptions the past two seasons.

Despite his ability to read the quarterback and pick off passes, Davis said he doesn't try to go for interceptions. "I try to contribute to the team the best way I can," said the safety. "You go out there and just play. You get some; you drop some. That's kind of how it's been for me throughout the season."

Watch out for Jeremy Davis's name to appear late this fall when Rivals.com releases it's top 50 Prep School list. JC Shurburtt, rivals southeast recruiting analyst was on hand for USC's prospect camp and had this to say about Davis, "Jeremy Davis is aintriguingng prospect. He's very smooth and polished as a receiver, and has great ball skills. He will be rated at least a 4 star and possibly 5 star prospect."

USC may have already made the steal of the recruiting season in Jeremy Davis. Sit back and watch his stock soar as the football season unfolds.

General Discussion Thread for July 12***

Post all questions and comments here.

Bigtime WR Prospect Set To Make Gamecock Commitment

WR Jason Barnes 6'4 196 4.46 Charlotte, NC- Barnes is the next in the line of big-time WR prospects from Independence High School. He should emerge as one of the top WR prospects in the nation in 2006. Rivals.com Analyst JC Shurburtt said "Jason Barnes has as much ability and potential as any player in the nation at his position." Barnes was outstanding at the Athens, GA Nike Combine and was noticed there by USC assistant coach David Reaves. Fred Chatham is recruiting Barnes for the Gamecocks. The primary competition for his services comes from North Carolina. Jason and his family were just on campus at USC over the weekend and according to multiple sources, Jason is close to giving USC his verbal commitment. Fred Chatham's longtime friendship with Ind'ce head coach Tommy Knotts and the fact that USC was the first to offer should benefit the Gamecocks.

As first projected by Cockfather Illlustrated back in June, Jason Barnes will be the next commitment in the class of 2007 for Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks. The 6'4 Independence High School product has cancelled his visit to Chape Hill scheduled for this weekend. Barnes is currently rated the number 13 propsect in North Carolina, but expect that to change when the rankings are revised during the season. Barnes will be elevated to 4 star status according to Mike Farrell ofRivals.com. Rivals Southeast recruiting analyst JC Shruburtt gives Barnes the highest praise. "I fully expect Jason Barnes to be Steve Spurrier's best NFL wide receiver. He will be a major weapon in that offense. In all his years at Florida, Coach Spurrier never had a receiver that has the combination of size, speed and ball skills of Jason Barnes."

Stay tunes to Cockfather Illustrated for Barnes official announcement.

ESPN's Top 150 Prospects for 2007

While I'm not sure if 22cock, freehawk, and cock au vin composed the list for ESPN, I thought it would be good to list the players from that list that USC is involved with. It should be noted that Quintin Richardson was omitted from the list, and I think it was not by design. So, here are the prospects USC is involved with from ESPN and Scouts, Inc.

12-RB Brain Maddox-USC commitment
14-CB Gary Gray-USC commitment
16-WR Golden Tate- ND, ALA, SC, Big 3 in FL
17-WR Junior Hemingway- USC is fighting to get him on campus this summer.
23-WR Israel Troupe- USC is in the top2 along with Florida
27-DL DJ Stafford- probably ends up at Auburn
28-WR Deonte Thompson- USC could get a visit, but he will go to Miami.
35-RB Lee Chambers- committed to Mississippi State over USC.
37-QB Logan Gray-USC dropped out of the running once it appeared Garcia was headed for SC.
45- QB Stephen Garica- USC leads Florida
49-QB John Brantley- Texas commitment continues to phone and text USC coaches.
53-WR Mark Barnes- "I like USC's chances."
60-DT Tydreke Powell- USC is invovled, but UNC is the team to beat.
69-DB Jamir Williams- USC will be a factor 'til the end.
70-RB Jonathan Dwyer-GT leads
85-WR Roderick Davis-
92-OL Trinton Sturdivant- UGA commitment is still calling USC, FL, and ND.
115- DT Ian Williams- USC is in the top 5 but it looks like FL and ND.
122-DE Travian Robertson- USC leads Clemson and NC State
130-DB Morgan Burnette-UGA will be hard to beat.
136-LB Scotty Cooper-USC has not given up on Clemson commitment.
141-LB Charles White- UGA commimtent would jump on a USC offer.
148-WR Alphonso Bryant

Notable exclusions from the list are DE Cliff Matthews, and OL Quinitn Richardson.

Clemson QB commitment Willard Korn is rated 4th by ESPN.

Discussion thread for July 11, 2006

Post your comments, questions and rants in this thread.

USC Football Notebook

-I spoke with someone very close to the program yesterday and was told that USC's summer program has been outstanding. USC's players have done more this summer than any school my source has ever been around. Hopefully there will be a pay-off for the hard work.

-Cheraw High School DE Cliff Matthews will visit USC unofficially next Tuesday. At that time, the depth chart will be broken down for him. He will meet with Steve Spurrier, David Reaves, Brad Lawing and Tyrone Nix.

