The Lattimore sweepstakes comes down to final weeks

  • Phil Kornblut
  • Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, March 23, 2012 11:55 a.m.
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Byrnes High School running back Marcus Lattimore is considered South Carolina's top high school prospect. He has reportedly narrowed his choices to Auburn and USC.
Gerry Pate/APByrnes High School running back Marcus Lattimore is considered South Carolina's top high school prospect. He has reportedly narrowed his choices to Auburn and USC.

South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier faces one of the most important recruiting visits of his tenure with the Gamecocks this week.

Seldom has Spurrier had the chance to land the state's top prospect without competition from Clemson. On top of that, he has the chance to land one of the country's top offensive weapons, someone who possibly would bolster his anemic running game.

Spurrier is scheduled to have his in-home meeting with Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore and his family on Saturday. Spurrier will be the last coach to meet face to face with Lattimore before the Rebels standout makes his announcement Feb. 2.

Lattimore is deciding between the Gamecocks and Auburn. Tigers coach Gene Chizik is scheduled to meet with Lattimore on Thursday. Outside of Lattimore, no one really knows where things stand with him. He and his family cut off contact with the media last week, so it's anybody's guess if Spurrier will be trying to come from behind or protect a lead. There have been signs he favors the Gamecocks, but in his last public uttering on the subject last Monday, Lattimore said Auburn was a slight leader.

The Gamecocks could have the emotional edge with Lattimore based on the numerous visits he's made to the school the past few years. He's built strong relationships with his recruiters. But the Tigers can show him a more productive offense based on last season, especially in the running game. So, the decision may come down to emotional appeal versus black and white statistics.

Last week Lattimore was visited first by Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and running backs coach Curtis Luper, and then later in the week by USC recruiters Brad Lawing, Jay Grahan and Shawn Elliott. Lattimore did not go anywhere this past weekend after considering taking an unofficial visit to Auburn. His mother said last week he might take another unofficial visit to USC before deciding, but as of Sunday, nothing had been scheduled.

The Lattimore visit won't be the only crucial recruiting visit for Spurrier this week. He's scheduled to sit down with Beaufort linebacker Justin Parker on Thursday. Parker made an official visit to LSU over the weekend. On Monday he was scheduled to meet with Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will get the last in-person visit with Parker among the head coaches as he's scheduled to be in on Saturday. Parker is expected to choose between Clemson and USC. He has been favoring Clemson over the past few weeks.

In other news

USC gained a commitment over the weekend from DE Corey Simmons (6-5, 230) of Atlanta. Simmons made his official visit Thursday-Saturday and contacted recruiter Shane Beamer on Sunday with his pledge. Simmons is the son of former NFL star Clyde Simmons.

WR Ace Sanders of Bradenton, Fla., made his official visit to USC over the weekend and did not commit, though the Gamecocks remain at the top of his list. Sanders also has visited South Florida and is scheduled to visit West Virginia this weekend.

Clemson used the weekend to try to steal commitments from Alabama and Auburn and grab a quarterback transfer. Alabama commitment DB Keenan Allen of Greensboro, N.C., made an official visit and will decide if he'll stick with his Alabama commitment or switch to the Tigers. Allen, who was a standout of Shrine Bowl week, committed to Alabama over Clemson and others in November.

Auburn commitment RB DJ Howard of Lincoln, Ala., is giving Clemson a hard look because the Tigers are promising he would only play running back for them, something he's not convinced Auburn will do with him. Howard, who rushed for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, only wants to play running back in college. Swinney is expected to visit Howard this week.

And QB Zach Maynard (6-3 195), who is Keenan Allen's half-brother, also visited Clemson because he's looking for a new school after deciding to leave Buffalo. Maynard was the starting quarterback last season under former coach Turner Gill and passed for 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns. He would have two years to play two after sitting out next season.

USC lost longtime commitment OL Eric Mack of Calhoun County last week when he broke his pledge to the Gamecocks and committed to Auburn. Southern Cal contacted Mack last week and told him he has an offer there if he were interested, but he declined to pursue it.

USC will not get a visit from WR Jeremy Deering of Tampa. The Gamecocks tried to get his final visit but he took it over the weekend to Rutgers.

