re: State of Gamecock Recruiting for 2018

Crystal balls are coming in for Mincey to come to USC

Things starting to look shaky with regards to Mincey. Let's hope he sticks.

Yep ... I'm hearing tonight Mincey is probably headed to UTk. Don't be surprised if his family moves there with him and have already secured jobs there. Just sayin'.

We are not gonna go there.

Still may be another surprise though.

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Don't be surprised if his family moves there with him and have already secured jobs there. Just sayin'.

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Yeah that ain't sketchy at all...

Nice. Looking forward to this cycle being over honestly.

Mincey picks the viles.

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Especially to programs like Tennessee.

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$$$$$

We are full according to most everyone but we all sure wanted that kid. He is going to be a stud

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Damn. I'm just air some thoughts for a second, so just bear with me til it passes.

DL is absolutely a position of need for us, and losing out on most of our DL targets for this cycle has me a little concerned.

Praying Sandidge signs with us, but him and Enagbare would be the only real DL "gets" of this class IMO.

Obviously hoping this next cycle shakes out better for us, but I'm definitely shook that we can go 9-4, show major improvement as a program, have a staff full of "elite" recruiters, and we're still missing out on these guys. Especially to programs like Tennessee.

I'm sure Muschamp and Co. are doing all they can do, and I'm still very happy with they've been able to accomplish considering where our program has been, but I'm wondering if this will cause them to re-evaluate how they approach 2019 for guys like Pickens.

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One, I am hoping (kinda expecting) another season along the lines of the 9-win season we had this past season, if not better. Hopefully last season will start to aid our staff in their recruiting efforts moving forward: Muschamp joined Morrison and Spurrier for winning 15 games his 1st two seasons as head coach, for the most wins during that span in program history.

He has an easy chance to own the best overall record for his first 3 years as head coach (Spurrier has it with 21 wins), and I know he and his staff are serious enough recruiters to know to utilize any and all on-field success in their recruiting endeavors, something our previous coaching staff chose not to care about. So we have a staff that will be in a strong position to make some headway in recruiting next season, provided we have another strong on-field result.

Sandidge did sign with us, so that's great. Yes, we did lose out however on some DL talent we once thought we were in excellent shape with. As far as Pickens in 2019, I do not know about him and won't place much hopes in us getting him. TL Hanna is typically on lock-down by Clemson for them getting the best talent from there, and they have a TON of support there as well working for their best interests. They'd have to simply not want Pickens, and I don't think that will be the case. But we'll see.

Next season we'll have zero seniors along the DL, so we'll have some good depth of experience for the next 2 seasons. We return 3/4 starters along the DL, and have some solid depth behind them. No, we'll won't have a DL of a Wonnum, X. Thomas, Sandidge, and Henry like we once thought, but IMO the talent depth is improving. The staff just has to keep at it, use this next season's success with last season's to show the prospects that we're going to consistently win in the SEC under Muschamp, and the talent will come....

You're right Conway, and it would really be interesting to see our complete DLine depth chart now that the dust has settled.

FWIW we can also include Jesus Gibbs to that chart as a DLineman and evidently Lance loves the kid and thinks he was the steal DLineman of the class ... a diamond in the rough that is going to be fun to develop.

We've got some kids returning along the DLine that may surprise ... M.J. Webb comes immediately to mind but there are others.

As far as the 2019 class is concerned, we're looking pretty darn good. Also, while the state of SC only produced 30 D1 P5 signees this year ... next year we're looking at 40+ in state with at least 9, possibly 11, being rated 4* or better.

If we do well in NC and GA as it appears we will, beat Clemson overall for the in state kids, then we finish next year with a Top 10 class.

Of course, so much is contingent upon us having another good season. By that I mean double-digit wins and vying for the East title ... maybe even upsetting UGA early at night in The Cock Pit.