What’s in store for South Carolina signing day, Jordan Burch situation

The end is here, as far as the 2020 recruiting season is concerned.

The February National Signing Day is set for Wednesday. The signing period actually runs until April 1 but practically all unsigned prospects for the 2020 class will get it done Wednesday. And that will include one of the nation’s elite, 5-star DE Jordan Burch of Hammond School.

Burch, you might recall, actually committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18 but he did not sign his LOI. He later explained he wanted to wait and sign with his teammates this Wednesday. What wasn’t cool with Gamecock fans was his decision to take an unofficial visit to LSU on Jan. 25. The Tigers, he had said, were No. 2 on his list. Soon after that visit, at least one national recruiting analyst projected a flip by Burch to LSU. But, he still had an official visit left with South Carolina and he took that this past weekend.

The Gamecock coaching staff actually kick-started the weekend but turning out en mass for Burch’s basketball game Friday night at Heathwood Hall. And they had Burch and his mother to themselves since LSU coaches had already used their once-a-week contact last Monday while Burch was still in Baton Rouge.

Burch and his mother went from the basketball game to USC to begin their weekend. Burch attended the USC basketball game Saturday against Missouri, sitting behind the Gamecock bench, and went through the typical official weekend routine of meeting with coaches, touring facilities and the campus and hanging out with the players.

Burch and his teammates plan to sign at the school Wednesday at 1 p.m., and that will include defensive tackle Alex Huntley who has been committed to the Gamecocks since June. Gamecock website insiders, based on their writing over the weekend, now seem confident Burch will stick with the Gamecocks.

Another priority target in for an official visit at South Carolina over the weekend was wide receiver Ger-Cari Caldwell of Northwestern (Rock Hill). He has narrowed his decision to the Gamecocks and Tennessee after also considering Baylor, Wake Forest and East Carolina, where he was once committed. He will have an announcement ceremony Wednesday at 10 a.m. at his school. The Gamecocks have been out front for Caldwell since offering in early December.

The Gamecocks Wednesday also are expected to add running back ZaQuandre White (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) of Iowa Western Community College. The former Florida State linebacker from Ft. Meyers, Florida committed to the Gamecocks in December, but Will Muschamp never followed up with his “Spurs Up” tweet signifying a taken commitment. However, GamecockCentral reported last week the Gamecocks do plan to sign White on Wednesday.

Two other commitments, punter Kai Kroeger and kicker Mitch Jeter, don’t plan to sign Wednesday at this point because of class numbers, but they plan to enroll in June, go on scholarship in August and count on the 2021 class.