The Gamecocks will get a visit this weekend from DL Todd Chandler (6-1, 290) of Miami. He met with recruiter Jeep Hunter and changed his final visit from Florida State to USC. Chandler has visited Colorado, Louisville and Syracuse. At one time or another he's been committed to Miami and South Florida. He currently favors Louisville.

DL JC Copeland of LaGrange, Ga., is scheduled for an official visit to USC this weekend. Copeland remains a Tennessee commitment. He was scheduled for a visit to South Florida over the weekend.

USC also is working DL Calvin Smith for a visit this weekend. The former Tennessee commitment was scheduled to visit Alabama over the weekend.

Shrine Bowl TE and DE Keegan Funderburk (6-4, 262) of Central is scheduled for an official visit to USC this weekend. He visited S.C. State over the weekend.

Clemson commitment ATH Victor Beasley of Adairsville, Ga., said last week he's firm with his commitment and won't take any more visits.

Clemson commitment DB Darius Robinson of Atlanta shut down his recruiting last week after considering taking a visit to Georgia Tech and he said he's firm with the Tigers.

TE Clive Walford of Belle Glade, Fla., who is a Miami commitment, is scheduled to visit USC this weekend.

DB Sharrod Golightly of Decatur, Ga., who has been committed to Vanderbilt, is scheduled to visit USC this weekend.

USC commitment DB Chris Payne was scheduled to return to Fork Union Prep, Va., on Sunday where he will resume his efforts to become qualified. Payne left the school for the holiday break and had to have some issues resolved before he could return.

Apparently, those issues have been cleared up.

Shrine Bowl LB Darius Lipford of Lenoir, NC remains a North Carolina commitment but said last week he's still evaluating Clemson and Duke and won't announce the final choice until Signing Day. Duke's David Cutcliffe and North Carolina's Butch Davis have been in for their visits, and Clemson's Swinney is expected in this week.

Irmo Shrine Bowl RB Mustafa Green met last week with the head coaches from Rutgers and NC State and is trying to make a decision between the two.

Greer OL Kenneth Ramey (6-0 290) is visiting Brevard and Newberry. He's also getting interest from Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina.

Columbia LB Jordan Jacobs committed to Newberry and WR Christian Reid committed to Mars Hill. Columbia FB Shaq Hilton was scheduled for an official visit to Coastal Carolina over the weekend.

Chester OL RJ Canty has a top three right now East Carolina, North Carolina A&T or William and Mary. This weekend he plans to visit either Tennessee State or Morgan State.

Blythewood WR Jeremy White has not been offered but is hearing from SC State, Grambling, North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T, Gardner Webb and Edward Waters

Richland Northeast ATH Kersean Wilson is leaning towards attending Hargrave Prep, VA in the fall with USC showing interest in recruiting him from there for 2011 as a receiver. He's also hearing from Virginia Tech and NC State.

Cheraw DE Jonathan White committed to North Greenville.

Byrnes WR Torian Richardson took a recent visit to Cincinnati but remains committed to East Carolina at this point.

WR Matt Porter (6-1 185) of James Island made an official visit to Clemson over the weekend as a preferred walk on candidate. He has offers from Newberry and Wingate. Last season Porter had 59 catches for 1246 yards and 13 touchdowns.

James Island OL Chad Hamilton was scheduled to visit Ohio over the weekend. He also has been to Presbyterian and Coastal Carolina. He's also interested in Youngstown State.

Furman added commitments last week from DL Tyreek Phillips (5-11 292) of Avondale, GA, DB Jacoby Browder (5-8 180) of Prattville, AL and RB Hank McCloud (5-8 180) of Tampa.

The Citadel has commitments from QB Del'Javon Simmons of Burke, DE Justin Oxendine of Sumter, WR Austin Crowe of Boiling Springs and DL Derrick Bavol of Tampa.

DL Derrius Hamlet of Fairfield Central committed to North Carolina A&T.

Michigan State last week offered junior DB Zeph Grimes (6-0 200) and sophomore RB Demetrius Williams of Bamberg-Ehrhardt according to coach Butch Crosby. Grimes also is hearing from USC, Clemson, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Auburn, NC State, Georgia and Syracuse. Williams rushed for 1800 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.