TEs commit to USC, Clemson

South Carolina and Clemson gained commitments last week from players listed as tight ends, though both could end up at other positions. Justice Cunningham (6-3, 232) of Central became the Gamecocks' second verbal on Saturday.

"I feel good about my decision," he said."I don't have any second thoughts about that." USC is Cunningham's only offer though he also drew interest from Clemson, N.C. State and Maryland. He also is a standout at defnsive end.

Tyler Shatley (6-3, 255) of Icard, N.C., became Clemson's sixth commitment, picking the Tigers over N.C. State. "I felt the most comfortable there," he said. "I like the campus size. It's not too big." Shatley rushed for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He also plays fullback and on the defensive line.

Last week, the mother of Aldine, Texas, DB Craig Loston (6-3, 210) said her son would have a decision later in the week between Clemson and LSU. But that decision has not yet been made. He visited Clemson for the spring game and planned to be at Texas A&M's spring game Saturday.

Dorman OL Brandon Thomas (6-4, 280) did not make it to Clemson or USC's spring games. He hopes to get back to Clemson soon and said the thought of committing to the Tigers has crossed his mind. "I'm thinking about it strongly," he said last week. "They told me to take my time and if I want to commit, they'll take it." He also has offers from USC, North Carolina, Maryland and Vanderbilt.

WR Nukeese Richardson (5-10, 170) of Pahokee, Fla., attended USC's spring game Saturday and he continues to favor the Gamecocks ahead of Southern Cal, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. "People were trying to get met to commit but I want to take some more visits," Richardson said. "But, if I had to choose today, I would choose them." He also has offers from Florida, South Florida, Miami, Wisconsin, Michigan, Rutgers, West Virginia and Minnesota. He plans to visit Southern Cal, Georgia and Florida after his spring practice.

Another top USC receiver prospect at the spring game was Jamal Patterson (6-3, 200) of McDonough, Ga. "South Carolina throws the ball a lot so their offense caught my eye," he said. Clemson also has offered Patterson and he talked with Tommy Bowden and some assistants last week. Patterson has 36 offers and he thinks USC and Clemson will be in his final group when he narrows the list.

QB Rob Henry (6-2, 198) of Ocala, Fla., also was at USC's spring game. He has not been offered by the Gamecocks. He has verbal offers from Louisville and Illinois. He's also hearing from Auburn, Alabama, Stanford, Florida Atlantic, Central Florida, South Florida and Purdue. Last season, Henry passed for 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 200 yards and four scores.

DB Branden Smith (5-11, 165) of Atlanta was at Clemson's spring game, where he talked with the coaches and star running back James Davis. "They said they would like to have me," Smith said. He also has offers from Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama. He does not have a favorite.

In other football recruiting news:

Byrnes DB Justin Bright (6-2, 185) also attended Clemson's spring game. He doesn't have an offer from the Tigers and is not sure one will be made because of the numbers at the safety position, and because of the prospects ahead of him on the board. "Coach (Billy) Napier told me to patient and bear with him right now," Bright said. He has offers from Florida State and Texas A&M. He's also hearing from USC, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. He has visited Florida State and plans to make a return trip.

A.C. Flora LB Brandon Bates (6-3, 210) is not well known at this point but Falcons coach Robin Bacon expects his recruiting to pick up after schools see him this spring. "He's real raw," Bacon said. Bates had 63 tackles with seven for loss and three sacks last season. He attended a spring practice at USC and the Gamecocks plan to evaluate him.

USC has given an offer to WR Justin Brown (6-4, 210) of Wilmington, Del. He also has offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh, UNC, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers, LSU, Oregon, Purdue, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Brown has family in Henderson, N.C., and plans to visit the Carolina schools in the summer. Last season, he caught 19 passes for 556 yards and 8 TDs. As a safety, he totaled 40 tackles and three interceptions.

LB Hawatha Bell (6-1, 230) of Matthews, N.C., is deciding between USC and Virginia Tech and has the Gamecocks on top "because I've already visited there." He plans to visit Virginia Tech as soon as he can set it up with his recruiter. Bell also has offers from Wake Forest, Miami, Illinois, Maryland, Duke, East Carolina and UNCNorth Carolina. He had 125 tackles with three sacks last season.

Beaufort DE Duane Chisolm (6-4, 245) was at Tennessee on Saturday for a track meet and a football visit. This Saturday he's scheduled to visit Clemson, and he plans to make a trip to USC. His top four are Clemson, USC, Tennessee and Alabama. He also has offers from Kentucky, N.C. State, Maryland and West Virginia.

DE Sam Montgomery (6-5, 240) led a contingent of prospects from Greenwood attending the USC spring game. He was joined by DB DJ Swearinger (6-1, 205), DB Byron Best, DB Devin Partlow, OL James Festa and rising junior DL Kelcy Quarles. Quarles is a son of former Gamecocks offensive lineman Buddy Quarles and has an offer from USC.

Montgomery also attended Clemson's spring game. He also has offers from Alabama, UNC, N.C. State, Maryland, Southern Cal, Miami, LSU, Auburn, Illinois, Tennessee, Duke, Florida State, Florida and Vanderbilt. He is working to trim his list to eight and said USC, Clemson, Miami and LSU definitely will be in that group. Eventually, he wants to eliminate one of the in-state schools. He said neither has an edge right now.

Swearinger has offers from Vanderbilt, Illinois, Maryland, Auburn and N.C. State. He's also hearing from Penn State and Duke.

Clemson has given a verbal offer to QB Ryan Mossakowski (6-4, 203) of Frisco, Texas, and he plans to visit this summer. He has official offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Kentucky, Alabama and Oregon. He's also hearing from Oklahoma. Mossakowski visited Nebraska Saturday for the spring game. He's also been to Texas A&M, Kansas, Oklahoma and Auburn, and he'll visit Alabama on May 3. Last season, Mossakowski passed for 3029 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Marlboro County WR Kinsman Thomas (6-3, 195) was scheduled to be at USC's spring game but did not make it in. He has offers from USC, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Illinois and N.C. State, and he's also hearing from Duke, Southern Cal and Georgia Tech.

Thomas' rising junior teammate, QB Elliott Alford (6-2, 185), planned to be at the game. Last season, he passed for 2100 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Brothers DE Tariq Edwards (6-4, 225) and TE Tyrell Edwards (6-4, 219) of Marlboro County were scheduled to go to Virginia Tech over the weekend. Tariq has offers from USC, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Maryland and N.C. State. Tyrell has offers from Illinois and Vanderbilt. Duke is close to offering both brothers.

Calhoun County WR Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217) added an offer from Florida to his list last week. He also has offers from USC, Alabama, Kentucky, Norht Carolina, Tennessee, Southern Cal and N.C. State.

QB Will King of Northwestern will join the Furman program this fall as an invited walk-on. Over the last two seasons, King passed for 5100 yards and 57 TDs.

OL Reggie Smith (6-4, 330) of Spring Valley signed last week with Livingstone College in North Carolina.

Basketball news

USC November signee 6-9 Darius Moore of Decatur, Ga., was given his release last week by new coach Darrin Horn. Morrow now is looking at Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, UAB and Oklahoma.

Coastal Carolina last week signed 6-1 Darius Steger of Guntersville, Ala.