USC vying with Volunteers in pursuit of RB Giles

South Carolina beat Tennessee on the football field this season. Now, can the Gamecocks beat the Volunteers for one of their top recruiting targets, running back Jarvis Giles (6-0, 180) of Tampa, Fla.?

Giles will announce Tuesday for the Gamecocks or Vols after eliminating Nebraska from consideration. Giles once was a Tennessee commitment. He de-committed after coach Phillip Fulmer's resignation and, after taking an official visit to USC, began to strongly favor the Gamecocks. But he said Sunday the two are tied as his decision looms. Thursday, USC head coach Steve Spurrier and running backs coach Robert Gillespie visited Giles.

Friday, he was visited by new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, recruiter David Reaves, running backs coach Stan Drayton and athletic director Mike Hamilton.

"They showed me cut-ups on a DVD of Reggie Bush and the offense they are going to run and how I would be a big factor," Giles said. "They were telling me just how much they would use me. Coach Reaves was telling me how much they need me. He said he wants a ring, a championship ring, and that's why he left, and he wanted to be with his brother-in-law."

Giles said he will base his decision on "how comfortable I am with the school."

Spurrier, while in Tampa on Thursday, also met with RB Lindsey Lamar (5-9 160). "It was an honor to have Steve Spurrier in my house," Lamar said. "They're going to put me at running back and throw me some screens and draws."

Lamar made an official visit to Duke over the weekend and is scheduled to visit USC this weekend. He's also been to Wake Forest.

In other recruiting news:

DE Duane Chisolm (6-4, 245) of Beaufort committed Sunday to USC during an in-home visit with defensive line coach Brad Lawing.

"It was as decision where I had no reason to say no. I have been a fan for so long. They pretty much offered me everything I needed. It was a decision I couldn't turn down," said Chisolm, who can play defensive end or tackle.

His season was cut short by a torn ACL at midseason. Chisolm said the commitment is a firm one, though he might take some other visits. He is scheduled to visit USC on Jan. 17. He is the 23rd commitment for the Gamecocks.

Timberland OL Quinton Washington (6-4, 315) drew visits last week from coaches from USC, Clemson, Tennessee, Maryland and UNC. Washington has taken an official visit to Michigan and has set a date with USC for Jan. 17. He also will visit Clemson and will decide on his other visits after the Shrine Bowl.

USC and Clemson have started to show interest in Timberland RB Rockarius King (5-7, 190), who rushed for 2,068 yards and 30 touchdowns this season and finished with over 6,000 career rushing yards. He met with USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. last week according to his coach. King has offers from South Carolina State, Newberry, Chattanooga and Charleston Southern.

Three more Clemson commitments who had been looking around some since the resignation of Tommy Bowden, firmed up their commitments with the Tigers last week. RB Rod McDowell (5-10, 175) of Sumter had thought about taking visits to USC and Kentucky.

"I'm a man of my word," McDowell said. "When it was announced that Swinney was the head coach, my decision was like 200 percent. I'm going to Clemson no matter what."

OL Brandon Thomas (6-4, 285) of Dorman had considered taking visits to USC, Florida and North Carolina but said he'll only visit Clemson on Jan. 10.

And LB Quandon Christian (6-4, 210) of Lake View said he's firm with Clemson though he will take an official visit to N.C. State. He will visit Clemson on Jan. 10.

Former USC commitment OL Johnnie Farms (6-3, 306) of Perry, Ga., who is now committed to North Carolina, was visited last week by Spurrier. Farms is considering making his official visit to USC this weekend. Spurrier also checked out prospects at Georgia Military JC last week. The Gamecocks have commitments from LB Tony Straughter (6-1, 211) and LB Josh Dickerson (6-2, 220) of GMA and both are firm though Dickerson will visit Illinois this weekend.

Spurrier looked at DB Taikwon Page (5-11, 175), an Aiken native who has offers from Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Kansas and N.C. State, according to his coach.

The Gamecocks also like OL Steven Singleton (6-3, 310), a native of Buford, Ga., who signed with LSU out of high school. Mississippi and N.C. State also are showing interest in him. Also drawing USC interest in OL Rokevious Watkins (6-4, 320) who currently is committed to UAB but is interested in looking around, according to his coach.

