re: State of Gamecock Recruiting for 2018

20 signees, 5 left to sign in Feb.

Is it 13 or 15 EEs?

Got the one big time surprise OLineman today, plus the big 6'1" 240 LB we flipped from FSU.

Damn good day.

That puts us at 23 commits with 20 signed and just two spots left, correct? I'm assuming that will be for Wonnum and Sandidge?

Nope can only bring in 25

Did we do well? I try not to follow recruiting too closely but I see Rivals has us with the fifth best class in the SEC, and I want to feel happy about that but I need someone's go-ahead first.

19 2018 guys signed plus tyreek Johnson from last year and Tyson Williams makes 21. I believe

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It’s all relative. Solid class, but when you see UGa’s, ours looks like the JV.

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I dunno. We picked-up some big DBs, and by big I mean decently rated but literally 6'0"-6'4" guys who had very decent offer sheets. Those kinda guys are hard to come by. Guys with size like that are weapons that, not only can they cover bigger WRs but they can come off the corners and wreak havoc with their pass rush.

And I love our OLine class. I heard Wolford was walking on air about this class yesterday ... thinks it's the best one he's ever signed anywhere.

And who doesn't like the LBs we signed? I mean losing Tindall hurt but signing Louis was huge. That guy is a beast. I'm actually a little happier signing a big middle linebacker who can run like Louis than I would have been with just Tindall because Louis has the body and skills to come in and contribute right away. He's a hole plugger. They'll have to work with him on pass coverage but watching his film he reminds me a lot of Jasper Brinkley's HS film.

WRs ... sheeesh, we signed some studs.

Looks like we got a couple of very decent DLinemen.

I wouldn't say this class looks like the JV next to UGA's or klemzin's. This is a damn decent class.

And I promise you ... stars are great, they make for a lot of fun and all that, but now it's all about getting them enrolled early and coachin'em-up. That's the other real beauty of this class. Having at least 13 enroll early, and so many of them being solid students ... getting them in here and getting them used to college life while also being able to participate in Spring Practice ... I mean that's huge. They'll be here for both Summer sessions plus Summer workouts ... it's just huge.

Oh, and we signed Dakeron. Now, IMHO he's going to end-up as a WR or DB because ... well, because I've seen the Jones kid practice and he's for real. He's a big time QB ... taller than Bentley and he can really take off and run. Jones is faster than Joyner. Also, Jones did benefit from his time with Roper in terms of his passing skills and using the pocket ... he's come a long ways - even his teammates will tell you that - the kid is a QB. You'll see him on the field next season. But anyways, Bentley for two more years so that carries through Joyner's RFr season. Jones is redshirting this year so he'll be a RFr next year which will be Joyner's redshirt year. Bottom line is Joyner will be a RSo by the time Bentley leaves and by that time Jones will be in his prime as a RJr.

It would be a waste to not have Joyner on the field for two years ... he's too dynamic with the ball in his hands. I mean you work him as a backup QB, let him run the scout team of course ... but when he becomes eligible you have to find a way to get him on the field and I will be shocked if he beats-out Jones. Seriously ... Jones is a player.

Also, word is that we are in-on two more big time QBs for this next class. If we sign one of those then who knows.

Joyner reminds me so much of Stephon Gilmore, who also played QB in HS. Watch film on the two and they are spittin' images of one another.

Anyways, JMHO but it's a good delima to have at QB.

We're quietly loading-up. This class is an excellent class. This is actually one of the finest classes we've signed in fifty years ... I'd probably rank it fourth right now with a chance to move to third depending upon how we finish in February. And next year's class ... sheesh, next year's class is already shaping-up to be even better. And once these new coaches' contracts are signed we shouldn't have to worry about this staff breaking-up this time next year.

I mean these are heady times to be a Gamecock fan. Win this bowl, get that 9th win under our belts and cruise into Spring with some momentum ... gotta love it.

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And I love our OLine class. I heard Wolford was walking on air about this class yesterday ... thinks it's the best one he's ever signed anywhere.

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This is VERY true. I would actually encourage ppl to listen to today's 247 podcast because they go pretty in depth on this class and JC, who was a national recruiting analyst, said that he is baffled how these guys aren't ranked higher.

Jovaughn Gwynn went to the camp circuit this summer and apparently dominated 5* KJ Henry and 4* Rick Sandidge. He was the only OL at that regional to earn a Finals invite and also won the MVP at another Rivals camp. Once UGA took pretty much every OL they wanted, apparently both Clemson and Bama tried to get the guy to delay his signing.

Hank Manos is a 3* with 11 other Centers ranked ahead of him but he's the one that got the UA All american invite? Not to mention he's had to stay below 275 so that he can wrestle. They said on the podcast that our staff thinks he is hands down the best Center in the country in this class.

Max Iyama, while I didn't follow Gwyn closely this summer I did follow Iyama who went to one of the Rivals Regional camps and was one of the top performers at that camp.

The local guy Wyatt Campbell I don't know much about, but if those other 3 were takes based on how they performed in our summer camp and that is where Campbell earned his offer, I trust Wolf enough to know what he's doing.

I actually did a lil online digging on Gwyn and one Clemson site had him as the #3 Interior lineman on their board behind Salyer and Hill who both went to UGA.

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You talking about Jay “Matt Jones” Urich

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Heck yes ... and that is EXACTLY who was on my brain when I was typing that. LOL how'd you know?

That's funny.