Gamecocks flip Pollard; Tigers get ‘17 OL commit

The final Sunday of the 2016 football recruiting campaign brought happiness to the University of South Carolina and Clemson camps. USC turned a big time wide receiver from a Southeastern Conference rival, and the Tigers added another major offensive lineman to their ‘17 class.

USC head coach Will Muschamp’s long standing relationship with WR Kiel Pollard (6-feet-2-inches, 228 pounds) of Moultrie, Ga., and the persistent efforts of assistant coaches Bobby Bentley and Byron McClendon resulted in a big recruiting victory for Muschamp’s new program as Pollard switched his commitment from Arkansas to USC.

Pollard was one of the top offensive players in Georgia last season. He was named the 6A Offensive Player of the Year after helping lead Colquitt County High School to the state championship with 76 receptions for 1,163 yards and 18 touchdowns. Muschamp and Bentley had hardly settled into their new jobs when they set their sights on Pollard, who had already been committed to Arkansas for several months. McClendon, who had recruited Pollard while at Georgia, joined the effort in January.

“Having a great relationship with Coach McClendon and Coach Bentley; they just felt like family,” Pollard said. “I just went with my gut and my gut was saying South Carolina the whole time. I started feeling it after my official visit, and I’ve known Coach Muschamp for a good many years. When he was at Florida, he came down to watch me practice, and he wanted me at Auburn. He can tell real talent when he sees it.”

Pollard knows the slate is clean at USC with a new coaching staff and that jobs will be open. He’s looking forward to the opportunity and expects to contribute early.

“I’m looking at playing the inside or outside receiver and just coming in and working hard and making plays,” he said. “I’m not really sure what to expect, but don’t be surprised to see us in the SEC Championship.”

Pollard currently gives USC 23 newcomers in the class for the fall of ‘16 though it’s expected that OL Lloyd Cushenberry will come off after not making his official visit over the weekend.

Clemson added another big time OL in Blake Vinson (6-5, 285) of Ocala, Fla., who made his pledge while on an unofficial visit. Vinson also had offers from USC, UF, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Louisiana State, Penn State, Mississippi, West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and others.

He said Clemson gives him everything he’s looking for in a college and a football program.

“The atmosphere around the program and all the coaches are really strong in their faith and that’s important,” Vinson said. “The good atmosphere around the program, where I fit in well, and where the coaches would develop me as a player and as a young man.”

Vinson also is caught up in the Clemson football fever with the Tigers one of the nation’s hottest programs coming off a 14-1 season and a national championship game appearance.

“That’s something that’s really cool, playing for the national championship, and like I’m part of the next recruiting class the year after that and that’s pretty special,” Vinson said. “I’m the third offensive lineman commitment and I’m pretty excited.”

Vinson said he’s equally effective in run and pass blocking and did not allow a sack or a tackle behind the line of scrimmage last season. He said the Clemson coaches love his versatility as an OL.

“One of the things the coaches like about me is I can play any of the five (positions),” he said. “I’m aggressive on the field and I play ‘til the whistle blows.”

Vinson said he’s on track to graduate in December and plans to enroll at Clemson in January of ‘17. He gives Clemson six commitments for the ‘17 class.

USC

USC had a busy weekend with official visits and seemed to help itself with most its targets.

Defensive end Jacoby Hill of Atlanta left his official visit with USC feeling very good. He called USC his leader and appeared headed toward a USC signing on National Signing Day on Wednesday. However, some time to think about things and a telephone conversation with his Memphis recruiter on Sunday night shuffled things in Hill’s mind. As he went to bed, he did so favoring Memphis.

“The conversation me and Coach Muschamp had on the way out changed my decision for USC,” Hill said. “But Memphis has stuck with me and is recruiting me hard. I’m a priority guy there. South Carolina says it, but action speaks louder than words. Me and the head coach (Memphis’ Mike Norvell) are engaged. Anytime I have had a problem, I call him.”

He said that’s one of the differences in the two programs, that he has asked to have Muschamp’s number so he can reach him directly, but it was never given to him.