-Another note on Matthews. It appears that Matthews Basketball Coach at Cheraw has been pushing him to UGA. So much so, that Matthews has gone from USC as being his clear leader, to now being third behind both Georgia and Clemson. I was told yesterday that Coach Harrelson told Clemson assistant coach Dabo Sweeney "I want Cliff to go to Georgia, but if he doesn't choose Georgia, I'll make sure he doesn't choose South Carolina." Things have come to a boiling point with this situation. USC has contacted both the Athletic Director and Principal at Cheraw High School to address this situation.

This situation has become reminiscent of the Derek Watson saga. Derek Watson had committed to USC in December of 1998 after an in-home visit by new Head Coach Lou Holtz. Watson later changed his commitment to Tennessee. It was later discovered that his high school coaches and the principal at Palmetto High School had been steering him to Tennessee. USC intervened in the situation and Watson eventually signed with USC and the rest is history.

Hopefully USC can get the Matthews situation resolved and he will commit to USC, the school he has favored for much of the recruiting process.

-A certain USC assistant coach is looking into Clifton Geathers eligibility. If he is qualified, USC is going to make a run at him. Geathers committed to UGA late last spring, but has not signed a National Letter of Intent, and cannot sign one, because April 15th is the deadline to sign for football.

-Travian Robertson has scheduled a visit to Clemson for July 21st. Whether he takes that visit remains to be seen. I think Robertson knows where he is going, and it is USC. Clemson has done a superb job recruiting him, however, on his first trip to Pickens County, Head Coach Tommy Bowden was out of town. assitant Coach Billy Napier wants Robertson to returnand meet face to face with Bowden before finalizing his decision. Make no mistake about it, Clemson will roll out the red carpet for the Rivals 100 defensive end. However, in the end, I still anticipate Robertson choosing the Gamecocks.

-It appears now that USC QB target Stephen Garcia will not make his unofficial visit to USC until after the Elite 11 QB Camp. USC leads for the Rivals 100 dual threat quarterback and should secure his verbal commitment sometime in August.

-It is possible that all of USC's incoming defensive linemen could see action in 2006. DE Casper Brinkley will likely be a starter, and DE's Eric Norwood and Terrance Campbell will be given every opportunity to play their way into the rotation. USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing would like to get at least 10 snaps per game from mammoth DT Kenrick Ellis.

-USC is also in strong position with WR Jason Barnes, and barring a change of heart on his trip to Chapel Hill this weekend, I expect the 6'4 197 pound WR to commit to the Gamecocks as early as next week. Barnes has flown under the radar this summer and has played behind Mohammad Massaquoi(UGA) and Hakim Nix(UNC) during his career at Independence High School. Barnes will be elevated to 4 star status as soon as the rankings are adjusted during the season. USC WR coach Steve Spurrier, Jr. thinks Barnes is a must have prospect.

-USC is in strong position to land commitments from a pair of Florida WR prospects in Ocala Trinity Catholic's Dion Lecorn, Naples Baron Collier product Matt Clements.

Cockfather Illustrated's 10 Most Wanted Version 2.0

In the second Cockfather Illustrated 10 Most Wanted release of the summer, we take an inside look at 10 of the USC's coaching staff's top recruiting targets overall, regardless of position. Players will be listed alphabetically.

WR Matt Clements 6'1 185 4.34 Naples, FL. Clements is like a blue-chip stock, his value is continuing to rise. As first reported on Cockfather Illustrated's Stock Report, the Baron Collier High School product is a player the Gamecocks covet, and Clements currently has USC as his leader over Ohio State, Auburn, Clemson, and West Virginia. Robert Gillespie is recruiting for the Gamecocks.

ATH DJ Donley 6'4 200 4.55 Folkston, GA. Donley is a versatile athlete that could play WR, FS, or OLB at the collegiate level. His preference, however, is wide receiver, and that is the position for which USC is recruiting him. USC wide receiver coach Steve Spurrier, Jr. was very impressed with Donley, when the multi-talented athlete workout out for him last month at a one day camp. Rated by rivals.com as a 4-star prospect, Donley currently favors Georgia Tech slightly over USC, as well as other offers from Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, and Purdue. Steve Spurrier, Jr. and john Hunt are recruiting for the Gamecocks.

OL Thomas Edenfield 6'5 280 5.1 Jacksonville, FL. Perhaps the top-rated offensive lineman remaining on the USC recruiting board, Edenfield is a prospect who's stock continues to soar as we draw closer to the start of football season. The rivals 250 prospect has family in South Carolina, and a friend that is on the USC roster. he will be making an unofficial visit to Columbia later this summer. Edenfield holds offers from USC, Clemson, Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, Louisville, and potentially Florida State. Steve Spurrier, Jr. is recruiting for the Gamecocks.

DL Jacoby Monroe 6'2 270 4.6 Jacksonville, FL. Monroe is one of the premiere defenesive linemen in the Southeast. Fast enough to play on the edge, and big enough to play inside, The Sandalwood High School product debuted at number 55 in the Rivals 100. Monroe will probably slide inside and play DT at the next level. Even though he did not play as a jumior, the 9th rated prospect in the sunshine state has offers from Gerogia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, USC , Tennessee, and NC State. Steve Spuurier, Jr. is recruiting for USC and has the Gamecocks in Monroe's top 4 heading into his senior season along with GT, FSU and Florida. Expect Monroe to make an offical visit to Columbia during the season to see his good friend and former teammate Marvin Sapp.