Clemson is trying to turn USC commitment DB Devonte Holloman (6-3, 210) of South Pointe back their way. The former Tigers commitment played in Death Valley on Friday, helping lead his team to the Division II-AAAA state title. After the game, Holloman said he was called by Swinney and assistants Billy Napier and David Blackwell and was asked to take an official visit.

"I told them I would get back to them but I doubt I will take one with them. I'm going to South Carolina in January. They (Clemson) have come after me, but I'm going to South Carolina," said Holloman, who will play Saturday in the North-South Game in Myrtle Beach.

Calhoun County WR Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217) has scheduled official visits with USC for Jan. 17 and Tennessee on Jan. 24. Jeffrey, who has been committed to Southern Cal, recently took his official visit with the Trojans.

"My commitment is back at 100 percent," Jeffrey said. "I still like USC. They're still No. 2. I'm still SC."

ATH Larry Raper (5-11, 165) of Shelby, N.C., met with USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. last week and said he now has an official offer from USC. The former Clemson commitment plans to set official visits with USC, Clemson, N.C. State and UNC. Penn State is scheduled to visit him today and he's expecting a visit from UNC this week.

DE Justin Jones (6-8, 250) of Con-yers, Ga., has scheduled a visit to Vanderbilt for Jan. 20 and wants to set visits with USC and Kentucky.

OL Bobby Massie (6-6, 335) of Hargrave Prep, Va., talked last week with Clemson's Swinney and recruiter Billy Napier and is considering a visit with the Tigers. He will visit Miami this weekend, Alabama on Jan. 24 and Georgia on Jan. 31. He's also considering Ole Miss and UNC for visits.

LB Robert Nelson (6-0, 205) of Stone Mountain, Ga., is focusing on USC, West Virginia and Purdue. He plans to set official visits with those three.

DL Brandon Moore (6-6, 318) of Montgomery, Ala., remains interested in Clemson, especially since Swinney, who has been his recruiter, was promoted.

"It boosts it up," Moore said of his interest. "The recruiting coach who has been recruiting me is now the head coach. That's kind of nice."

Moore has set official visits to Florida on Jan. 10 and Miami on Jan. 17. He also plans to set dates with Clemson and Ole Miss. He also remains interested in Auburn and Alabama.

Coaches were in to see DE Izaan Cross (6-5, 253) of Flowery Branch, Ga., this week. Clemson, Maryland, Central Florida, and UNC were among the schools to drop by. Cross said he will set visits with Clemson, UNC and Georgia Tech, and he's looking at Maryland, UCF and Arkansas for possible visits. He doesn't have a favorite.

USC still leads for LB Antwon Higgs (6-2, 250) of Pompano Beach, Fla., and is scheduled for his official visit with the Gamecocks this weekend. He also has visited Purdue and Louisville. Higgs graduates later this month, so a decision will come shortly after his visit to Columbia.

RB Bryce Brown (6-0, 215) of Wichita, Kan., rated by some as the top running back prospect in the country this season, has decided not to enroll in college early and will not take his visits to Purdue and Miami until January. He has visited Clemson, Oregon and Missouri. He has been a soft commitment to Miami and continues to favor the Canes. He rushed for over 1,800 yards and 29 TDs this season.

LB Dominique Walker (5-11, 210) of South Pointe has been offered by Newberry and is getting interest from Coastal Carolina. Walker actually played this season at Victory Christian in Charlotte after his transfer to South Pointe from Independence in Charlotte was not approved for football. He's now back at South Pointe, where he will play basketball and run track.

Junior RB Marcus Lattimore (6-0, 205) of Byrnes put on quite a show in the Division I-AAAA state title game Saturday, rushing for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He has 20 offers already but no favorites.

"I'm going to open all my options back up as I continue to get more offers," he said last week. I just want everyone to know they have a fair shot at me."

Lattimore plans to narrow his list to a final five this summer and take his official visits next fall before deciding. He plans to announce his decision at the 2010 U.S. Army All- American game. He did say USC and Clemson will get official visits.

Baseball news

USC landed a commitment last week from T.L. Hanna 3B/P Brooks Hall (6-5, 190). Hall originally committed to USC Upstate but after a strong fall season the bigger schools moved in on him. Hall is regarded as one of the top players in the 2009 class in South Carolina.