JUCO corner JC Jackson has South Carolina top of mind
Help is on the way for South Carolina’s beleaguered secondary this week in the form of junior college honorable mention All-American cornerback Jamarcus King of Coffeyville Community College (Kansas).
King plans to arrive at USC Wednesday, and when drills begin in August he will be given every opportunity to win a starting job.
More help could be on the way for the Gamecocks in June as Class of 2016 cornerback JC Jackson of Riverside City College (Calif.) continues to strongly consider joining his former coaches from Florida in Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson.
According to Riverside secondary coach Isaac Shipp, Jackson is “leaning towards South Carolina at the moment. He will be finished in mid-June.”
Jackson (5-11, 196) recently visited Maryland. Shipp said he’s also been considering Miami and South Florida.
Jackson is a native of Immokalee, Fla., and was one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects in the 2014 recruiting season. He signed with Florida, where he was originally recruited by the Muschamp staff and redshirted in 2014 due to a shoulder injury.
He was listed as a starter in spring practice of 2015 but was charged that April with four felony counts in connection with a home invasion and robbery. He withdrew from school and in a November trial he was found innocent on all charges.
While going through the trial process last fall, Jackson was back and forth between Gainesville and Riverside, so he didn’t play a complete season. He appeared in six games and made 25 tackles, including three tackles for loss. He forced two fumbles and broke up two passes.
Gamecocks in lineman’s Top 10
Offensive lineman Cordavien Suggs (6-6 260) of Neptune Beach, Fla., recently released his top 10 schools. In no order, they are USC, Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, North Carolina, FAU, Memphis, Louisville, Georgia Tech and Washington State.
USC offensive line coach Shawn Elliott has been working Suggs for the Gamecocks and he likes what he’s seen from him and some of the other coaches.
“I’ve got a good relationship with all the coaches there, especially Shawn Elliott,” Sugg said. “That’s why I put them in my top 10. He’s a coach that’s going to coach you and make you work hard. He can develop me into the player I want to be. He likes my athleticism and body frame. I have a good bend and a good pass set.”
Suggs said at this point USC, Tennessee, FAU and Memphis are recruiting him the hardest. He was at USC for a junior day earlier this year. Suggs doesn’t have a leader and has no timetable on a decision.
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 9:21 PM.