Monday, May. 11, 2009

Recruiting: Manning DB favors Alabama

USC AND CLEMSON will have to come from behind if one of them is going to land standout defensive back John Fulton (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) of Manning. Fulton said last week he currently favors Alabama over Florida, Georgia, USC and Tennessee in that order.

Fulton made a recent unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa and was impressed. “It’s just coach Saban and the way they treated me on my visit,” he said.

Coaches from USC, Florida and Alabama have been by his school and he talked recently with Gamecock recruiter Shane Beamer. “He said they have a need for corners and I have a chance to play early,” Fulton said. Fulton has offers from USC, Clemson, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, N.C. State and Tennessee.

Recruiters from several major programs have stopped by Beaufort High School this month to check on linebacker Justin Parker (6-2, 225) including USC, Clemson and Tennessee. More coaches will check out Parker during his upcoming spring practice. Syracuse and Vanderbilt are his latest offers. They join USC, Clemson, Maryland, Wake Forest, Central Florida and N.C. State on his offer list. Parker’s brother, Jeff Parker, said Justin has a top three of USC, Clemson and Virginia Tech with the Gamecocks out front.

Summerville defensive lineman Brice Laughlin (6-3, 260) committed last week to Maryland. The Terps were the only ones to make him an official offer at this point. He was also drawing interest from Clemson, N.C. State, Georgia, Boston College, Duke, South Florida, Illinois and Virginia.

Calhoun County offensive lineman Eric Mack (6-4, 310) picked up offers last week from Miami and Michigan giving him a total of 17. Mack will visit Auburn May 23 for a junior day for their top five targets. Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore also might attend that event.

Offensive lineman Morgan Bailey (6-5, 265) of Loganville, Ga., made an unofficial visit to Clemson Friday and is now favoring the Tigers. “I’ve liked Georgia Tech, and I still do, but Clemson is out front,” said Bailey who met with recruiter Billy Napier and coach Dabo Swinney while on his visit. Bailey has offers from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Mississippi.

USC has offered defensive back Tony Grimes (6-0, 170) of Hollywood, Fla. He also has offers from Michigan, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Oregon, Florida Atlantic, South Florida, Toledo, Mississippi, Minnesota, Maryland and Oklahoma State. Grimes plans to camp at USC, Florida and Florida State.

Clemson is showing interest in Offensive lineman Kortland Jackson (6-2 285) of Washington, D.C., but has not offered. Jackson said the Tigers want to see him in camp this summer. Jackson also is hearing from Penn State, Syracuse, Duke North Carolina, Maryland, Michigan State and Buffalo.

USC is taking a look at athlete Dionte Ponder (5-10, 166) of Ocala, Fla., who has offers from Iowa, Duke and Central Florida. Ponder plans to attend a camp at USC this summer.

USC recruiter Brad Lawing checked on offensive lineman T.J. Leifheit (6-7, 300) of Wilmington last week. The Gamecocks have offered along with Clemson, Cal, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, N.C. State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, East Carolina, Southern Cal, LSU and Boston College.

Wide receiver Anthony Creecy (6-0, 197) of Durham, N.C., who had been favoring North Carolina, N.C. State and Duke, has wiped the slate clean and opened things up for everyone including Clemson and USC. They have offered along with Florida State, Oregon, Stanford, North Carolina, Duke, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and others. Coaches from USC, Ohio State and Michigan were among those at his school last week.

USC has offered speedy running back Cassius McDowell (5-9, 183) of Deerfield Beach, Fla. The 4.4 sprinter also has offers from Michigan, West Virginia, Florida International and Connecticut. Clemson, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgia and Florida are showing interest.

Clemson coaches Brad Scott and Jeff Scott checked in on offensive lineman Kalon Davis (6-5, 335) of Chester earlier this month. Davis holds a Clemson offer. Coaches from Alabama and Wake Forest also have been to the school. Davis also has offers from Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Mississippi State, South Florida and Wisconsin.

Airport wide receiver Brandon Homa (5-11, 165) is hearing from Charleston Southern, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina. He likes Appalachian State but has not been offered.

Marlboro County wide receiver Jaquain Brantley (5-11, 170) has an offer from Illinois and is hearing from Georgia Tech, N.C. State and North Carolina. He likes the Tar Heels the most.

Irmo defensive back Nehemiah Shelly (5-11, 171) is hearing from Clemson, Maryland and Virginia. He’s expecting the Clemson coaches to scout him during spring practice.

Wide receiver Tehvyn Brantley (5-10, 175) of Durham, N.C., has attended several combines this spring and will be attending 23 camps this summer including Clemson and USC. He has an offer from Central Michigan and UCLA has been expressing strong interest.

Airport quarterback W.T. Murden (6-2, 185) earned the Golden Arm Award for the accuracy competition at the recent Elite 11 quarterback camp at the University of Georgia. Murden is getting strong interest from Vanderbilt. Illinois, Georgia Tech and Maryland also are showing interest.

Defensive lineman Thomas Teal (6-2, 325) of Marlboro County grew up a USC fans and plans to visit there over the summer. Teal said he’s not heard that much from the Gamecocks or Clemson but his coach has told him they “are probably going to offer.” Teal has offers from Illinois and N.C. State and also is hearing from Maryland, Georgia Tech and Duke.

S.C. State has lost signee wide receiver LaQuan Gilliard to baseball. He has decided to attend Spartanburg Methodist JC to concentrate on his baseball career.

Basketball news. Junior Brandon Mobley (6-9) of Savannah has offers from Clemson, USC, Indiana, Cincinnati, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas State, Marquette and Kentucky. “South Carolina has been recruiting me real hard,” Mobley said. He plans to make a decision before his season.

Baseball news. USC landed a commitment for the 2009 class from RHP John Taylor of Florence-Darlington Tech. The Gamecocks also gained a commitment for their 2011 class from RHP Taylor Guerrieri (6-1, 160) of North Augusta who is regarded as one of the state’s top prospects in his class.

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