Looking back at Steve Spurrier’s monumental 2009 South Carolina recruiting class
Shane Beamer is closing in on a very important class.
Now capping off his second class of recruits during his tenure as South Carolina’s coach, Beamer is on pace for a Top 25 class with a geographically diverse group.
Given the importance of building quickly and early, it’s worth looking back at how past USC coaches performed in their most important classes. Here’s a look at the best players to sign with the Gamecocks in Steve Spurrier’s 2009 class — one largely considered foundational to his unprecedented run of success in Columbia:
Alshon Jeffery — four-star wide receiver (St. Matthews, SC)
There may not be a more important receiver in the history of South Carolina football than Alshon Jeffery.
Jeffery initially committed to Southern Cal but stuck with the in-state USC on signing day. He finished his time at South Carolina with over 3,000 receiving yards on 183 receptions in just three seasons.
The St. Matthews product was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears after earning first team All-SEC and All-American honors during his Gamecocks career.
Stephon Gilmore — four-star cornerback (Rock Hill, SC)
Another player who has played for almost a decade in the NFL, Stephon Gilmore helped build one of the more dominant secondaries ever at South Carolina.
Gilmore recorded 181 tackles — including 15 for a loss — seven sacks and eight interceptions during his time as a Gamecock. His cover-corner skills made him one of the most sought-after players in the 2011 NFL Draft after his junior year.
Gilmore is one of just seven players in USC history to be drafted in the top 10 of the NFL draft after he went 10th overall to the Buffalo Bills. He’s since played for the Bills, Patriots and Panthers.
D.J. Swearinger — three-star safety (Greenwood, SC)
Perhaps the most famous trash-talker to come out of South Carolina, D.J. Swearinger has made a career out of hard hits and his dynamic playmaking ability on the back end.
Swearinger paired with DeVonte Holloman and Gilmore to help make up a fearsome South Carolina defense in the middle of the Spurrier era. He concluded his career at USC with 244 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and six interceptions.
The Greenwood native was a second round selection by the Houston Texans in the 2013 NFL Draft. Swearinger has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Football Team, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
DeVonte Holloman — four-star safety (Rock Hill, SC)
Hollomon — like Gilmore — is one of a handful of crucial signees South Carolina secured out of Rock Hill in the glory days of Spurrier’s tenure.
Holloman finished no worse than fifth on the team in tackles over his final three years in Columbia. He concluded his career with 207 total stops, eight tackles for a loss and two sacks. Holloman also notched seven interceptions in his career.
A spinal condition cut his NFL career short, but he’s since returned to Rock Hill and is the head coach at South Pointe High School.
Justice Cunningham — three-star tight end (Pageland, SC)
Justice Cunningham had one of the less-heralded NFL careers out of this bunch, but his playmaking ability created all sorts of problems for opposing defenses.
Cunningham was among the first in a breed of pass-catching tight ends to roll through Columbia. He broke onto the scene in his third season, catching 18 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. Cunningham then backed that up with a 23-catch, 324-yard senior season.
The Pageland product bounced around the NFL for a brief spell, including stints with the Indianapolis Colts and then-St. Louis Rams. Cunningham recorded just one catch for four yards at the professional level.
