Bonds commits to Crimson Tide

Richland Northeast defensive end Chris Bonds won't get to play for his hometown team, but he may get the chance to play against them in the Southeastern Conference after committing to Alabama.

The 6-4, 283-pound Bonds said he'd made his pledge to his recruiter Burton Burns and would be talking with head coach Nick Saban today. Bonds narrowed his decision to Alabama and Notre Dame after South Carolina backed off.

Bonds missed most of this season with a knee injury returning to action this past Friday in a playoff loss at Northwestern.

In other recruiting news:

A change of heart for Calhoun County standout David Sims (6-0, 215). The multi-talented Shrine Bowl selection had been committed to Kentucky, where he would have played running back or defensive back. But Georgia Tech, with its option offense, had continued to sell him on the idea of playing quarterback, and after attending the Yellow Jackets' win over Miami on Thursday night in Atlanta, Sims decided he wanted to run with and pitch the football for Paul Johnson. Sims did plenty of that for the Saints this season. He rushed for 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns and passed for 2200 yards and 35 scores.

Many of Sims's passes found the hands of WR Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217). He caught 35 passes for 740 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also averaged 65 yards on kickoff returns and 35 yards on punt returns, and he had three returns for touchdowns. Jeffrey has been a Southern Cal commitment and will take his official visit with the Trojans this weekend when they play Notre Dame. The Shrine Bowl pick has loosened up on his commitment to Southern Cal in recent weeks and has expressed increased interest in USC, North Carolina and Kentucky.

OL James Carpenter (6-5, 300) of Coffeyville JC, Kan., and Augusta learned from USC last week he can be admitted in January, so the Gamecocks are back in the mix along with Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Ole Miss. He plans to take an unofficial visit to USC this week while home for Thanksgiving. He was scheduled for an official visit to Oklahoma over the weekend and is to visit Ole Miss this coming weekend. He has been to Iowa State, Texas Tech and Alabama.

Clemson commitment OL JK Jay (6-7, 275) of Christ Church made an unofficial visit to Georgia on Saturday, spending practically all day in Athens meeting with coaches and touring the facilities and campus. Jay is waiting to see what happens with Clemson's coaching staff before he decides whether to stick with the Tigers or go elsewhere. He plans to set official visits with Clemson and Georgia. and he's also looking at USC, Miami, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Florida and Alabama. Jay attended a Clemson practice last week.

Greenwood DE Sam Montgomery (6-5, 240) plans to attend the USC-Clemson game this Saturday. He has not scheduled official visits but plans to with Oregon, Southern Cal, Michigan, LSU and Oklahoma State. He's also considering USC, though he doesn't plan to take an official visit there because he's been there on his own several times. And he said he'll continue to consider Clemson only as long as Vic Koenning is retained as defensive coordinator.

USC commitment LB Tony Straughter (6-1, 211) of Georgia Military JC is once again firm with his pledge after meeting with four Gamecocks coaches last week. Straughter was thinking about switching to South Florida if offered because it would be easier for his paralyzed father living in Madison, Fla., to get to his games. But Straughter told GamecockCentral.com that he will stick with USC with his father's blessings.

RB Jarvis Giles (6-0, 180) of Tampa remains strong on USC but plans to visit Nebraska Nov. 29. He's also looking hard at Ole Miss.

RB Travis Ward (5-9, 203) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., remains very interested in USC and hopes an offer will come once he gets a qualifying test score. Ward said he's also hearing from LSU, Ohio State, Florida and FSU.

One-time Clemson commitment ATH Larry Raper (5-11, 165) of Shelby, N.C., now favors North Carolina by a small margin over USC. He made a recent unofficial visit to North Carolina and is scheduled for an official visit to N.C. State this weekend.

LB Antwon Higgs (6-2, 250) of Pompano Beach, Fla., made an official visit to Louisville over the weekend. He is set to visit N.C. State this weekend and USC Dec. 13. He's also visited Purdue and is looking at Vanderbilt and West Virginia for his final visit. He continues to favor USC.

