USC IS IN a leader position for three more top prospects out of Georgia. Linebacker Robert Nelson (6-foot-0, 205 pounds) of Stone Mountain attended the Gamecocks’ Showcase Camp earlier this month and came away from that with USC as his favorite. “I fell in love with the campus,” Nelson said. He has Auburn second on his list and Tennessee third. He also has offers from West Virginia, Troy and Louisiana Tech, and he’s getting interest from Purdue, Indiana, Florida, Ohio and Memphis. “I believe I was born to play linebacker,” he said. “Tackling is my specialty.”
Defensive end Derrick Lott (6-5, 270) of Kennesaw also attended the showcase camp, his second camp visit of the summer to USC. “South Carolina is my leader,” he said. “I’ve been to camps and stuff and they are showing me the most love.” Lott also has offers from Louisville, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Central Florida and Mississippi, and he’s getting interest from Florida State and Georgia. Lott said three of his official visits will be USC, Oklahoma State and Louisville.
Linebacker Jonathan Davis (5-10, 205) of Tucker also favors USC and plans to make an unofficial visit in the next two weeks. A commitment could come shortly after the visit. “If I like it,” he said. “Me and my dad are going to sit down and discuss it with each other after we get back home. Davis said he also has offers from Clemson, Louisville, Penn State, Florida State, Miami, Central Florida, UAB and Appalachian State.
The Gamecocks also lead for linebacker Antwon Higgs (6-2, 240) of Pompano Beach, Fla. “I like the fact they play big linebackers,” Higgs said. “They were the first to offer me and have stayed with me.” Higgs plans to visit USC for the LSU game. He also has offers from Florida, Miami, Florida State, NC State, West Virginia and Purdue. He will graduate in December.
Richland Northeast defensive end Chris Bonds (6-4, 283) will take official visits to Notre Dame Sept. 13, Tennessee Oct. 25 and Alabama Nov. 29, and Southern Cal and Michigan on dates to be determined. He’s down to those five and USC. Bonds was at the USC Showcase Camp and will go to as many home games as he can attend.
South Pointe defensive back Stephon Gilmore (6-2, 195) is down to Clemson, USC, Alabama and Tennessee and will take his official visits to those four. “They are all pretty even,” Gilmore said. “Clemson and USC are recruiting me the hardest. I want to go where I can get on the field in a hurry.”
Wide receiver Jheranie Boyd (6-3, 185) of Gastonia, N.C., cut his list last week to a final ten of Clemson, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Southern Cal, Illinois, Oregon, Auburn and Missouri, and he has Clemson and Florida as his top two.
Defensive end Antwan Lowery (6-4, 315) of Miami has a top four of Clemson, Miami, Rutgers and Florida, and he plans to spend one of his official visits at Clemson.
USC and Clemson continue to work linebacker Chaun Gresham (6-3, 200) of Winder, Ga., who has been committed to Georgia Tech since March. He attended USC’s camp earlier this month and said he’ll likely take an official visit to USC. He remains committed to Tech.
USC will get an official visit from athlete Eric Gordon (5-9, 184) of Nashville. Some of his other offers are Tennessee, Miami, Alabama, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Gordon can play running back and receiver.
The short list for quarterback Morgan Newton (6-5, 215) of Indianapolis is Clemson, USC, Indiana, Purdue, Kentucky, Illinois, Florida and Miami. He attended Florida’s recent camp and has visited Indiana, Purdue, Kentucky and Illinois this summer.
Defensive back Mywan Jackson (6-0, 180) of Seffner, Fla., plans to make an unofficial visit to USC later this week. He recently visit North Carolina and Michigan. He also has offers from Illinois, Louisville, Rutgers, Auburn and West Virginia.
Wide receiver Tim Smith (6-0, 185) of Chesapeake, Va., has set an official visit to USC Sept. 19. He also will visit Louisville, West Virginia and Virginia, and he’s looking at Boston College and Maryland for his final visit.
Defensive end Izaan Cross (6-5, 253) of Flowery Branch, Ga., made a recent visit to Mississippi State and has the Bulldogs in his top five along with USC, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Oklahoma. Those five will get his official visits.
Defensive back Michael Carter (6-0, 160) of Pompano Beach, Fla., has an offer from Clemson along with Minnesota, Miami, Georgia, Florida and Central Florida.
Clemson will be one of the official visits for wide receiver Kendall Kelly (6-3, 215) of Gadsden, Ala. He recently made camp stops at Florida, Florida State and Alabama. Earlier he camped at Clemson, Texas and Auburn.
Linebacker Hawatha Bell (6-1, 230) of Matthews, N.C., will take official visits in the fall to USC, North Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
Linebacker Jon Bostic (6-2, 225) of Wellington, Fla., recently camped at Florida and Florida State. His offers also include Clemson and USC and might visit both before the summer is out.
Linebacker Daniel Cleveland (5-11, 200) of Byrnes committed to Presbyterian and West Florence linebacker Avery Murray (6-0, 210) committed to Maryland.
Newberry offered defensive back Ardamian Player (5-10, 175) and linebacker Jabril Williams (6-3, 210) of Dreher according to coach Bill Bacon.
Wide receiver LaQuan Gilliard (6-3, 186) of Pinewood Prep has offers from Newberry and Presbyterian.
Update on USC signees not yet in school: Defensive end Ronald Byrd, defensive back Darrell Simmons and defensive end Chaz Sutton plan to attend Fork Union Prep, Va. this fall assuming they are not accepted, and offensive lineman Elliot Williams appears headed to Georgia Military JC; defensive end Jarriel King is awaiting the results of two tests he took last week to complete the math course he needs to be admitted; wide receiver Tori Childers is behind held up by a test score that was flagged by admissions.
Clemson is waiting on one signee, defensive back Xavier Brewer, who is completed summer school work, and is expected to join the Tigers in August.
Basketball News. Junior point guard Eric Smith (6-0, 185) of Mullins wants to commit before this season and he’s set on going with Clemson. He also has an offer from USC.
Keith Clanton (6-8) of Orlando says his offers are USC, Virginia, Butler, South Florida, Central Florida and Miami. Clanton said he talked recently with Gamecock coach Darrin Horn. “I’ve been talking to them a lot lately,” he said. “They like to let their people play, and I like that.”
USC has been showing interest in Robbie Dreher (6-4) of Southside. The Gamecocks scouted him in Orlando last week, and he plans to attend a camp at USC in early August. He also has offers from Winthrop and Furman, among others.
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