DT Donte'e Nicholls 6'2 290 4.9 Pompano Beach, FL. As reported earlier today on Cockfather Illustrated, USC is in the lead group for one of south Florida's top DL prospects. Nicholls is a player who's value is rising, and he could reach 4 star status with a strong senior season. The Ely High School prospect holds offers from USC, Auburn, Central Florida, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin. Robert Gillespie is his USC recruiter. Florida and Georgia are also close to offering.

SS/OLB Brian Rolle 5'10 202 4.47 Immokalee, FL. An outstanding player in his own right, the best way to describe him is that he is very, very similar to Clemson commitment Scotty Cooper. Rolle is another prospect that could be elevated to 4 star status during his senior season. The 64th rated product in the sunshine state holds offers from USC, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. he is expected to be in Columbia later this month for an unofficial visit. Robert Gillespie is recruiting for the Gamecocks.

DE Jabaal Sheard 6'4 242 4.6 Hollywood, FL. Sheard is a deluxe pass rushing jumbo-athlete that has flown under the recruiting radar for most of the summer. He is raw and has huge upside potential. Sheard will reach 4-star status and could conceivably move into the Rivals 100 witSh a strong senior season. As first reported in Cockfather Illustrated's Prospect Stock Report, USC was the first school to offer and is firmly planted in his top 3 along with Rutgers and Pitt. The sunshine state's 40th rated prospect heading into his senior season also holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Arizona State. Robert Gillespie and Brad Lawing are recruiting for the Gamecocks.

DL D.J. Stafford 6'3 263 4.7 Lagrange, GA. Stafford is rated a 4-star prospect by rivals.com at DE, but projects as a defensive tackle at the collegiate level. Stafford plays at the same high school as current USC QB Blake Mitchell. The 10th rated strong-side DE currently holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech. USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix is Staffords recruiter.

WR Israel Troupe 6'0 200 4.55 Tifton, GA. rated as the number 16 WR nationally by Rivlas.com, Troupe is one of the top WR prospects on the USC recruiting board. He is a physical WR, and a potential high round draft choice in baseball. USC, Florida, and Ohio State currently make up the top 3 for Troupe, who also holds offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and LSU. Steve Spurrier, Jr. is recruiting for USC.

Aron White 6'4 213 4.6 Columbia, MO. USC would like to sign an athletic TE in this class, and White is at the top of their wish list. Some members of the USC staff believe White could be the top TE in America. The teammate of Rivals 250 Qb Logan Gray visited USC last month as part of a whirl wind tour of the South. With 20 scholarship offers, White heads into his senior season with many options. The 4th rated prospect from the "show me" state is still making campus visits as he heads toward his senior season. White is waiting until the end of summer to name a list of favorites, but he holds offers from, among others, USC, Clemson, Georgia, Duke, Vandy, Arizona State, Missouri, Nebraska, and NC State. Fred Chatham and David Reaves are recruiting for USC.

South Florida DT has 4 SEC Favorites

While Donte’e Nicholls grew up a fan of the Miami Hurricanes, it appears that the 6’2 290 pound defensive tackle will play his college football in the Southeastern Conference. The Pompano Beach Ely High School product has been busy this summer preparing for his senior season and making the rounds on the camp circuit. “I have attended camps so far at Bethune-Cookman, and the south Florida Rutgers camp. I think I did pretty well because they both offered me a scholarship.”

While Nicholls does not have a specific timeframe in mind for his college decision, he does know what his decision making process will be like.” My coach and I are going to sit down next month and take a look at the schools that are recruiting me and make a list of all the pros and cons, then I am going to take a few visits, probably during the season, and then I’ll be ready to make my decision.

Four SEC schools currently standout to the 44th ranked prospect in the sunshine state as he heads into his senior season. “Right now, my top schools are South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida.”

Nicholls, who bench presses 330 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, had positive comments for each of his four favorites.

South Carolina- “They have a big-time coach in Steve Spurrier. I grew up following him when he was at Florida. He has a tradition of turning around programs. I like the way they play, and I saw that they beat Florida last year, and I know they need defensive linemen.”

Auburn- “I just like the total program at Auburn. I like the way they play defense.”

Georgia- “Georgia has tradition. I also like their head coach, Mark Richt. He is a pretty cool dude. I’ve had the chance to speak to him a few times.”

Florida- “Well, I used to play with some of their players, so it’s cool knowing some of their guys. I like the area, the coaching staff and their defensive scheme.”

As he goes into the fall, Nicholls also holds offers from Arizona State, Central Forida, Duke, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin.

Calling All Seniors

One thing still rings true that I remember Lou Holtz saying during USC's back-to-back Outback Bowls,"Your seniors need to play the best football of their careers in order for you to have a successful season." While I think it could be fairly said that last season, USC's seniors as a group did not play the best football of their career, there were some seniors that performed very well.

