Peach State DB Selects Gamecocks

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network, cornerback Branden Langley committed to the University of South Carolina Wednesday night. Langley is a huge pickup for the Gamecocks as the Marietta, GA native chose the Gamecocks over a plethora of SEC and national BCS schools like Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and UCLA. The decision boiled down to three SEC Eastern Division foes in the end and USC topped UGA and Rocky Top to secure the top rated cornerback in the state of Georgia this recruiting cycle. Langley is 6'0", 175 pounder and is a four-star prospect acording to 247sports. The Kell High School product is the seventh verbal commitment from the Peach state for USC in the 2013 recruiting class and the fourth defensive back. USC Quarterbacks Coach G.A. Mangus was Langley's lead recruiter for Carolina. Langley is the 21st verbal commitment for the Gamecocks in 2013 and the 15th defensive verbal commitment. Langley is a top 15 player in the state of Georgia per 247sports. Go Gamecocks!

JUCO Cornerback Coming Home to Roost

Per Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network, Georgia Military College Cornerback Ronnie Martin has committed to the University of South Carolina. The former Spartanburg High School standout originally signed with the Gamecocks in 2011 but failed to qualify. Martin resurfaced at GMC last year and according to his former High School Coach Freddie Brown, Martin is on track to graduate in December and enroll at USC in January 2013 where the former South Carolina Shrine Bowl participant would compete for a starting Cornerback position in 2013. Martin will have three years to play two once he enrolls at Carolina. The former Vikings all-state performer is 5'10", weighs 190 pounds and reportedly runs a 4.4/40-yard dash. Coming out of high school Martin was considered a three-star prospect and had offers from LSU, Nebraska, Illinois, Maryland and Wake Forest. The JUCO defensiveback is the 20th verbal commitment for the USC class of 2013 and the 14th verbal commitment on the defensive side of the football. Martin joins GMC teammate LB Brandon Golson, Calhoun County HS, as former Palmetto state gridiron stars headed back home to play college football. Gamecocks Special Teams/Tight Ends Coach Joe Robinson recruited Martin for South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!

Tarheel Gridiron Standout Commits to USC

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network North Carolina prep LB Larenz Bryant committed to the University of South Carolina on Monday over a plethora of BCS level offers. The Charlotte, NC native is regarded as the top high school football talent in the state of North Carolina according to 247sports. USC Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Shawn Elliott was the lead recruiter of Bryant for South Carolina. Bryant chose the Gamecocks over several SEC and ACC schools like Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, Clemson, Georgia, Florida State, UNC, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Duke, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, East Carolina and UVA. Bryant is the fifth linebacker prospect to commit to the Gamecocks for the 2013 football recruiting class. The Vance High School product is a four-star prospect according to 247sports. One interesting tidbit regarding Bryant is that he is a native South Carolinian as he hails from the Charleston area. This is the 18th verbal commitment for USC in its 2013 class and remember that verbal commitments are non-binding until the prospect either enrolls in classes come January 2013 or "inks" scholarship papers come National Signing Day in February 2013. This is an excellenbt pickup by the USC coaching staff and kudos to Coach Shawn Elliott for being in BEAST MODE on the recruiting trail. This is the 13th defensive prospect that the Gamecocks have accepted a verbal pledge from in the 2013 class. Go Gamecocks!

Georgia Gridiron Prospect Ties "Knott" with USC

The Gamecocks recruiting bonanza continues as USC picked up commitment number 17 Sunday evening when Georgia offensive line prospect Alan Knott gave a verbal commitment to South Carolina. The Tyrone, GA & Sandy Creek High School product called USC Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Shawn Elliott with the good news and giving the Gamecocks their second Peach state o-line commitment in the last 24 hours on the heels of J.P. Vonashek's commitment yesterday. USC now has four offensive linemen committed for the 2013 recruiting cycle. Knott selected the Gamecocks over UNC, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Miami, South Florida, Louisville and Georgia Tech. The 6'5", 265 pounder is a three-star prospect according to 247sports. Go Gamecocks!

