USC gaining recruits from the state of Alabama
The state of Alabama continues to be fertile recruiting territory for South Carolina. Last week, DB Jarrett Burns (6-3, 186) of Huntsville committed to the Gamecocks after getting an official offer from recruiter Ron Cooper and head coach Steve Spurrier.
"It was a comfort level," Burns said. "I talked to coach Cooper all the time. He showed me he could be there for me if I need something. That was a big thing to me."
Burns is viewed as a big corner by the Gamecocks and had 79 tackles with one interception this season.
"My advantage is my height," he said. "And I like to beat up the receiver. I like to come up and hit. And I roam the field well."
Burns had an offer from Louisiana Tech and said he was getting strong interest from Clemson, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville and Mississippi State. He's the 14th commitment for South Carolina.
ATH Charles Whitlock (5-11, 175) of Chester said Monday he has decided to commit to South Carolina when he makes his official announcement in early December.
Whitlock was in Columbia for a news conference to preview the upcoming state championship games. His Cyclones will play Wilson on Saturday night for the AAA title.
"When I went on my official visit (to USC), this was where I felt more comfortable and I gave them a heads-up on where I'm going to commit," Whitlock said. "It's a really good fit for me because my family can get to more and more of my games quicker. That's really why I chose them."
Whitlock can play receiver or defensive back and said the Gamecocks could use him in both spots.
"They are talking at receiver now but as I get there they might try me as a specialist, kick returns and defensive back some. They told me they would bring me in on third downs."
Whitlock talked with Spurrier while on his official visit for the Florida weekend and came away impressed.
"Coach, he's a nice guy to talk to," Whitlock said. "He's excited about me telling him where I'm coming. He told me they are ready to get me in. I'm going to be a December graduate, so they are ready to get me in in the spring and get me rolling, have me start."
Whitlock made official visits to Alabama and North Carolina. He chose the Gamecocks from nearly 40 total offers.
The Gamecocks played host to a pair of official visitors over the weekend, RB Jamal Womble (5-11, 225) of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and ATH Brandon Smith (6-3, 210) of New Brunswick, N.J.
Womble said he enjoyed his time in Columbia.
"The biggest thing was the atmosphere of the game," he said. "I liked the players. I got along with them."
Womble will visit Arizona State this weekend and will announce his decision on Dec. 5. He has cut Boston College from his list and is down to South Carolina, North Carolina and Arizona State.
Smith has visited Michigan and Colorado and is considering Rutgers, West Virginia, Boston College and Michigan State. The visit gave Smith a favorable impression of South Carolina.
"They are very high on my list now," he said. "It was a good visit in my eyes."
DB Darrell Simmons (6-2, 194) of College Park, Ga., had planned to make an official visit to South Carolina over the weekend but had to cancel it because he had a long road trip for a playoff game Friday night. He said he will reschedule for this coming weekend or the next. He is strong on the Gamecocks and talked last week about making a commitment. He likes Miami, Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State.
Most of the state's top prospects planned to be at South Carolina on Saturday night for the game.
One who didn't was LB Robert Quinn (6-6, 255) of Fort Dorchester. He made an unofficial visit to Auburn for the Alabama game. Quinn plans to set official visits with South Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida State. He said South Carolina's Spurrier and Alabama's Nick Saban are planning to visit him and his family this week. Auburn coaches might also visit this week.
The Gamecocks have moved in on LB Tristan Strong (6-2, 220) of Loganville, Ga. He has been committed to Vanderbilt but was scheduled to make an unofficial visit to South Carolina on Saturday.
DL A.J. Harmon (6-5, 325) of Louisville, Ga., is holding to his Clemson commitment right now, though Georgia is pulling at him strongly.
"I know in my head I'm committed to Clemson," Harmon said.
But he said he won't make an official announcement about his plans until his team banquet Jan. 17. He has been to games at Clemson and Georgia in recent weeks and is not sure if he'll take official visits.