Orus Lambert and Chris Tucker are perfect examples of a seniors playing their best football when it matters most. Lambert came to Carolina as a lightly recruited LB prospect from Jacksonville, FL. He was primarily a reserve and special teams player. Then, he is moved to DE and works himself into a starter. He also was SEC defensive lineman of the week twice. USC may not have won the Arkansas game had it not been for Lambert making a David Pollack-like interception on a screen pass at the end of the third quarter. On USC's first play from scrimmage after that, Blake Mitchell hooked up with Kenny McKinley on a 40 yard TD pass that was the difference in the game.

Chris Tucker arrived at USC from SW Dekalb HS in Atlanta, GA much the same as Lambert, without much celebration. He bounced around between the offensive and defensive lines, didn't really play well when on offense because his heart wasn't in it, but when Steve Spurrier came in, Tucker asked to move back to DT and worked his way into the starting lineup. Who will ever forget the play Tucker made against Florida that totally changed the momentum in that game and set up USC's first touchdown? Let's set the scene: USC won the toss and, as Spurrier has done all season, took the ball to begin the game. USC's offense went backwards on a sack and was three and out. After a shanked punt, Florida took over near mid-field. On third down, Leak tried to pass over the middle. The ball was tipped by MLB Dustin Lindsey and intercepted by Tucker. The 6'1 288 pound senior rumbled and stumbled from mid-field all the way down to the five yard-line, slipping and spinning his way out of would-be tacklers. Two plays later, Mike Davis scored from five yards out and USC had all the momentum it would need to defeat the Gators 30-22.

Two game-changing plays made by two seniors that had really had inconspicuous careers. That is a big reason why USC had a 7-4 regular season record and a trip to the Independence Bowl.

While USC does not have a big senior class this season, if USC is to build on the first season of the Steve Spurrier era, the senior class will need to lead the way. Players like Syvelle Newton, Chris White, Thomas Coleman, and Fred Bennett need to make big plays and provide leadership.

Perhaps Noah Whiteside will come back somehow and make plays like he did as a freshman in Oxford, Mississippi. What a bonus that would be.

Boling commits to Georgia

One of the most unheralded prospects on USC's wish list was Alpharetta, GA two-way lineman, Clint Boling. The 6'5 270 converted TE was very impressive at USC's summer camp, and it appeared that USC was the team to beat for Boling heading into July. Along with USC, Boling had offers from Vandy, Kentucky, Wake Forest, and Duke.

However, Boling grew up a lifelong fan of his home state Bulldogs, and had been attending games there since he was a child. Georgia held their final prospect camp over the weekend, and Boling made a strong impression on the Bulldogs. University of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt personally offered Boling a scholarship at the conclusion of camp today, and the Chattahoochee High School product committed on the spot.

USC liked Boling as a defensive tackle, but UGA offered him as an offensive lineman. While it is a loss for the Gamecocks, you have to be happy for Clint Boling, as he will get to live out a life- time dream, by playing his college football at the University of Georgia.

Six Sophomore Starters for 2006

Today we look at 6 first time starters that will play key roles in USC's success. All six players will be sophomores in 2006.

1) LT Gurminder Thind 6'4 290 Sophomore(R)- Thind nailed down the starting LT position during spring practice with an excellent performance. It was expected that Clarence Bailey would be the starter at that position, but Thind performed so well during spring practice that he erased any doubts he can do the job. According to reliable source, Thind was the best pass blocker on the team by late in 2005 season, and was almost inserted into the starting lineup ahead of Jabari Levey for the Independence Bowl. Thind is one of the strongest players on the team, and he is working extremely hard this summer to be ready for the 206 season.

2) RT Jamon Meredith 6'4 290 Sophomore(R)- Meredith started the final four games of the 2005 season, but will be counted on to be the man at RT from the beginning of fall camp this year. The Hillcrest High School product was lightly recruited coming out of high school, but has worked extremely hard to get his body big enough to play offensive tackle in the SEC. Meredith is very athletic and did a good job last season when inserted in the starting lineup.

USC's ability to protect the passer will go a long way towards their success in 2006. With the loss of both Nashon Goddard and Jabari Levey to graduation, Thind and Meredith will be counted on to protect Blake Mitchell in the passing game and open up holes for USC's backs in the running game. If Thind and Meredith perform well, USC should have a pair of solid bookend tackles for the next three seasons.

3) PK Ryan Succop 6'3 214 Sophomore- Last season the Hickory, NC native was USC's kick-off specialist and performed well, with 29 of his 59 kick-offs being touchbacks. Succop attempted two long field goals, missing both from 46 and 50 yards. This season, Succop will assume all the kicking duties, taking over for Josh Brown on punts and field goals. Succop punted well, but was inconsistent during the spring in the field goal department. Succop has one of the strongest legs in the SEC and has connected from 60 yards out in practice.

If USC is to be successful in 2006, Succop will need to be consistent from inside 45 yards.

