Clearing a major hurdle
COLUMBIA — Alshon Jeffery is one step closer to making it to South Carolina's campus on time, but the wide receiver from Calhoun County still has work to do.
Jeffery's standardized test score is now acceptable, sources said Monday, but he still needs an 'A' in an online course to secure his eligibility for the fall.
Jeffery is finishing that course this week, so the Gamecocks should know something by the end of the week. If he scores that 'A,' he would be allowed to enroll immediately.
The 6-3 football recruit from St. Matthews made big waves when he picked the local USC over the one in Los Angeles. It was the kind of move that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wants to see more of from in-state prospects.
Jeffery's choice didn't thrill another school. According to an ESPN report earlier in the year, after learning of his decision, first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin told Jeffery he'd wind up "pumping gas" like other in-state players that wind up at USC.
Kiffin has denied ever saying that, but Jeffery and those in Calhoun County never strongly refuted anything.
Jeffery struggled each time with the SAT to force the need for the additional grade to boost his transcript.
Jeffery had 1,650 combined receiving yards in his junior and senior years. He was the 99th overall prospect in the country, according to Rivals.
He was selected to play in South Carolina's Shrine Bowl and in the national Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, Fla.
The Gamecocks are already aware of a few other recruits who won't immediately make it to school.
Duane Chisholm, a defensive lineman from Beaufort, will enroll in either a prep school or junior college.
Rock Hill receiver Charles Holmes will go the junior college route. Columbia safety Chris Payne will go to a prep school for a semester.
Georgia Military offensive linemen Steven Singleton and Kevious Watkins still aren't shoo-ins to qualify, despite coming from a junior college.
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
coachken (anonymous) says...
HURAY!!!! Another football player is almost on board in Columbia. To wrastle him away from the Other USC and Tenn is certinly something to be very proud of.
Any idea how many other BCS Schools offered the the other guys? If Spurrier resigns them "next year" does he get double recruiting points? Signing 28-30 players is impressive BUT you need a 25% ineligibility rate built in for the process to work. Would it be more efficient to only offer players that qualified. Some conferences / schools have established accedemic standards are slightly higher than others.
Quality or quanity? When you keep on doing what you have always done you will always to get what you always got. SEC Rules.
June 30, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.