Hill said Memphis leads USC by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin. He did not talk with USC coaches on Sunday night, but he has, at one time or another, talked with all the defensive coaches except for newly hired Mike Peterson. Hill won’t announce his decision until Wednesday.

WR Randrecous Davis of Atlanta is deciding between USC and Miami and he came out of his weekend in Columbia with USC as the leader. However, he’s not ready to make the solid commitment.

“I’m not sure; I’ll have to think about it,” he said. “South Carolina is the favorite, but I’m waiting until signing day.

“The visit was awesome. The facilities, the people, the environment. They look for me to come in and play early. They are running the spread and a pro(fissional) tempo and they are looking for receivers to throw the ball to.” Davis had 53 catches for 1,154 yards and 17 TDs.

DE Aaron Thompson of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., arrived at USC for his official visit over the weekend as a Maryland commitment, but he left up in the air over his final decision. Thompson said he’ll now have a signing day decision between USC and Maryland.

“It went great,” Thompson said of his visit. “The students, they’ve really got a lot of pride. It’s chill up there. The coaches and facilities are cool, really nice. Coach Muschamp told me I was a versatile player who can play inside, the 3 technique, but athletic enough to play across the line.

“They definitely want me. I told them the same thing I’m telling you; I’m up in the air.”

WR Korey Banks of Tyrone, Ga., has been committed to North Carolina, but his weekend at USC seems to have given him more to think about.

“It was great,” Banks said of the visit. Asked if he was planning to flip over to USC, Banks replied, “We’ll see.”

Banks said he’ll make a final declaration on signing day. He has also been considering Alabama.

DE Malcolm Roach of Baton Rouge, La., said after visiting USC he has a decision to make on Wednesday. He has been committed to Texas, but he said the visit put USC right up with the Longhorns.

“As of right now, I don’t know (about a decision),” Roach said. “I’ll have to talk it over with my family and pray about it. I’m going to wait until signing day and announce it.

“I had a great time at South Carolina. I think they are going to be under consideration. I really liked the coaching staff and the fans. They have nice facilities and a nice indoor (facility).”

Roach visited Texas two weeks ago. Last season, he had 147 tackles and 16 quarterback sacks.

Also visiting USC over the weekend were defensive lineman Stephon Taylor of New Orleans and WR Jeriko Morris of Crystal Springs, Miss. Taylor also took visits to Texas and Florida State and has been talking to Louisiana State and Oklahoma. He plans to announce on Wednesday.

Morris will decide if he wants to stick with his commitment to Southern Mississippi or switch to USC. Morris has not been available for comment, but his head coach, Stephen Rice, talked with his mother on Saturday.

“They seemed to have had a real good time; she seemed real kind of happy and said they enjoyed everything,” Rice said. “We’re going to sit down Monday night. He has a couple of opportunities. He’s been committed to Southern Miss, but they’ve had a coaching change.

“We’ll see what they want to do as a family. He was real impressed, real happy. I think it went as well as it could go from talking to her.”

Visiting USC on Friday and part of Saturday was DL Karamo Dioubate of Philadelphia. He said he had a good visit and is mulling over his decision this week. He’s getting a strong push to stay home and go to Temple. Owls head coach Matt Rhule visited him on Saturday. He’s also considering PSU, Auburn, Ohio State and Michigan State.

Athlete Stephen Davis Jr. of Dutch Fork High in Irmo had planned to visit USC this past weekend, but didn’t make it. He has visited Auburn.

DE Mykelle McDaniel of Loganville, Ga., had hoped to visit USC over the weekend, but because he has not yet posted a standardized test score he can’t take official visits. McDaniel has long favored USC and the coaches visited him earlier in the month. McDaniel has visited USC for a game in the past and for an unofficial visit.

Running back Justin Crawford of Northwest Mississippi Community College visited West Virginia over the weekend instead of USC. USC pulled off Crawford after getting a commitment from JUCO RB Tyren Jones, giving them three RBs in the class.

Longtime USC DE commitment Cecil Stallings of Tucker, Ga., will not sign with USC on Wednesday. Though Muschamp said he would honor his offer, he also told Stallings he did not think he was a fit for their defense.

