Gamecocks Grab Football Commitment Number Eight

USC went back into familiar territory and picked up its eighth verbal commitment of the 2013 football recruiting cycle. Three-star defensive end Devante Covington of Rockingham, NC hails from the same high school, Richmond High School, as former Gamecock consensus All-American Melvin Ingram. Covington is 6'4" and 220 pounds. The Tarheel native also had offers from NC State, Clemson and Georgia Tech. Shawn Elliott was the recruiter of record for USC. Go Gamecocks!

Alston Jeffery Headed to the Windy City

The Chicago Bears traded up in the second round to draft USC wide receiver Alshon Jeffery with the 45th overall selection. The Bears gave up a fifth round draft pick this year to draft the Gamecocks all-time leader in receiving yards. Congratulations Alshon Jeffery!

Ingram Headed to the West Coast

The San Diego Chargers have selected DE/OLB Melvin Ingram with the 18th pick of the NFL Draft. Ingram is the second defensive end to be drafted. UNC Defensive End Quentin Coples was drafted 16th by the New York Jets. Congratulations Melvin Ingram! Watch out Peyton Manning in the Mile High City!

Gilmore Headed to Upstate New York

USC Defensive Back Stephon Gilmore was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the #10 pick in the NFL draft. Gilmore was the second Cornerback taken in the top 10. Gilmore is a Rock Hill, SC native and three year letterman for South Carolina. Congratulations Stephon Gilmore! Represent Gamecocks nation in the AFC East!!!!

Another USC Basketball Defection

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network sophomore Damontre Harris has requested an immediate release from his basketball scholarship at the University of South Carolina following a meeting with USC Head Coach Frank Martin today. Harris would be the second Gamecock defection since Frank Martin was hired on March 27th. Earlier this month, Charlotte, NC native Anthony Gill was the first basketball player to elect to transfer after Gill completed his freshman season at USC.

According to AM-560 The Team, South Carolina will allow Harris a full release to any institution except for N.C. State, which USC officials believe may have “tampered” with Damontre Harris prior to South Carolina granting Harris a full release from his South Carolina scholarship. The Fayetteville, NC native had attended all of the voluntary workout sessions with the new basketball staff but apparently something did not “mesh” with his latest round of discussions with Martin and the highest profile recruit that former coach Darrin Horn brought into Carolina is on his way out the door.

With both Gill and Harris exiting the Gamecocks basketball program, it now leaves a gaping hole at the post position for the upcoming 2012-13 season. The only post players left on the current USC roster are seldom-used role players 6’8” R.J. Slawson & 6’10” Carlton Geathers.

Help might be on the way soon, though, according to TheBigSpur Basketball Insider Bill Gunter. The Gamecocks are hosting 6’8” combo forward Mindaugo Kacinas from Wichita, KS this weekend. Mindaugus is a native of Lithuania and has an excellent relationship with Coach Martin and his staff, per sources. If the visit goes well for Mindaugus, he could be the very first commitment for Frank Martin at USC.

Georgia Linebacker Commits to Gamecocks

According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution and TheBigSpur Atlanta Metro linebacker Kight Dallas committed to Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks yesterday while on an unofficial visit to Columbia watching USC's Spring practice.

Dallas is a 6'2" 220 pound linebacker prospect. The Lithonia, GA native also carried offers from Auburn, UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest.

The Arabia Mountain High School senior was recruited to USC by South Carolina Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward. Dallas will play either the Spur or linebacker positions at USC.

Kight Dallas becomes the fourth verbal commitment for USC in the 2013 recruiting Gamecocks class.

Go Gamecocks!