USC recruits want to do something coaches can’t: Organize a Columbia get-together
The list of things working against football recruits making it to the University of South Carolina campus is long, but that doesn’t mean a few won’t give it a try.
For now, a “dead” period extended through Jan. 1 prohibits college staffs from talking to high school players in person. That means no visits to the college campus to interact with coaches, players and staff. Coaches also can’t visit prospects at their own schools or games.
And if the players want to see a game, they’ll have to pony up the money for a ticket.
But a few schools have seen events organized by recruits themselves, getting other commitments and targets all on campus at the same time. A few players, including Class of 2021 quarterback commit Colten Gauthier, are trying to get one of those gatherings going for the Gamecocks.
“We’re actually talking about that now, me and (USC linebacker commit) Bryce Steele,” Gauthier said. “We’re going to try to get that together. We’re still unsure on the date.”
Oklahoma and LSU commits have held similar events, calling recruits together to see campus. Oklahoma at least has one advantage in that the public has access to the field and stadium, meaning players can tour public areas of the venue on their own and take photos, something that can’t happen inside Williams-Brice.
Gauthier said he’s learning the rules around such a visit, and what players are and are not allowed to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. The QB hopes to get as much done within the rules while getting potential targets exposure to South Carolina.
Some of the players Gauthier is working to recruit include four-star tight end Michael Trigg and current Georgia cornerback commit Javon Bullard.
The Gamecocks have 16 recruits committed for 2021, a group rated 41st nationally. They still have five spots to fill, and Will Muschamp has mentioned the need for another linebacker and another defensive lineman. The staff has long been after four-star in-state lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who hinted on social media recently about making a verbal commitment somewhere. (USC is in his top four.)
There is one tricky part for the high school recruiters in that a key aspect of Muschamp’s sales pitch has been rendered much harder to make.
“Right now, it’s just hard,” Gauthier said. “South Carolina, I believe, we believe, (as does) the staff that the biggest thing is getting them on campus and seeing the facilities, and then taking them to a game, and then seeing the atmosphere. We can talk about it all day, but I was the same way. When I went to a game and I got around the guys, just in person in the locker room, the facilities, it was just unreal, the atmosphere. Times are a little bit different now. It’s a little bit difficult, but we’re still doing the best we can. We’re doing the best we can as a ’21 squad.”
South Carolina’s 2021 class
RB Caleb McDowell
RB Antario Brown
WR Sam Reynolds
WR Omega Blake
WR Derwin Burgess
ATH Simeon Price
OL Jordan Davis
DL George Wilson
DL Nick Barrett
DL TJ Sanders
LB Bryce Steele
DB Jayden Johnson