Georgia OL Prospect Chooses Gamecocks

The Gamecocks secured their 16th verbal football commitment Saturday evening when offensive lineman J.P. Vonashek pledged to USC coaches after making an unofficial visit to the Midlands this afternoon. After receiving a South Carolina offer eleven days ago, the Kingsland, GA native selected the Gamecocks over multiple offers from Auburn, FSU, Georgia, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss, UNC, Ohio State, and Tennessee among others. The Camden County High School product is the fifth Peach state product to verbally commit to the University of South Carolina for the 2013 recruiting cycle. Vonashek was recruited to USC by Runningbacks Coach Everette Sands with help from USC Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Shawn Elliott. The 6'7" 275 pounder is the third offensive line commitment for the Gamecocks joining the duo, D.J. Park & Bryce King, from Dillon, SC. Vonashek is a three-star prospect according to 247sports. Go Gamecocks!

Basketball Transfer Turning a New "Page" Over to USC

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network current Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles basketball player LaShay Page is considering a transfer to the University of South Carolina. The former Pee Dee hoopster has graduated from USM and been given a release to transfer. Page has requested a family hardship waiver from the NCAA for immediate eligibility at his new institution of choice. The 6'2" combo guard has contacted Gamecocks Head Basketball Coach Frank Martin and it is reported that Martin would welcome the former Palmetto hoopster into the USC family. Ironically Coach Martin is a little familiar with Page as it was his Kansas State Wildcats program that ended the season of Page and the Golden Eagles basketball team in the NCAA Tournament by a score of 70-64 in the first round. Page played two years at Southern Miss where he avergaed 9.6 points/game and shot 34.7% from three-point range. This year the former Latta and Dillon High Schools star avergaed 11.6 points/game, shot 35.2% from 3-pt range and shot 82% from the Free Throw line. Page played one year at Chipola Junior College before transferring to Southern Miss. If accepted into USC, Page would get the last scholarship available for the 2012-13 season. Go Gamecocks!

Deja Vu for Brandon Golson and USC

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network, Georgia Military College Linebacker Brandon Golson (6'2", 230 pounds) has pledged to USC once, twice now three times and hopefully for Golson's sake the third time is the charm for the former Calhoun County star. Golson originally committed to South Carolina back in 2010 but USC's Admissions Office denied Golson admittance into Carolina so the former Calhoun County High School football star decided to go to Fork Union Prep School in Virginia. He then committed to Carolina in January 2011 but was denied admission a second time. Golson then attended Louisville University where he briefly started classes until it was determined he was a non-qualifier at the Big East institution which forced Golson to leave Louisville. Golson's path led him to Milledgeville, GA in 2012, and he enrolled at Georgia Military College where last season Golson compiled 24 tackles and five sacks. Brandon Golson becomes the 15th verbal commitment for the 2013 USC football recruiting class and the 12th member on the defensive side of the football. He is the third linebacker prospect to commit to the Gamecocks and the second linebacker prospect to verbal to South Carolina in less than a week (Virginia LB Matt Rolin committed last Friday). Golson is a three-star prospect per 247sports and was recruited to USC by Gamecocks Special Teams Coach Joe Robinson. Golson is projected to be a December graduate at GMC which would allow him to enroll at USC in January 2013. Golson will have two years to play three at South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!

Gamecocks Land Peach State Defensive Back

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network defensive back Ali Gorves committed to South Carolina coaches late Tuesday night. The Stone Mountain, GA native committed to USC over offers from Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Missouri, Pitt, Florida, Illinois, Syracuse, UConn, Ohio and Wake Forest. Groves is 5'11 and 177 pounds and projects to play either Cornerback or Safety for the Gamecocks. The Peach state product is a three-star prospect according to 247sports and was recruited to USC by South Carolina Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward. Ward & South Carolina have now developed a "pipeline" into Stephenson High School down in Stone Mountain, GA. In the last three recruiting cycles Carolina has landed five commitments from this power house football program outside of Atlanta: DB Kadetrix Marcus (2011), RB Mike Davis (2012-Enrolled), DB Kyle Fleetwood (2012-Enrolled), DT Carlos Hood (2012-headed to Fork Union Prep in Virginia) and DB Ali Groves (2013-verbal commitment). Groves is the 14th verbal commitment in USC's 2013 football recruiting class. He is the 11th defensive prospect for the Gamecocks. Also according to Kornblut, USC might be nearing its 15th verbal commitment if Georgia Military College LB Brandon Golson casts his lot with USC following a scheduled visit to Columbia on Wednesday. Golson is a Calhoun County native and actually committed to South Carolina back in 2010. USC's Admissions Office denied Golson's acceptance two years ago and so for the past two years the former Calhoun County High School star has attempted to improve his grades at the Georgia Military College. Golson is a four-star prospect according to 247sports and is being recruited to USC by Special Teams Coach Joe Robinson. Go Gamecocks!

