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Recruiting: USC makes bid for B-E’s talent

Posted on 06.08.09
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CLEMSON HAS OWNED the talent coming out of Bamberg-Ehrhardt in recent years. The Tigers have signed the Raiders’ past two big-time prospects in Ricky Sapp and De’Quan Bowers.

But USC has put itself in position to reel in the Raiders’ top player for this season, offensive lineman A.J. Cann (6-foot-3, 265 pounds), who has trimmed his list to seven.

“South Carolina has always been up there as the lead runner,” said B-E coach Butch Crosby. “North Carolina, N.C. State and Georgia Tech are the other schools making a push for him.”

The other schools on Cann’s list are Clemson, Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Cann is scheduled to attend a one-day camp at USC this week, and he might go to Georgia Tech this weekend. He plans to take an unofficial visit to Clemson.

Offensive lineman David Yankey (6-5, 280) of Roswell, Ga., made an unofficial visit to USC on Thursday. Friday he visited Duke and North Carolina; Saturday he was at Wake Forest.

Clemson recently offered, and Yankey said he is interested in the Tigers as well. He has offers from Georgia, Syracuse, East Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Duke, North Carolina, UCLA and Stanford. Yankey plans to narrow his list after the summer.

Offensive lineman Morgan Bailey (6-5, 285) of Loganville, Ga., has offers from Clemson, USC, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi, Florida State, Duke, Wake Forest and Mississippi State. He has visited Clemson and USC and remains interested in both. Bailey said Clemson and Georgia Tech seem to be showing the most interest. He does not have favorites.

Offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson (6-8, 325) of St. Paul, Minn., will make USC one of his summer stops. He plans to see North Carolina, Florida State, Florida, Southern Cal, UCLA and Michigan. Henderson, regarded as one of the country’s top prospects, has known USC offensive line coach Eric Wolford since his days at Illinois.

Tight end Alex Smith (6-5 255) of West Chester, Ohio, has been committed to Cincinnati but will check other schools, including USC. The Gamecocks have offered, along with Michigan, Penn State, LSU, N.C. State, North Carolina, Duke, Purdue, Wisconsin, Louisville and Kentucky. Smith said he will visit USC, Miami, Florida, Penn State, Wisconsin and the North Carolina schools this summer. Last season, Smith caught 29 passes with five touchdowns and averaged 17 yards per catch.

Tight end Cameron Fordham (6-4, 235) of Duluth, Ga., picked up offers from Connecticut and East Carolina. He has offers from Central Florida, Syracuse, UAB and Richmond. He has been hearing from Clemson and USC, and he plans to attend a camp at Clemson on Thursday.

Denmark-Olar defensive lineman Kendrick Frazier (6-3, 265) is holding with offers from USC, Kentucky and S.C. State, and he is optimistic Clemson will offer this summer. He said he looking at USC and Coastal Carolina for camps in July.

Defensive back Jakar Hamilton (6-2, 190) of Georgia Military has Georgia and Alabama at the top of his list. “It’s going to come down to what me and my family think is the best school for me,” the former Strom Thurmond High standout said. USC also has offered, and Hamilton said he remains interested in the Gamecocks. “That was the team I was going to out of high school, so they are still in the mix,” he said.

Hamilton holds offers from N.C. State, Illinois, North Carolina and Auburn. He plans to visit all offering schools this summer and announce a decision Aug. 8.

USC has a good shot with linebacker Kevin Nelson (6-2, 215) of Gainesville, Fla., because he grew up a Steve Spurrier fan. Nelson has offers from Florida, LSU, Kentucky, Arkansas, Central Florida, Miami and Louisville. He has been hearing from Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee and Southern Cal. Nelson was scheduled to visit LSU over the weekend and he plans to visit USC over the summer. He had 125 tackles and three sacks last season.

Clemson and USC are showing interest in athlete Terrence Brooks (5-11, 168) of Dunnellon, Fla., and he is looking for offers from both this summer. He has been offered by Miami, Florida State, Central Florida, Tulane, Purdue, Mississippi State, Cincinnati and Rutgers. He will visit USC over the summer. Last season, Brooks rushed for more than 300 yards, had 500 yards receiving, scored 15 touchdowns and had 53 tackles.

Running back Jawan Jamison (5-8, 195) of Jacksonville, Fla., has had an offer from Clemson, and the Tigers remain interested. Recruiter Jeff Scott was down to watch one of his spring practices. Jamison has offers from Wake Forest and Northern Illinois. USC also is interested and wants to see him camp. Jamison said he plans to camp at Clemson, USC and Miami.

Clemson and USC are two of the offers for defensive end Henry Anderson of College Park, Ga. Other offers are Maryland, Stanford, Oklahoma, East Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest, Florida State, Wisconsin, Oregon, Michigan and Vanderbilt. USC was his first SEC offer, and that is something that has stuck with him.

“I like South Carolina because they were my first SEC offer,” Anderson said. “Playing at a big-time SEC school would be awesome.”

Anderson also is strong on Clemson. “Coach (Billy) Napier said I was a high priority,” Anderson said. “They like me at tight end. Coach Napier said he believes I could be an all-conference quality player.”

Anderson recently visited Clemson with his father. He plans to camp at Georgia and Georgia Tech and visit Vanderbilt and Wisconsin. He plans a decision by the end of the summer. Last season Anderson had 70 tackles and six sacks.

Defensive lineman Richard Ash (6-4, 270) of Pahokee, Fla., has offers from USC, Florida, Florida State, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi and others. He is favoring the Gators. He had 80 tackles and four sacks last season. He plans to announce a commitment Nov. 25.

Clemson and USC have offered offensive lineman Dan Koenig (6-6, 255) of Cape Coral, Fla. Some of his 24 offers are Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Missouri, Miami, Mississippi, Central Florida and South Florida.

Clemson and USC also have offered defensive end David Perry (6-6, 225) of Davie, Fla. He holds offers from Miami, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Tulane, Central Florida, South Florida, Mississippi and Alabama and a few others.

Bamberg-Erhardt linebacker Javonta Middleton (5-11, 215) has been offered by North Carolina A&T and is getting interest from Georgia Tech, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, The Citadel, Georgia Southern and Gardner-Webb, according to his coach.

Linebacker Will Johnson of Aynor signed with Coastal Carolina as a preferred walk-on, and Aynor offensive lineman Nick Lilly signed with North Greenville College.

Basketball. USC Aiken picked up a transfer in 6-9 Mike Technow, who played in four games last season at American University.

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