Timberland OL Quinton Washington (6-4, 315) planned to make an unofficial visit to North Carolina on Saturday. He has taken an official visit to Michigan and will visit USC Jan. 17. He also will take an official visit to Clemson and is also looking at Miami, Alabama, N.C. State and Tennessee.

Daniel DB Jerrodd Williams (6-0, 185), a Virginia Tech commitment, continues to hear weekly from USC but said last week he remains firm with Tech.

RB Lindsey Lamar (5-9, 165) of Tampa is down to USC, Wake Forest, Duke and South Florida. The speedster has visited Wake Forest and is scheduled to see Duke Dec. 6 and USC the following week. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

DE Izaan Cross (6-5, 253) of Flowery Branch, Ga., took an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Duke game. He plans to set official visits with the Tigers, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland and N.C. State.

DB Jonathan Meeks (6-2, 193) of Hargrave Prep, Va., has taken official visits to North Carolina and N.C. State and plans to take visits to Florida and Tennessee. The Rock Hill native also is considering Clemson, USC, Virginia Tech and Kansas.

DE Justin Jones (6-8, 250) of Conyers, Ga., has set an official visit with Vanderbilt for December and hopes to set a visit with USC. Jones, who at one time was committed to Kentucky, might take another trip to Lexington as well.

USC commitment OL Johnnie Farms (6-3, 306) of Perry, Ga., was scheduled for an official visit to North Carolina over the weekend.

USC commitment TE Justice Cunningham recently took an unofficial visit to N.C. State and plans to set an official visit with the Wolfpack.

DE Dyron Dye (6-5, 230) of Sanford, Fla., who has offers from Clemson and USC, is down to LSU and Miami.

OL Devin Bolling (6-5, 270) of Lynchburg, Va., took a recent official visit to Boston College. USC hasn't offered but he still has the Gamecocks on his list, along with Virginia, Virginia Tech, Connecticut, East Carolina, Marshall and Richmond.

USC has backed off OL Jeff Vinson (6-8, 315) of Lackawanna JC, Pa., for academic reasons.

Cheraw RB Travis Small (5-10, 183) has offers from Duke, Liberty, S.C. State, Middle Tennessee, Catawba and Newberry. He's also hearing from The Citadel, Coastal Carolina and Buffalo.

Timberland LB Caleb Caddell (6-0, 185) committed to Newberry.

DL Storm Moore (6-4, 270) of Timberland has offers from Newberry and S.C. State and teammate RB Rockarius King (5-7, 190) has offers from S.C. State, Charleston Southern, UT Chattanooga and Newberry.

Battery Creek OL Algernon Robinson (6-4, 287) has an offer from Newberry and is getting interest from Coastal Carolina, S.C. State, Savannah State, Bethune-Cookman and N.C. State.

Pinewood Prep WR Laquan Gilliard (6-3, 186) has offers from Newberry, Presbyterian and Winston-Salem State. He's also hearing from The Citadel.

Cheraw RB Montrelle Evans has an offer from Newberry.

WR Jamere Valentine (6-2, 195) of Myrtle Beach has offers from The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Furman, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian, Wofford, Middle Tennessee, Appalachian State and Western Michigan.

He's also heard recently from West Virginia, Virginia, Purdue and Maryland.

Basketball news

S.C. State signed 6-7 Joe Wright of Marion and Olney JC, IL.

The Citadel signed 6-7 Tristan Tremblay of Montreal.

One-time USC target 6-7 Keith Clanton of Orlando signed with Central Florida.

Baseball news

USC announced 12 signees last week: C/UT Robert Beary of Pensacola JC, Fla.; RHP Ethan Carter of Newport News, Va.; C/1B Brison Celek of Bishop England; RHP Greg Harrison of Hilton Head; RHP Colby Holmes of Conway; 2B/SS Anthony Iacomini of Cross River, N.Y.; OF Evan Marzilli of Cransten, RI; 2B Adrian Morales of Miami-Dade JC, Fla.; 3B/C Wil Myers of Thomasville, N.C.; SS Chris Owings of Gilbert; 3B/1B Christian Walker of Limerick, Pa.; and LHP Tyler Webb of Nassawadox, Va.