RB Eric Smith (6-0, 220) of Seffner, Fla., planned to take an unofficial visit to Florida on Saturday but he says the Gators aren't a factor. He has made an official visit to Clemson and will set a visit with Auburn for January. He said he probably will take an official visit to Illinois, as well. Clemson and Auburn are front with Clemson holding a slight edge.
OL R.J. Mattes (6-7, 285) of Concord, N.C., was to make his official visit to Virginia over the weekend. He has made an official visit to N.C. State and is scheduled to visit North Carolina this weekend, South Carolina on Dec. 7 and Clemson on Jan. 11.
Cheraw WR Jaron Brown (6-3, 190) made an unofficial visit to Columbia for the Clemson-South Carolina game. He attended the Boston College-Clemson game the prior weekend. He was to make his official visit to South Carolina this weekend, but he will be playing in the Class AA state championship game and will have to reschedule.
He plans to visit Tennessee on Jan. 11 and he will visit Clemson on Jan. 18. He will set a visit with West Virginia.
South Carolina remains involved with WR Deion Walker (6-3, 188) of Christchurch, Va. He did not make it to the Clemson game, but is still considering setting an official visit. He has made officials to Penn State, Florida State and Notre Dame. Also on his list are Southern Cal, LSU, Florida, Cal and Tennessee.
Vanderbilt commitment TE Taylor Thompson (6-6, 230) had to nix plans for an unofficial visit to South Carolina on Saturday because of his own playoff game Friday night. He will set an official visit with the Gamecocks and possibly with Oklahoma State.
DB T'Sharvan Bell (6-1, 170) of Seminole, Fla., is scheduled for an official visit to South Carolina this weekend. He was scheduled to visit Auburn over the weekend but had to cancel due to a death in the family. He will reschedule.
He will visit Georgia Tech on Dec. 7. He made an official visit to Clemson for the Wake Forest weekend.
"They showed me a lot of love," Bell said of Clemson. Clemson recruiter Chris Rumph scouted him last Friday night and he talked with South Carolina recruiter John Hunt on Sunday.
ATH Michael Ruff (5-9, 170) of Whitmire has offers from Presbyterian and Newberry, according to his coach Donald Addis. He's also hearing from The Citadel, Coastal Carolina and Middle Tennessee State.
Keenan LB Allen Smith (6-1, 225) has set an official visit with Tulane for Jan. 18, according to his coach Demond Logan. Smith is talking with Middle Tennessee State and Vanderbilt about visits.
OL Zebrie Sanders (6-6, 273) of Clayton, Ohio, made an official visit to LSU for the Arkansas game. He has visited Florida and Georgia and plans to set up a visit with South Carolina. He's looking at Stanford and UCLA for his fifth visit.
WR A.J. Jenkins (6-2, 180) of Jacksonville, Fla., made a recent official visit to Illinois. He is scheduled to see West Virginia on Jan. 18 and plans to set up Georgia Tech for January. He said South Carolina and Florida also look good for visits.
DL Taylor Loftley (6-2, 255) of Chamblee, Ga., has set an official visit to Vanderbilt for Jan. 18 and he will set a trip to South Carolina. He is looking at Duke and Central Florida
WR Tommy Streeter (6-5, 200) of Miami will visit South Florida on Jan. 11. He has been to Boston College and will set a date with South Carolina. Oregon is a possibility. Streeter said South Carolina recruiter Robert Gillespie plans to make an in home visit this week.
ATH E.J. Abrams-Ward (6-5, 215) of Thomasville, N.C., attended the Maryland-N.C. State game Saturday in Raleigh. He has been to games at South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Clemson, Boston, College, Georgia and Alabama also are on his list, and he's undecided about official visits.
OL Trevino Woods (6-5, 280) of Athens, Ga., attended the Boston College-Clemson game, his second unofficial visit to Death Valley. Woods has been committed to Kentucky but said that's not firm. He has been to Georgia for games. Kentucky is his only offer at this point.
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