Two other longtime USC commitments dating back to the Steve Spurrier staff were confirmed last week as not planning to sign with USC. The head coach of linebacker Jacorey Morris of Grove Hill, Ala., said his player would not be joining USC and WR Tre Jackson of Baton Rouge announced a decommitment from USC.

Defensive back Daniel Thomas of Montgomery, Ala., visited Auburn over the weekend and will have a signing day announcement. He also took official visits to USC, Minnesota and UNC. Thomas said he spoke with USC on Thursday, and though he won’t say USC is out, it appears he will go elsewhere.

“They are kind of full,” he said of USC. “I pretty much know where I’m going.”

USC DB target Marlon Character, who has been committed to Auburn, visited VT over the weekend. He’s also been to USC and Auburn.

QB Tylin Oden of Columbia, Tenn., who drew interest from USC, committed to Rutgers last week.

Former USC DB commitment JJ Givens of Mechanicsville, Va., committed to North Carolina State last week. USC DE target Jordan Woods of Citra, Fla., committed to Georgia Tech last week.

USC WR target Sam Bruce of Fort Lauderdale reaffirmed his commitment to Miami last week. He also considered UF and Ohio State.

Jake Bentley, a ’17 QB from Opelika, Ala., made an unofficial visit to USC over the weekend for the second straight weekend.

USC offered several ‘17 prospects last week -- DE Tre Lawson of North Augusta High, LB Jamal Riggins and DE Jarez Parks of Sebastian, Fla., RB Adarius Lemons of Clearwater, Fla., OL TJ Slaton of Plantation, Fla., DB Shawn Davis of Miami, DL Ryan Johnson of Mobile, Ala.,, LB Sherrod Greene of Rocky Mount, N.C., and DE Brad Johnson of Pendleton High.

USC also offered these ‘18 prospects last week -- DB Jalyn Armour-Davis of Mobile, Ala.,, OL Tank Jenkins of Montgomery, Ala, DB Patrick Surtain Jr. of Plantation, Fla., and DL Rick Standidge of Concord, N.C.

CLEMSON

Clemson hosted two official visits over the weekend and one earlier in the week, plus the Tigers staged their first junior day for the ‘17 recruiting calendar.

Headlining the weekend was the presence of DL Rashan Gary of Paramus, N.J., regarded by some as the top player in the country. Gary and his family have gone silent about what they are thinking and he will announce on Wednesday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Gary also took official visits to Michigan, Ole Miss, Auburn and Southern California.

It is expected his decision will come down to the Tigers and Wolverines. He has family in Anderson, but he also has several close friends and a former coach at Michigan.

DB Isaiah Simmons of Olathe, Kan., made Clemson his final official visit over the weekend after also seeing Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri.

“I know that he really thinks (Clemson defensive coordinator) Coach (Brent) Venables is a cool guy,” said Olathe North High head coach Chris McCartney. “The fact they played for the national championship and they had some guys seek the NFL (National Football League) are the big things.” The Tigers need help in numbers at safety and Simmons would fit the bill. McCartney said he’s an excellent athlete who does things effortlessly on the field. McCartney said he and Simmons have not nailed down an exact day and time for his decision this week.

DB K’Von Wallace of Highland Springs, Va., visited Ohio State over the weekend after seeing Clemson on Thursday and Friday. He has been committed to Cincinnati, but is also considering Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan State and Pittsburgh, announcing a decision on Wednesday.

Wallace said he talked with Clemson on Sunday morning and gave the Tigers an update. “Can’t say nothing bad about Clemson,” Wallace said after his visit. “I met a lot of great men there.

“Both visits (Clemson and Ohio State) went very well. Ohio State is short on defensive backs and they just won a national championship. I like the coaches and I like what they are doing with their players.”

Wallace said “I think I have an idea” on a decision, but he wants to hear the opinions of his mother and head coach. He feels he has an opportunity to play early at any of the schools.

Shrine Bowl OL Cade Stewart of Daniel High in Central, a Georgia Southern commit, officially visited Clemson on Jan. 22 and was offered a greyshirt. That means Clemson wants him in the program, but can’t offer him a scholarship until January of ‘17. Stewart, whose mother was a Clemson athlete, has not decided on his plans as of yet.

