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.