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Talent from North Carolina powering USC
Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 08.27.08
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From Carolina to Carolina
USC players from North Carolina
LG Pierre Andrews, Charlotte | Played at Independence High, a national power
WR Jason Barnes, Charlotte | Another Independence grad, he chose USC over North Carolina
QB Tommy Beecher, Concord | Two uncles played for Steve Spurrier at Duke
LB Reggie Bowens, Holly Springs | High school teammate of Chris Culliver and Cedrick Snead
S Chris Culliver, Garner | Ranked by Rivals.com two years ago as the state’s best prep player
LT Hutch Eckerson, Lumberton | Father Todd played at N.C. State
DT Marque Hall, Wingate | One of Lou Holtz’s last recruits from the Tar Heel state
DL Melvin Ingram, Hamlet | In 2006 Shrine Bowl, returned a Willy Korn fumble for a TD
FB Bryan Kingrey, Raleigh | Former walk-on earned scholarship last season
DE Byron McKnight, Laurinburg | Started at defensive end opposite Travian Robertson
DE Travian Robertson, Laurinburg | Had a sack, and fumble recovery in 2006 Shrine Bowl
TE Weslye Saunders, Durham | Father Barry is a columnist for Raleigh News & Observer
CB Cedrick Snead, Garner | Walk-on was Culliver’s high school teammate
K Ryan Succop, Hickory | Two-time all-state selection in high school
LB Alonzo Winfield, Winston-Salem | Originally committed to Tennessee
At almost every turn at USC practice, there is a Gamecock who used to be a Tar Heel, a kid who crossed the border to play football at “the other” Carolina.
Starting left tackle Hutch Eckerson is from Lumberton, N.C., and his father played at N.C. State, USC’s opponent Thursday night. Tight end Weslye Saunders’ father, Barry, is well-known to readers because of his Raleigh newspaper column.
Several of North Carolina’s best players in the 2006 Shrine Bowl now play for South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ new starting quarterback is a Tar Heel — so is the star kicker and the new starting safety.
“There’s a fraternity among the North Carolina guys,” Weslye Saunders said. “We pretty much stick together, and when we play a team like N.C. State or North Carolina, we come together. We know it’s our time to show them what we’re made of.”
Four years ago, Lou Holtz’s final team at USC had just seven players from North Carolina. That number has more than doubled since Steve Spurrier took over, with 15 current players from the state.
Some of it’s by design. Some of it’s just by taking advantage of a situation two years ago.
“North Carolina should always be good territory for us in recruiting,” said Gamecocks defensive line coach Brad Lawing, himself a native of Hickory, N.C.
This is Lawing’s second stint at South Carolina, and he has recruited his native state hard each time. But it’s been an easier sell this time around with Spurrier a household name and the SEC a major selling point.
When he coached at USC from 1989-1998, the school went from independent status to the SEC, so it took a while for that to become a recruiting chip.
It still isn’t easy to get kids to overlook the four ACC schools — North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest and Duke. But the Gamecocks can play up their league, and the fact that football is No. 1 at USC.
“We tell these kids all the time: The two best leagues in the country are the SEC and the NFL,” Lawing said. “Guys wanna play against the LSUs and Georgias and Tennessees week in and week out, they’re gonna look at South Carolina.”
There was some outside help two years ago. North Carolina and N.C. State both changed coaches, throwing much of the state’s prospects into play. One of them was Chris Culliver, who switched his commitment from N.C. State to USC.
The Gamecocks ended up signing six players from North Carolina last year, including Saunders, who passed over North Carolina. His ties to his native state remain strong enough that he spent a lot his summer at N.C. State, which his best friend attends. Saunders said he was at a pool party with about 25-30 Wolfpack players.
“They knew who I was, and they were talking a lot of junk,” Saunders said. “And all I could really say was Aug. 28 is right around the corner, it’ll be here soon enough.”
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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