What South Carolina football has planned for the stretch run to signing day
South Carolina’s 2019 season is over, and now one of the key out-of-season seasons begins.
The early signing day is less than three weeks out, and the staff, amid whatever changes may come, has a class to hold onto and perhaps fill out.
USC is currently sitting on 19 public commits, for what projects to be 22 spots, maybe 23. The coaches have to work off a disappointing season. Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said his team was hitting the road Sunday to recruit, and they have a sprint ahead of them.
“We feel really good about where we are,” Muschamp said last week on his call-in show. “We’ll have two weeks of contact, starting Dec. 1, where our entire staff, including myself, will be out on the road recruiting.
“We’ve already really gotten those first two weeks set up. We’ll have a big visit weekend. We’re going to have our banquet Dec. 13, 14 and 15. Then we’ll crank it back up for about another 2.5 weeks in January, as far as contact is concerned.”
The Gamecocks are likely still in the market for a speedy edge rusher. The class could probably use another defensive back, and USC is in the top three for explosive Georgia athlete Jaheim Bell.
The staff has also handed out recent offers to at least one 2020 junior college defensive end and one junior college tailback.
Muschamp said the early signing period has changed certain dynamics, especially when it comes to the work down in January.
“I think it eliminates the guys that know where they’re going to school, from the standpoint of they understand what they want and they’ve taken all their officials,” Muschamp said. “It does put a little bit of strain on you. I don’t like as much (the) official visits during the season. It’s just very difficult during the season, obviously, depending on what time you have.”
USC last year inked a large group on signing day and closed with four late adds in February.
The class is currently rated 19th in the country with seven four-star recruits.
The plan again is to bring in a large group to enroll in January, around 10-12 players. That speeds everything up around visits and the rest.
Muschamp and his staff are also having to deal with the fallout of a 4-8 season and comments from the school president that made it seem as if Muschamp’s future had been in doubt at some points.
“It’s always tough, especially when you don’t have the type of success you want to have,” Muschamp said on his coach’s show after the Clemson game. “That creates even more for a little bit of a rocky road, but we’ve held onto our class. I’m excited about Dec. 18.
“Looking forward to getting on the road and selling a wonderful product here at the University of South Carolina.”
SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS OF 2020 COMMITS
▪ Luke Doty, QB (Myrtle Beach HS, SC)
▪ MarShawn Lloyd, RB (DeMatha Catholic HS, MD)
▪ Rashad Amos, RB (Sandy Creek HS, GA)
▪ Da’Qon Stewart, ATH, (North Mecklenburg HS, NC)
▪ Mike Wyman, WR, (Greensboro Dudley HS, NC)
▪ Rico Powers, WR, (Hapeville Charter HS, GA)
▪ Eric Shaw, TE/ATH, (Reeltown HS, AL)
▪ Jazston Turnetine, OL (Hutchinson Community College, KS)
▪ Tyshawn Wannamaker OL (Calhoun County HS, SC)
▪ Trai Jones, OL (Abbeville HS, SC)
▪ Vershon Lee, OL (Woodbridge, VA)
▪ Mohamed Kaba, LB (Clinton HS, NC)
▪ Alex Huntley, DL (Hammond HS, SC)
▪ Makius Scott, DL (Gainesville HS, GA)
▪ Tonka Hemingway, DL (Conway HS, SC)
▪ O’Donnell Fortune, DB (Sumter HS, SC)
▪ Dominick Hill, DB (Jones HS, FL)
▪ Joey Hunter, DB (Sandy Springs HS, GA)
▪ Kai Kroeger, P (Lake Forest HS, IL)