4) CB Carlos Thomas 5'10 175 Sophomore- Thomas split time between WR and CB last season, along with being USC's primary kick-off returner. This season, Thomas will be asked to make a permanent move to the secondary. Thomas showed quickly last season why he was considered USC's best in man to man coverage, when he intercepted a pass in the end zone late in the first half of USC's 17-15 loss to Georgia. Thomas has the ability to become a special player for USC but must improve his tackling and become a more physical player.

5) OLB Dakota Walker 6'4 242 Sophomore- Despite missing the first four games of the season with an injury, Walker was still named to the SEC All-Freshman team. The Mays Landing, NJ Native tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5. Walker was moved from DE to the "Wolf" linebacker position at the end of spring practice. USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix is counting on Walker being a factor against the pass and the run this year from his LB position. When USC goes to a three- man front, look for walker to rush of the edge from a stand-p position, and could still be used as a DE on obvious passing downs.

6) NT Nathan Pepper 6'1 288 Sophomore- Pepper emerged from spring practice as the starter opposite Marque Hall, passing Stanley Doughty on the depth chart. The Greenville High School product played in nine games last season, and will serve again as the back-up snapper for PAT's and FG's. With Marque Hall poised for a break-out season, USC needs someone else to step up and be a dependable player on the interior of the defensive line. New USC defensive line coach Brad Lawing likes Pepper's mental toughness and approach to the game. He also fits into the system USC will employ up front in 2006. Because USC's defensive linemen will be undersized, they will depend on a lot of pre-snap movement and stunts to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

Five Impact Newcomers for 2006

Today we will look at the five newcomers that I believe to be most critical to USC's on field success in 2006. The five impact newcomers include four members of the incoming recruiting class and one red-shirt that will be seeing significant playing time this fall.

1) Jasper Brinkley- As a mid-year enrollee, Jasper Brinkley was able to get a head start on most newcomers by going through winter workouts and spring practice. The Thomson, GA native brings a physical presence to USC's linebacker corps that has been missing since the 2000-01 seasons. At 6'2 255 pounds, Brinkley first caught the eye of USC's defensive coaches during winter workouts. Coach Tyrone Nix was pleasantly surprised at the athleticism displayed by the JUCO transfer. Brinkley nailed down the starting MLB position shortly after spring practice began and never looked back. Head Coach Steve Spurrier even stated midway through spring practice that they had to get Brinkley to take it easy on the running backs because they didn't want him to hurt anyone.

If USC's defense is going to be able to stop the run, the Gamecocks will need a big season from Jasper Brinkley. He has all the tools to be a good one, and could really shut down opponents on the ground.

2) Clarence Bailey- Once expected to join the Gamecocks in January of 2006, the JUCO All-American OT's situation has taken a turn that could jeopardize his playing career. Bailey was thought to be on schedule to graduate last December from Lackawanna JC. However, it was later discovered that he would need three additional classes in order to complete requirements necessary to transfer to USC. Bailey has been taking on-line courses since January. At first he had hoped to enroll at USC in March, then his schedule was pushed back to a June time frame. Most recently it appears his fate will not be known until the beginning of fall camp.

USC won an intense recruiting battle for the Trenton, NJ standout. After considering offers from Oklahoma, Florida State, South Carolina, and Ole Miss, the 6'7 309 pound Bailey originally committed to Coach Ed Orgeron and the Ole Miss Rebels. However, after much thought, Bailey choose to sign with USC instead. The 6'7 309 pound Bailey has been compared to former University of Miami Outland Trphy winner and Minnesota Viking All-Pro LT Bryant McKinney, who also preped at Lackawanna.

With USC's lack of depth along the offensive line, Bailey could be a major contributor in 2006. His eligibility would also allow USC to red-shirt another member of its talented freshman offensive line class.

3) Casper Brinkley- another talented JUCO transfer that will be needed to step up for USC in 2006 will be the 6'2 250 pound DE from Thomson, GA. While Casper was unable to transfer to USC last January like his twin brother Jasper, he did attend several spring practices, and has been in Columbia all summer working out with the team. Thought to be the more talented twin, Casper played the hybrid position once played by former USC All-American Kalimba Edwards in GMC's 3-3-5 defense, a system that was very successful for USC during the back-to-back Outback Bowl seasons. Brinkley will be strictly a DE in USC's four man front this fall.

Brinkley will be counted on immediately by defensive line coach Brad Lawing to be an impact newcomer. Casper has the same speed and athleticism possessed by his twin brother Jasper, and could conceivably line up with USC's first team defense in the season opener August 31st in Starkville. In order for USC's defense to be successful this season, USC needs an athletic pass rusher like Casper Brinkley to come in ready to play.

4) Kevin Young- At 6'5 341 pounds, Kevin Young already has the size and strength needed to compete in the SEC right away. USC offensive line coach John Hunt hopes that Young will be ready to make an impact for the Gamecocks this fall at one of the guard positions. Young was easily one of the top OL prospects in the sunshine state last season. He chose USC over offers from Florida State, Florida and Miami, among others, to play for the Gamecocks.

