Stephon Taylor headlines Gamecocks’ signing day haul

South Carolina closed on its 2016 recruiting class with four signing day acquisitions, with a big piece of the group hailing from The Big Easy.

Stephon Taylor, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive lineman from New Orleans, was one of the four players who signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday. He may be the most important in the long run.

“Stephon Taylor was a big get for us,” Muschamp said. “I’ve been recruiting Stephon for three years, really in three different shirts. He’s a guy I really feel good about. You can’t coach his size, and he’s got good feet and change of direction. He’s got good length in his arms. A guy that has that length and that girth is hard to find.”

Taylor picked the Gamecocks over LSU, Florida State, Texas and Oklahoma. He is considered a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and Scout.

He became the third-highest rated prospect in the class behind quarterback Brandon McIlwain and receiver Bryan Edwards.

“Blessed to say that I have signed to South Carolina,” Taylor confirmed via Twitter shortly after announcing for the Gamecocks at his school.

The Gamecocks added another piece to the defensive line puzzle Wednesday, with tackle Aaron Thompson of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., signing with USC over Maryland.

The 6-foot-3, 269-pound Thompson visited the Gamecocks last weekend, then decommitted from the Terrapins on Monday.

“I felt more comfortable there and the coaching staff is real cool,” Thompson told The Miami Herald.

South Carolina on Wednesday also added two receivers from the Atlanta area, starting with a 7:30 a.m. commitment from Korey Banks at Sandy Creek High in Tyrone, Ga.

“I just got the best feel,” the three-star wide receiver said. “It all came down to relationships. “

Banks picked the Gamecocks over North Carolina (who he had originally committed to) and Alabama, who showed late interest. His visit to Columbia not only reunited him with former teammate Alan Knott, but with other Georgians such as Bryson Allen-Williams.

They each told Banks to not take their word on how great USC could be, to see for himself. He came away from his visit knowing he wanted to be at the Carolina closer to home.

The receiver has a chance to step right in, something he shares with Randrecous Davis, who also picked the Gamecocks later Wednesday. The two can help Will Muschamp’s first team replace the all-world talents of Pharoh Cooper, and aid a receiving corps that doesn’t return a lot of experience.

“Playing in Columbia, I’ll have great playing time and I’ll have somebody in my corner in a lot of people I know,” said Davis, who was previously committed to Georgia. “I’m happy with my decision.”

Banks, wearing a black USC hat to match his bowtie, reflected on his former commitment and then about the flirtation from the Crimson Tide. The last piqued his interest – “They’re the No. 1 school in the nation!” – but his heart was already set.

“The hardest part about the decision was turning schools down,” he said. “It’s definitely, truly a blessing.”

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 9:30 PM with the headline "Stephon Taylor headlines Gamecocks’ signing day haul."