As for the junior day part of things,, Clemson added a highly touted OL to its ‘17 class in Matt Bockhorst (6-5, 300) of Cincinnati. Among his other offers are Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, UNC, PSU and Vanderbilt.

Bockhorst made his commitment to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and OL coach Robbie Caldwell while attending the Tigers’ junior day on Saturday.

“What Coach Swinney has built in Death Valley is unlike anything else in the country,” Bockhorst said. “They take a blue collar mentality to workouts and practice, and that is one of the many reasons why they are successful. They work hard, play hard. That attitude is something that is missing from most places in college football, and they get it.

“They understand that playing college football is not just about getting to the NFL, because if you look at statistics that is a very small minority. But the degree from Clemson and the tools for life that they instill in you is what is going to set you up to be a better father, husband, businessman, etc. Clemson has it going on.”

He also visited Clemson last season, and that’s when he began to think hard about making the Tigers his choice. Besides the brick and mortar of the school and the athletic department, Bockhorst also was sold on the idea of playing for Caldwell and Swinney.

“Coach Caldwell is just an amazing guy,” he said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s a hard-nosed, old school offensive line coach. People have described my playing style as old school because I may not be the tallest guy on the field or I may not be a 5-star, All-American, but I’m going to get after you and put my hand in the dirt across from yours and it’s going to be me against you.” “That’s how I play football and that’s the attitude I take, not just in football but in life, and that’s how Coach Caldwell is, too.

“Coach Swinney cares about his players. He doesn’t just care about winning. He cares about developing young men, and I couldn’t think of a better man to play for than him.”

Some other top ‘17 prospects at Clemson on Saturday were DB Malcolm Askew of McAdory, Ala., DE Zachary Carter of Tampa, Fla., DB Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., DL Corey Bolds of Paramus, N.J., and DB Devon Hunter of Chesapeake, Va.

OL John Simpson of Fort Dorchester High in North Charleston will choose either Clemson, UF or LSU on Wednesday.

USC sent several of its coaches to Fort Dorchester last week in a last-ditch effort to convince him to visit this past weekend. Patriots head coach Steve LaPrad said despite the presence of holdover OL coach Shawn Elliott, with whom Simpson has a strong relationship, his star player couldn’t get past dealing with a new staff at USC.

“I’m sure the changeover and everything had something to with it. He likes the Gamecocks; they’re a good bunch and a great coaching staff, and I think they are going to do great things in the future. I just think they got him a little late.”

Swinney met with Simpson on Friday as did his recruiter from LSU. Florida head coach Jim McIlwain also was in last week. “I have no idea (what the decision will come down to); I guess just where he feels at home,” LaPrad said.

While Clemson spent a lot of effort wooing Gary this weekend on his official visit, the Tigers remain a player for another big DL, Michail Carter of Jackson, Ga. His first official visit this month was to Clemson. This past week he visited GT, Alabama and UGA.

“He had a fantastic time at Clemson,” said Carter’s head coach, Daryl Myricks. “He really enjoyed the kids. And his home meeting with Coach Swinney was fantastic. He also had a good time at Tech. When he comes back home, we’ll debrief.”

UGA’s Kirby Smart was the first of the head coaches to have an in-home visit. Next was Alabama’s Nick Saban followed by GT’s Paul Johnson. Swinney got the final in-home visit.

“I thought Coach Swinney and his staff did a fantastic job and they made some inroads,” Myricks said. “They wanted him to know how he would fit in with what they do. (Clemson assistant) Coach (Marion) Hobby has been down a ton.” Carter plans to announce on Wednesday.

DB Trayvon Mullen of Pompano Beach, Fla., took an unofficial visit to Louisville on Saturday. He will announce on Wednesday with Clemson, Louisville, Texas Christian, LSU and FSU still on his list. He has been in daily contact with Clemson, but is not claiming a favorite at this point.

Clemson offered two ’17 recruits last week — WR Angelo Gonzalez of Homestead, Fla., and Markaviest Bryant of Cordele, Ga.