USC will enter fall camp with only six scholarship offensive linemen ready to play. Young could be thrown into a battle for the right guard position currently held by rising junior James Thompson. The Sumter native has been injury prone and has not impressed the USC coaches with his work ethic during his time in Columbia. If Kevin Young is able to nail down one of the starting guard positions, or at least be a quality back-up, that would go a long way in solidifying USC's line depth.

5) Jared Cook- A member of Steve Spurrier's first signing class, Cook red-shirted last season. The Suwanee, Georgia native was very impressive in spring practice, playing both TE and WR. At 6'5 238 pounds and with 4.5 speed, Cook presents match-up problems for opposing defenses. Cook may have the most NFL potential of any player currently on campus and will be a much needed alternative to take the pressure off of USC's All-American WR Sidney Rice. Cook is fluid and has excellent hands. The jumbo-athlete could be used in a number of different formations in Steve Spurrier's "Cock and Fire" offense this fall. He could line up at TE and then flex out, forcing a safety or OLB to cover him, or he could line up at WR one-on-one against a 5'11 CB.

Jared Cook will play an important role in the USC passing game this fall. If he steps up and has a good season, the USC offense will be more potent and give opposing defensive coordinators head aches.

Prospect Stock Report: DE Jabaal Sheard

Heading into the April 9th, 2006 Nike Combine, Hollywood Hills, Florida DE Jabaal Sheard was a relative unknown. However, his performance that day led to a number of bigtime college programs jumping into the race for the 6'4 240 pounder's services. The first major program to offer Sheard was the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Since then Sheard has seen schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Arizona State come through with written offers.
Perhaps the most impressive athlete in that combine, Sheard posted a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash, ran a 4.25 shuttle, and did 19 reps with 185 pounds on the bench press. He also posted an impressive 28.7 inch vertical leap. He is a raw but explosive athlete with tremendous upside. Rivals.com recruiting analyst JC Shurburtt had this to say about Jabaal, after personally evaluating him at the Nike Combine. "Jabaal Sheard has as much potential and natural ability as any defensive end prospect in the nation." While Sheard has not yet been rated by Rivals.com, he is rated a 4 star prospect by scout.com and the number 19 DE nationally.
Sheard grew up a fan of his hometown Miami Hurricanes. However, "The U" has yet to extend an offer, as the 'Canes have but 12 scholarships to give. The Florida Gators are also a team that Sheard grew up following, but early commitments at the DE position have taken the Gators out of the running. As we head into the summer months, Sheard's top choices appear to be South Carolina, Rutgers, and Pitt.
In a recent interview with Gamecock Central recruiting analyst Tony Morrell, Sheard had this to say about the Gamecocks: "I talk to their coaches a lot, and it just seems like they would be cool as coaches to play for," he said. "I think they would take care of me if I went there. Steve Spurrier is their coach now, and I'm familiar with him from when he was at Florida."
Sheard, who bench presses 345 pounds was visited in May by RB coach Robert Gillespie, who recruits Broward county for the Gamecocks. He has also spoken by phone with DL coach Brad Lawing, who also saw Sheard stand out in another local combine last May. Don't look for a decision anytime soon from this jumbo-athlete, as he wants to wait and see what all his options are before choosing his college destination. However, Sheard does have a few criteria for the school he is looking for. "I want to play for a coaching staff that I can talk to, and one that I know will take care of me even if I get hurt or something. I just want to know they have my back. I also want to go to a place where I'll be comfortable with the whole atmosphere, even outside of football. I'm not looking to start, but I'd like to at least get a little playing time as a freshman."
Jabaal Sheard is a player who's stock is rising. Will this South Florida emerging star choose USC? Stay tuned!

Cockfather Illustrated's SC Sweet 16 for 2007

This will be the initial and pre-fall list for the top 16 players in the state of South Carolina. We will update the list periodically throughout the year, with the final Sweet 16 list coming in January, after the Shrine Bowl and Noth-South All-Star games.

1)Willard Korn 6'1 190 4.7 QB Byrnes HS- Korn is the consensus number one prospect in the state for this season. The two time AAAA State Champion gave a verbal commitment to Tommy Bowden and the Clemson Tigers prior to the 2005 season. Make no mistake about it, Korn has all the toold to be successful at the next level, and with a December 2006 graduation on the horizon, he could conceivably start from day one at Clemson during the 2007 season.

2)Quintin Richardson 6'4 275 4.8 OL/DL Spring Valley HS- Richardson is a rare prospect that could excel on either side of the ball on the collegiate level. The two-way line prospects stock sky-rocketed at the Gainesville, FL Nike Combine in May. Many coaches there openly said he was the best prospect at the entire camp. He could play DT as a true freshman, or red-shirt and play RT down the line. Richardson committed to play for USC in April.

3)Mark Barnes 6'2 193 4.55 ATH Richland Northeast HS-Barnes is another national recruit that could excel on either side of the ball in college. He is under rated as a WR because of the offense he plays in. He has tremendous hands and is a surprisingly refined route runner. Barnes is also an excellent FS/SS prospect, as he has great instincts and can break on the ball. The RNE product holds offers from USC, Clemson, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, FSU, Florida and many others.

