SC HS Talent is LOADED for 2018

Yeah everyone is skeptical about our ability to land Kendrick with the "scandal" surrounding last years recruitment of South Pointe. I wouldn't think a young man would let that influence his decision but guys have made dumber calls for less.

Just some updates:

https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=Highschool&State=SC

We're really looking strong with 5* DE Xavier Thomas. He's coming to the functions, and coaches are all over him.

5* DT Josh Belk has SC on top. He's been pro-Gamecock a long time, but I think we're starting to separate from the pack even more now.

5* S Derion Kendrick still has us in his Top3, he's at South Pointe so we have plenty of help in the area, but this one may come down to NSD '18.

4* DE Stephon Wynn is a monster. His dad played for that team in the upstate, they'll be hard to beat for him, but he has come to SC activities and plans to come back.

4* LB Khalid Jones II popped on the scene this spring, but SC still hasn't offereed. He's at Byrnes, so Bentley should keep us in play here if we offer. I don't know why we haven't offered yet, it's not grades though, he got a Duke offer this spring.

4* QB/ATH Dakereon Joyner will probably end up in state. We told him he could play QB for us and that's peaked his interest. We need to get him on campus as much as possible.

4*? LB Jake Venables has seen his stock fall. Nobody else is offering him besides his Dad's school, SMU and TTech. He was initially #74 in the country, but then nobody offered.

There is a future 4* LB in SC as well for '18. Currently NR Eli Adams from South Pointe.
https://www.hudl.com/athlete/4147006/highlights/296793379
His highlights are very impressive for a Sophomore. He played DL for them last year, but with his height/weight being 6'0" 230lbs he'll project as a LB in college. If he could grow 2-6 inches he could stay at DE.
He's got a great motor and there is a reason his highlight reel is 10+ minutes long, he makes a lot of play. He's all over the field after the ball. He plays his assignments really well. He has good technique in separating from blockers. He didn't have a lot of film on how he does in pass coverage, but he's got a lot of film with sacks and TFL's. Really quick first step, but I never saw him run far enough to gauge if he really runs a 4.5. His stock is going to shoot up quickly as long as his grades check out (I have no idea one way or the other on those.)

Soph Season Stats for Adams (Reg Season)
107 Tackles, 18 Sacks, 15 TFL's, 1 FF, 1 FR.

and another one.....probably will be a 3* but he's already a prototypical D1 Safety in size/speed. He did a great job at a recent 7v7 camp at SC and Muschamp offered him. As a sophomore, Mukuamu racked up 52 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and returned a fumble for a score.

https://247sports.com/Player/Israel-Mukuamu-90475

Here are his Soph highlights
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/4478109/5721e01b64e96b63802d2d34

He'll get some more offers this year, but he has a lot to work on as far as technique for playing safety. He has all the physical tools. He didn't show a lot of top end speed, but he didn't let people get behind him. He had a good nose for the ball and he timed his jumps well for PD's/INT's. He caused more turnovers in the film than his stats report, but I guess those were overturned with flags we didn't see. He's physical and tackles low, takes RB's on at the legs. He has really long arms, it's hard to juke around him. He also has the strength to pull WR/RB's down with 1 arm on them. One of the biggest
things he needs to work on his hesitation. Several times he got his body in position to make the play, but he plants both feet, waiting for the RB/WR to make the move. If he just trusts his instinct and keeps moving forward he'll stop them for less yardage. He has to get more confidence, but he's a Soph on this film, so that's pretty common for that age playing Varsity. I'll be interested to see how he times at a SPARQ camp.

If we land him it could cause a serious recruiting domino effect a la Gilmore, Lattimore, Clowney etc.

What's your thoughts on Derion Kendrick?
I thought at one time he was a Carolina lean, now it's looking like Florida or Clemson right?

quote:

---

What's your thoughts on Derion Kendrick?
I thought at one time he was a Carolina lean, now it's looking like Florida or Clemson right?

---

We were looking good for a little while. He's a South Pointe guy, so we should've already had this locked up. he grew up a gator fan, so that's why they're in it. clemson has been recruiting him heavily, they've been trying to break into South Pointe for years. They keep sending people to pick him up to go visit their campus.

He's an elite athlete and deserves that rating. He could be either a D1 WR or S. Really, truly gifted and must have a great work ethic. He makes play after play, has a really good understanding of the game. He could play for any team he wants and anyone would take him.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/4147188/5721cc1c0c5e681224a3dfab

He does like our fans, "b/c they're rowdy."

He was supposed to come to our Jr Day, but got a flat tire.
He then came in Feb, and we started picking up some momentum. We told him he could play on whatever side of the ball he wants.
Then he missed the April Cookout.
Then he was supposed to visit this summer, but that didn't happen. He camped at clemson and I think he went to their Cookout. He didn't come to our Cookout either.
So people believe clemson is the team to beat for him and I think they're right. SC has plenty of help in Rock Hill and South Point though. I have a feeling that if we can get some wins this season and show an explosive offense, that we might have a shot, b/c of where he plays at. I think he'll end up choosing wanting to be a WR.

Yeah I was about to say we were just talking about this lol

Coach Lance and Muschamp will go to see 5* DE Xavier Thomas play on Friday. Thomas said he's planning on coming to the games against ecu and aTm.

I would say for us that the impact a 5* recruit like XT can make is more significantly felt in recruiting than on the field. At least right now. I want him not only because he is good, but because this opens the doors to many more top end recruits. Imagine Muschamp bringing in a 5* in his 2nd cycle. I don't really count 2015 since he had half the time to get players and we already had a good few committed. But you want to talk about a recruiting turnaround, Muschamp and co. are doing it.

Man oh man I missed a lot while I was gone.

Good gosh the 2018 class could be special.

A friend of mine was telling me something about a RB in NC, who is like the #1 RB in the country for the 2018 class, who visited with Lattimore's family or something like that ... or did I read that part about Lattimore's family somewhere? I can't remember.

But does any of this ring a bell with anyone? Class of 2018 RB out of NC?

Wait, crap ... I just found my notes that I scribbled down. The back's name is Zamir White out of Laurinburg. I see him now on the services. Doesn't look like the info I got was correct because we look way down the list behind Bama, the taterheads, UNC and even Georgia. I don't know where I read something about him being closer to SC or something like that. I must be losing my memory. Then my buddy said he visited with Lattimore's family or something like that.