Monday, Nov. 30, 2009

Recruiting: Gators looking to lure OL Mack to Swamp

FLORIDA IS MAKING a late push for USC commitment offensive lineman Eric Mack of Calhoun County. The Gators contacted Mack last week and invited him for an official visit. He plans to take that visit the weekend after next after playing in the North-South All Star Game in Myrtle Beach.

Mack has taken an official visit to Auburn and will take his official visit to USC in January. No other officials have been firmed up, although he has been looking at Clemson, North Carolina and Kentucky for trips. Mack made an unofficial visit to USC on Saturday for the Clemson game. Coaches from USC, Florida and Auburn are scheduled for in-home visits this week.

Florida also is interested in Calhoun County athlete Shamier Jeffery, and may offer him as a quarterback.

Defensive back Chris Davis of Birmingham made an official visit to USC over the weekend. He was the only official visitor for the Gamecocks. Davis has an offer from the Gamecocks but did not commit. Because of family issues he may stay closer to his home, although he enjoyed his time in Columbia.

"South Carolina is my favorite but I want to look around and see what's out there," he said.

An offer from Auburn might be out there. His Auburn recruiter plans to visit him Wednesday, and Davis is hopeful of an offer. He has also scheduled for an official visit to Mississippi State on Jan. 15. He has offers from UAB and Arkansas State.

The Gamecocks are targeting Manning's John Fulton and Darlington's Victor Hampton for perhaps their final scholarships at defensive back. Both have taken official visits with the Gamecocks and both were back for Saturday's game.

Fulton said last week he is favoring USC over Alabama and is finished with his official visits. He also visited Florida and LSU.

"I still have not made up my mind," Fulton said. He plans to announce his commitment Dec. 17.

Hampton continues to receive interest from Tennessee and Auburn, but has not scheduled any visits.

Two other defensive back prospects who came for the Clemson game were Vanderbilt commitments Kenny Ladler of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Sharrod Golightly of Decatur, Ga. USC likes both players but probably will not move forward unless something falls through with Fulton and/or Hampton.

Defensive lineman Ego Ferguson Jr. of Hargrave (Va.) Prep is trying to work out a date to visit USC. He has been to Notre Dame and LSU officially and is scheduled to visit Cal on Dec. 11. He also plans to set a date with Oklahoma.

Defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd of Philadelphia put recruiting on the backburner while his season played out. His Washington High team lost Saturday in the district championship game, so Floyd can now return his attention to his recruiting. He has taken official visits to Florida, Southern Cal and Ohio State, and he is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Dec. 11. USC also remains a factor. Recruiter G.A. Mangus plans to visit him in early December.

Athlete Sherard Cadogan of Cherry Hill, N.J., is scheduled for his official visit to USC this weekend. He has taken officials to Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and West Virginia, and he recently went back to Michigan State with his mother for an unofficial visit because she did not go with him on the official visit.

Offensive lineman Laurence Gibson of Hargrave Prep made an unofficial visit to Auburn for the Alabama game. He has been to Boston College officially and will visit Virginia Tech this weekend. Gibson will visit Clemson on Dec. 11. "I'm looking for a good vibe, somewhere where I can live and not be upset, a good feeling," Gibson said. He plans to announce Dec. 17.

Gibson's teammate, defensive lineman Josh Watson, also went to Auburn on Friday and is scheduled for an official visit to Duke this weekend. Then it's Clemson on Dec. 11 and North Carolina on the 18th. He has been to Boston College. He plans to announce Dec. 25.

Beaufort linebacker Justin Parker was at the USC-Clemson game. He continues to favor the Gamecocks over Clemson, LSU, Georgia Tech and N.C. State. He is scheduled for an official visit to Clemson on Jan. 15. He is also considering visits with the other three schools on his list.

Athlete Darius Lipford of Lenoir, N.C., switched his commitment from Duke to North Carolina. Clemson and USC have been working him for official visits, but it remains to be seen if he schedules any further trips.

Defensive end Adrian Hubbard of Norcross, Ga., takes his last official visit Dec. 11 to Alabama. He has been to USC and Florida State. He will make a decision sometime after the Alabama trip.

Defensive lineman Kyle Woestmann of Marietta, Ga., was scheduled for an unofficial visit to USC on Saturday. Woestmann, who has been committed to Vanderbilt, is also looking at Clemson and took an unofficial visit there for the Virginia game. He is considering setting official visits with USC and Clemson, along with Vanderbilt.

Defensive back Kenny Ladler of Stone Mountain, Ga., another Vanderbilt commitment, was scheduled for an unofficial visit to USC for the Clemson game. He is planning to set official visits to USC, Vanderbilt and possibly Kentucky.

Defensive lineman Michael Thornton of Stone Mountain has taken an official visit to Penn State and is undecided on his other visits.

"There is no top five or top 10," he said. "I'm still interested in all my offers."

He has been in touch with Clemson recruiters Dan Brooks and Chris Rumph and USC recruiter Lorenzo Ward. He is also looking at Miami, Auburn, N.C. State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Arkansas and West Virginia.

Former Myrtle Beach athlete Mario Jones plans to enroll at Coastal Carolina in January. Jones had drawn interest from USC and Marshall, but his offers were from Coastal and Georgia Southern. Jones told the Myrtle Beach Sun-News he had contacted the Coastal staff and informed him of his plans. Jones attended Coffeyville (Kan.) JC last year and was redshirted. He is taking classes at Horry-Georgetown Tech this semester.

Irmo QB David Olson has an offer from Princeton and plans to visit in December. Olson feels Virginia and Wisconsin are seriously interested, and he has also been hearing from Oklahoma, Alabama and Missouri.

Marlboro County junior linebacker Lateek Townsend was offered last week by East Carolina, his sixth official offer. He also has offers from Clemson, USC, Illinois, N.C. State and Maryland.

Brookland-Cayce junior FB Jacob Baxter made an unofficial visit to Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets are very interested in Baxter, who holds verbal offers from Tech, North Carolina, Michigan State and The Citadel. USC also is showing interest.

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