4)Cliff Mathews 6'4 223 4.6 DE/TE Cheraw HS- This jumbo-athlete also saw his stock sky-rocket in Gainesville last May, displaying outstanding skills as a speed rusher. Also a talented basketball player, Matthews is deciding between USC, Georgia and Clemson. A decision could come as early as late July. USC has led for most of the recruiting process, but recently Matthews final three are, in order, UGA, Clemson, and USC.

5)Gary Gray 5'10 165 4.52 CB Richland Northeast HS- Gray is considered by many as one of the premiere cover corners in the country. He was the first commitment in the class of 2007 for Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks, as he made his intentions known during a March press conference from the RNE auditorium. Gray lacks superior speed, but is a sure tackler and is both confident and aggressive in press coverage. While I really like Gray as a prospect, I cannot rate him as highly as others because of this lack of speed. However, Gray will have every opportunity to improve his speed as he adds size and strength, as he is only 16 years old. He will graduate in December of 2006 and enroll at USC in time to go through both winter workouts and spring practice with the Gamecocks.

6)Carlos Dunlap 6'6 240 4.7 DE Fort Dorchester HS- Dunlap has not seen as much media attention as the other top rated prospects in SC, as he did not make any spring visits or attend any combines. However, that shouldn't deter his ranking. Dunlap is a true jumbo-athlete that is still growing into his 6'6 frame. He is only 16 years old and had a great junior season. When all is said and done, Dunlap could move into the top 5. At present time, his top college choices are USC, UGA, TN, and FL. Clemson and NC State have also offered.

7)JR Hemingway 6'2 200 4.5 WR Conway HS- Hemingway is another top notch prospect that didn't make a lot of noise in the spring. He didn't attend any combines or make college visits. However, Hemingway just arrived back home from a whirlwind tour that took him to Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. In addition, Hemingway currently lists Florida, Miami, FSU, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech as schools under consideration for his college destination.

8)Jarvis Jenkins 6'4 293 5.4 DT Daniel HS- Jenkins is the top interior defensive lineman in the class of 2007, and just like Willard Korn, gave his commitment to Clemson's staff prior to the 2005 season during a summer camp session hosted by Tommy Bowden and staff. Jenkins was out of shape at the Clemson Nike Combine, but was still very impressive in 1-on-1 drills, showing explosive speed and getting by many of the OL's on hand that day.

9)Brian Maddox 6' 215 4.5 RB T.L. Hanna HS- Easily the top rated RB in the class of 2007, Maddox made his verbal commitment to join the South Carolina Gamecocks on June 2nd. The standout Rb prospect possesses a rare combination of size and speed. He shows an excellent burst at the line of scrimmage, and also has the ability to break tackles. Another trait that separates Maddox from many big backs is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He will be the perfect fit in Steve Spurrier's offense. Maddox chose USC over offers from Clemson, NC, VT, FSU, FL, AL, LSU, TN, and Auburn among others.

10)Scotty Cooper 5'11 200 LB Lake City HS- Once considered a South Carolina lean, Cooper selected Clemson last month while visitin the Pickens County campus for a two-day camp session. Cooper has outstanding speed, having been timed at 10.5 in the 100m and 4.45 in the 40-yard dash. Cooper selected the Tigers over offers from USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn State, Michigan, and others.

11)Xavier Dye 6'4 193 4.6 WR Greenwood HS- Another early commitment for the Clemson Tigers, Dye is a tall, rangy athlete that has great upside. While he does not possess great ball skills now, he showed signs of improvement at the Clemson Nike Camp last May. Dye is attempting to transfer to Byrnes HS, where he would form the top QB/WR combination in the state with Willard Korn. This would accelerate the development of Dye's ball skills, and could push him to 4 star status by season's end.

12)Stanley Hunter 5'11 203 4.55 Byrnes HS- A speedy OLB prospect in the same mold as many former Clemson Tigers such as Keith Adams, Leroy Hill, and Anthony Simmons, Hunter hopes to continue that tradition. He gave his verbal commitment to Clemson at a June news conference from the Byrnes campus. Hunter plays DE at Byrnes, but also plays well in space and possesses great recovery speed. He chose Clemson over offers from USC, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

13)Mason Cloy 6'4 240 4.9 OC Spring Valley HS- Cloy is one of three division one prospects on the offensive line at Spring Valley High School. Cloy played both OC and TE as a junior, but projects as a center on the collegiate level. Cloy will make his college decision soon and Clemson appears to be the favorite at this time.

14)Charles White 5'11 209 4.74 LB Blythewood HS- A physical run stopper with good athletic ability, White gave the Georgia Bulldogs his verbal commitment shortly after his performance at the Athens, GA Nike Combine in late April. It was at that combine that UGA assistant coach John Fabris issued a scholarship offer. It should be noted that after evaluating White, neither Clemson or USC extended an offer.

15)David Smith 6'4 265 5.36 OT Greenville HS- Smith is a good looking offensive line prospect that gave his verbal commitment to Clemson just after signing day in 2006. Smith has a good frame, but will need time to add the bulk necessary to compete in the trenches. He should be a major contributor by his red-shirt sophomore season.

