re: State of Gamecock Recruiting for 2018

Well Clemson got that Lawrence kid out of GA to commit.

So he'll probably not care

ETA- that's probably why joyner eliminated Clemson

They now have gotten back-to-back commitments of highly rated pro-style QBs in the '17 and '18 classes. Actually Clemson has pulled two 4* or higher pro-style QBs for 2017 in Hunter Johnson and Chase Brice. Johnson is also rated a 5* per Rivals.

Those are prospects that usually don't expect to hold down the sidelines for much of their careers, or even share starting time. Most don't even expect to red-shirt. So something will definitely happen ultimately there before NSD in February....

Agree 100%. It always comes down to signing/announcement day for us.

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I agree too ... but you know what, and I can remember this like yesterday.

I remember the days when we complained about Brad Scott always having his classes wrapped-up in December, while everyone else was waiting to close strong.

Holtz pulled off a few last minute strong closes his first few years, but it fell off badly his last two.

Spurrier had some really good last few days closings ... but he too fell off his last couple of years as everyone knows.

There is something to be said for closing late. This thing where so many kids commit early is a relatively new phenomenon. It's really only be going-on for a few years now ... I'm not sure why it started happening except that maybe kids want to get it over with and concentrate on highschool.

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The internet happened. And along with it, social media, which skips down the street hand-in-hand with the internet.

Used to be, the only way anyone knew about prep football recruiting, was if they subscribed to magazine publications like Athlon, SuperPrep. and Tom Lemming's Prep FB Report. Other than that, the only news kids made when they committed really centered around National Signing Day, when it was "official", and the teams and staffs could talk about the talent. Therefore, the local news could report about it.

Nowadays, every little dot and tiddle regarding prep talent is pored and analyzed over by the online sites, twitter "experts", etc. An elite prospect can have his name in the online headlines for a year if not longer, if he played his recruitment right. A kid committing early to a top program stirs up a lot of attention for himself.....

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I agree too ... but you know what, and I can remember this like yesterday. I remember the days when we complained about Brad Scott always having his classes wrapped-up in December, while everyone else was waiting to close strong. Holtz pulled off a few last minute strong closes his first few years, but it fell off badly his last two. Spurrier had some really good last few days closings ... but he too fell off his last couple of years as everyone knows. There is something to be said for closing late. This thing where so many kids commit early is a relatively new phenomenon. It's really only be going-on for a few years now ... I'm not sure why it started happening except that maybe kids want to get it over with and concentrate on highschool.

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Nothing will ever top Holtz with Squeeky Watson. Not Lattimore, Clowney, Gilmore, nothing, nobody, ever.

Refresh my memory on the Derek Watson deal, please. I was 14 so didn't follow recruiting then.

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Belk

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It would appear so. I think they got him on the 'come win a title' talk. Of course, they won't have the tools to win a title next year but whatever.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Thomas, Belk, Sadidge, and Wynn Jr. All be Clemson Tigers. They all going to IMG at the request of Clemson's staff, and Clemson owns IMG. Who else are our top targets for 2018? Oh yeah, that RB White - he's all Tiger too......

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but I thought Belk was a lock for here.

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I wonder what kind of pressure a commit like Belk receives to commit during a visit.

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It wouldn't surprise me to see Thomas, Belk, Sadidge, and Wynn Jr. All be Clemson Tigers. They all going to IMG at the request of Clemson's staff, and Clemson owns IMG. Who else are our top targets for 2018? Oh yeah, that RB White - he's all Tiger too......

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Wynn was probably always going to be a Tiger and we have gone after Master Teague from TN harder than Zamir White just because of the reality that it is more of a UGA/Clemson battle. Other than that I think we are still in play with Thomas, Belk and Sandidge. As far as Belk's commitment is concerned, I think this situation was as follows:

Clemson, I think, doesn't have a huge class next year either. They had the best of the best of the 2018 class there on campus and Belk realized the simple truth that if he even thought he MIGHT want to go there then he had to commit right then or lose out on even having the opportunity. That being said if Xavier Thomas committed that early it would be a huge loss. One thing that they have been able to do is to not only get guys to commit that early but once they commit they are heavily pressured to not visit other schools. How Belk responds to communication with our staff will be very telling.