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Recruiting season for 2010 enters next phase

Posted on 04.13.09
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Phil Kornblut

Recruiting Buzz

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WITH THE PASSING of Easter, the college football recruiting season for the 2010 class enters its next major phase. Wednesday through May 31 is an evaluation period where a school has four weeks to send coaches on the road. The recruiter is allowed to evaluate a prospect twice— once for athletic purposes and once for academic purposes.

Of course, schools already have made early evaluations and handed out dozens of scholarships. Texas, for example, has more than 20 commitments. USC picked up its fourth commitment Saturday from quarterback Connor Shaw (6-2, 198) of Flowery Branch, Ga. Clemson also is holding with four commitments.

Two of the state’s top players — each sought by the Gamecocks and Tigers — did not attend Palmetto State spring games Saturday. Running back Marcus Lattimore (6-0, 210) of Byrnes stayed home with family, while offensive lineman A.J. Cann (6-3, 265) of Bamberg-Ehrhardt was in Atlanta to watch Georgia Tech’s scrimmage. Cann was joined in Atlanta by teammate Justin Henderson (6-4, 232), a defensive end.

Calhoun County offensive lineman Eric Mack (6-4, 310) was at USC’s spring game, but earlier in the week he attended a practice at Clemson. “I’m really interested in Clemson,” Mack said. “They don’t have any left tackles after next season, and I think I can go up there and start.” Also last week Mack visited Georgia Tech and picked up an offer. He also visited Auburn. He does not have favorites,

USC has offered running back Roy Finch (5-8, 170) of Niceville, Fla. He also has offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Oregon, Michigan and Texas A&M. He went to junior days at Florida and Auburn and will go to Alabama’s spring game. He also wants to visit USC. Last season Finch rushed for 1,300 yards and scored 22 touchdowns.

USC is among the favorites of defensive lineman D.J. McCellion (6-0, 275) of Delray Beach, Fla., along with Miami, Florida, Florida State and South Florida. The Gamecocks have offered along with Central Florida, South Florida, Miami, Minnesota and Kansas. He went to Miami’s spring game and plans to be at Florida’s this weekend. Last season McCellion had 56 tackles and nine sacks.

The Gamecocks have offered defensive end Tavaris Barnes (6-5, 250) of Jacksonville, a former teammate of USC linebacker Shaq Wilson. Barnes also has offers from West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers and South Florida. Florida also is showing interest. Last season, Barnes totaled 80 tackles with 20 for loss and six sacks.

USC recently offered defensive back Cody Riggs (5-9, 165) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Gamecocks join Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, Rutgers, Connecticut and Purdue on his offer list. Riggs plans to visit Notre Dame this weekend and Ohio State the following weekend for spring games. Last season he had eight interceptions and broke up 25 passes.

Richland Northeast offensive lineman C.J. Wilson (6-5, 255) attended Clemson’s spring game. He recently was offered by S.C. State, and he plans to attend their spring game this weekend. He attended junior days at Clemson and USC.

Quarterback Tyler Brosius (6-3, 234) of Waynesville, N.C., has offers from Central Florida, Western Carolina and UT Chattanooga. He was at USC’s junior day in February and talked for a few minutes with quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus. He is hopeful Mangus will watch him during spring practice. Brosius said recruiters from Tennessee, Notre Dame, Marshall and Wisconsin have said they will watch him this spring. Last season he passed for 2,335 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Clemson is looking at sophomore quarterback Price Litton (6-3, 205) of Charlotte for the 2011 class. “Clemson is looking for an early commitment from a quarterback for the 2011 class because they are not taking one in this class,” Litton said. “Coach Napier said I’m one of his top guys. He’s going to watch my spring workout.” Litton said he’ll also go to a Clemson one-day camp this summer. He’s also had contact from USC, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and UCLA. Litton was a backup last season to Duke commitment Anthony Boone and transferred to another school since Boone is back this season. He apparently impressed observers at the U.S. Army All-American Game combine in January and was named to the All-Combine Team.

USC will get a summer visit from offensive lineman Takoby Cofield (6-6, 288) of Tarboro, N.C. He has offers from East Carolina, Duke and Virginia Tech, and those are his favorites.

Clemson and USC are among schools looking at athletic quarterback Gabriel Henderson (6-1, 187) of Raleigh. He has offers from Virginia Tech and Kent State, and a verbal offer from Virginia. Henderson also is hearing from Maryland, NC State, Wake Forest and Illinois. He attended one of Clemson’s junior days and he plans to see USC over the summer. Last season Henderson passed for more than 2,300 yards and 29 touchdowns.

USC is on the offer list of defensive lineman Zack McCray (6-4 240) of Lynchburg, Va. He also has offers from North Carolina, Maryland, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, Tennessee, LSU and UCLA. McCray plans to visit LSU during is spring break and will try to stop by USC and Tennessee. Last season McCray had 87 tackles and 20 sacks.

USC is a strong player with offensive lineman David Yankey (6-5, 280) of Roswell, Ga. He has the Gamecocks in his top four with Duke, Florida and Stanford. He attended USC’s junior day and was impressed with new line coach Eric Wolford. Yankey also has offers from UCLA, N.C. State, North Carolina, Tennessee and East Carolina.

Defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 311) of Philadelphia is a USC target and he stopped by last week for a practice during a swing through the Carolinas. “South Carolina is a good place and I’m going to consider them,” said Floyd who also has offers from North Carolina, Syracuse, Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, UCLA, Stanford, Maryland and Florida International. He also visited Clemson on the trip, but because of what he considers young depth at defensive tackle he is not considering the Tigers. He also visited N.C. State and North Carolina.

Defensive back Brashaud Breeland (6-2, 200) of Allendale-Fairfax also was at USC’s practice Thursday night. He is considering the Gamecocks and Clemson strongly, along with Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Michigan and Tennessee.

Defensive lineman Jibreel Black (6-2 250) of Cincinnati has offers from USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, West Virginia and N.C. State. He has visited Kentucky, Indiana and Cincinnati, and has plans to visit Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin over the next month. He wants to visit USC during the summer. Last season, Black had 73 tackles with seven sacks.

Clemson and USC have offered defensive end Garrison Smith (6-3, 250) of Atlanta. He says everyone in the SEC, except Kentucky, has offered, and he has offers from Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Florida State, Ohio State and Oklahoma. He’s looking for one soon from Southern California. He has visited Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and he wants to visit Clemson and USC. Last season, Smith had 108 tackles with 27 for loss and 14 sacks.

Offensive lineman Kolton Houston (6-5 270) of Buford, Ga, who held offers from USC and Clemson and several others, committed Saturday to Georgia.

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