16)Markish Jones 6'0 183 4.45 ATH Broome HS- Jones is a top notch athlete and a three event state track champion, winning the AA meet in the 100m, 200m, and the 400m. He projects as either a WR or DB on the college level. He currently has offers from Kentucky, MD, NC, VT, and ECU and is under evaluation by USC and Clemson.

USC Recruiters and Key Targets

Today we take a look at the USC coaches that make it happen on the recruiting trail and their key targets for the 2007 signing class. I am ranking the USC coaches based on their recruiting ability and their key targets for this class.

1)David Reaves- Current USC recruiting coordinator and QB coach. Reaves is one of the top young dynamic recruiters in the business today. His recruiting territory includes the Midlands and Pee Dee of SC, Central Florida, and New Jersey. Key Targets: CB Gary Gray, ATH Mark Barnes, OL/DL Quintin Richardson, DE Cliff Matthews, LB Scotty Cooper, QB Stephen Garcia, QB Logan Gray.

2)Brad Lawing- Former recruiting coordinator at South Carolina, Michigan State, and North Carolina, Lawing brings a wealth of experience to Steve Spurrier's staff when it comes to recruiting. Lawing has developed and maintained a number of key relationships with high school coaches in both Carolina's that should benefit USC for years to come. Lawing is known as a relentless recruiter. His recruiting territory includes the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Eastern North Carolina, the Tidewater area of Virginia, and Miami, FL. Key Targets: DE Carlos Dunlap, DE Travian Robertson, WR Jay Davis, TE Rodney Cox, OL Jaymes Brooks, OL Maurice Hampton, ATH Jeremy Davis, WR Keith Graham, DT Tydreke Powell.

3)Steve Spurrier, Jr. - Known as one of the top young WR coaches and recruiters in the country while on staff at both Florida and Oklahoma, Steve Spurrier, Jr. Recruits the Grand Strand area of South Carolina, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida, and Tennessee for the Gamecocks. Key Targets: WR JR Hemingway, WR Dion Lecorn, QB John Brantley, DB Antonio Allen, OL Thomas Edenfield, DB Jamire Williams, WR DJ Donley.

4)Robert Gillespie- A former RB at Florida under Steve Spurrier, Gillespie is already making a name for himself on the recruiting trail in just his first season as a full-time assistant coach. His recruiting territory includes Central South Carolina, South Florida, North Georgia, and his home state of Mississippi. Key Targets: RB Brian Maddox, WR Matt Clements, CB Akeem Auguste, LB Brian Rolle, DE Jabaal Sheard, DT Cortez Myles, DT Uriah Grant, DT Donte'e Nicholls, DT Ian Williams, WR Deonte Thompson.

5) Ron Cooper- A former head coach and defensive coordinator, Cooper is widely considered one of the top developers of secondary talent in the nation. Cooper made a name for himself as a recruiter under Lou Holtz at Notre Dame. His recruiting territory includes N. Atlanta, Alabama, and select junior colleges. Key Targets: CB Addison Williams, OL/DL Clint Boling, DT Cameron Heyward, DL Jarius Wynn, QB Cameron Newton, DT Alfred McCullough, DB Ryan Williams, WR Quindarious Carr, DE Drew Traylor.

6)Fred Chatham- Former Recruiting Coordinator at Duke, Chatham is one of the most respected college recruiters by the high school coaches in North Carolina. Chatham served under five different head coaches in 16 seasons at Duke. his recruiting territory includes Upstate South Carolina and the western half of North Carolina. Key Targets: WR Jason Barnes, DT Wesley Saunders, WR Michael Bowman, LB Barquell Rivers, OL Trinton Sturdivant, TE Aron White, DT Kyle Linney.

7)Tyrone Nix- The former Defensive Coordinator at Southern Miss is considered one of the top young defensive minds in college football. Nix will assume sole responsibility as USC's Defensive Coordinator this season, after sharing the title last season. His recruiting territory includes the Rock Hill/Union area of South Carolina, S. Atlanta, parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and select junior colleges. Key Targets: TE Bruce Figgins, DL DJ Stafford, DT Shane McCord, DL Brian Coulter, DB Morgan Burnette, DL Markeno Lee, LB Jonathon Frink, DT Justin Sanders.

8)John Hunt- While not known as a prolific recruiter, Hunt's strength is developing relationships with the high school coaches and prospects he is involved with. Hunt played a key role in helping USC land OL Garrett Anderson and Hutch Eckerson in the 2006 class. Hunt recruits parts of South Georgia and the Orlando, FL area for the Gamecocks. Key Targets: WR Willie White, OL Maurice Holloway, FS Marty Carr, RB Bo Williams.

9)Dave Wommack- A former Defensive Coordinator at both Southern Miss and Arkansas, Wommack is more known as an X's and O's guy than a recruiter. Every staff has one and Wommack is it at USC. He does recruit part of South Georgia and the western panhandle area of Florida. Key Targets: RB Enrique Davis, WR Cameron Wade, DT Terrell McClain.

note: players listed in italics are USC commitments.