Rivalries Rekindled in Columbia Regional

The University of South Carolina will host its third straight NCAA College Baseball Regional this coming Friday with two very familiar opponents joining the Gamecocks in the Capital City. The number two seed in the Columbia Regional will be Clemson University and the Tigers will square off against the number three seed Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers. The fourth team to round out the Columbia Regional will be the Manhattan Jaspers. The Gamecocks are the number eight national seed in the 64-team field announced on ESPNU tearlier this afternoon. The Gamecocks have now earned back-to-back national seeds and it's the sixth time under Head Baseball Coach Ray Tanner that USC has been named a top eight national seed (Carolina has only lost once as a Super regional host back in 2000 versus Louisiana-Lafayette). If the Gamecocks win their regional South Carolina would play the winner of the Charlottesville, VA Regional comprised of UVA (#1 seed), Oklahoma (#2 seed), Appalachain State (#3 seed) and Army (#4 seed). A tidbit regarding the Charlottesville Regional, back in the 2010 Charlottesville Regional Oklahoma swept UVA and subsequently went on to face USC twice in Omaha defeating Carolina in the first game and then coming within one strike on JBJ of eliminating the Gamecocks from the 2010 NCAA College World Series. But we all know Jackie Bradley Jr. came up with a clutch two-out hit versus Oklahoma which propelled South Carolina to its first ever National Championship. The Columbia Regional gets started on Friday June 1st, with Clemson battling Coastal Carolina at Noon followed at four o'clock by South Carolina versus Manhattan. All of the Columbia Regional will be televised on ESPNU. Go Gamecocks! Here is the Columbia Regional schedule: DATES/TIMES/FORMAT Friday, June 1 Game 1 - No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Coastal Carolina – Noon p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Game 2 - No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Manhattan – 4 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Saturday, June 2 Game 3 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 – Noon p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Game 4 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 4 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Sunday, June 3 Game 5 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 – Noon p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Game 6 - Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 4 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3) Monday, June 4 Game 7 - If Necessary - 7 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)

USC Football Legacy Commits To Gamecocks

According to AM-560 WVOC in Columbia,SC, highly recruited linebacker Matt Rolin has committed to the University of South Carolina while on an unofficial visit to USC. The Ashburn, Virginia native was scheduled to be in the Palmetto State this weekend to visit family during the Memorial Day holiday. Rolin is a USC legacy as his grandfather played for South Carolina and the rising senior linebacker has family that live very near USC's campus. Rolin is a four-star recruit per 247sports and the highest rated gridiron recruit in the 2013 Gamecocks football recruiting class. USC Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Shawn Elliott was Rolin's lead recruiter for the Gamecocks. Rolin becomes the 13th verbal commitment for South Carolina and the 10th defensive commitment for the Gamecocks in this class. The "Old Dominion" native chose the Gamecocks over 30-plus offers from schools like Virginia Tech, FSU, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Virginia and Clemson to name a few. Rolin's older brother plays at Virginia Tech and while the Hokies were a big factor for the younger sibling, USC was always in the driver's seat for Rolin's services according to sources. Go Gamecocks!

Gamecocks Pick up Third Football Commitment

The Gamecocks pulled off the football recruiting "trifecta" this afternoon gaining their third football commitment for the 2013 class. North Carolina athlete Pharoh Cooper of Havelock, NC becomes verbal commitment number 12 for USC. Cooper hails from the same high school in the Tarheel state as current redshift sophomore Offensive lineman Corey Robinson. Brad Lawing is the recruiter of record for Cooper. The Gamecocks plan to play Cooper in the Secondary as a defensive back. Cooper is a three-star prospect per 247sports and also had offers from N.C. State and East Carolina. Earlier in the day the Gamecocks received verbal pledges from DE/OLB David Johnson of Lithonia, GA a three-star prospect and DE/OLB Devin Washington of Orlando, FL a four-star prospect. Go Gamecocks!

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!

Goose Creek Native Commits to Gamecocks

Per TheBigSpur Defensive End/Linebacker Gerald Turner committed to South Carolina today following USC's second scrimmage of the Spring. The Goose Creek, SC native also had offers from Clemson and North Carolina.

Turner was recruited to the Gamecocks by Steve Spurrier Jr. The rising lowcountry senior is a three-star prospect according to 247sports.

Turner becomes the third verbal commitment for USC in the 2013 recruiting cycle and is the second defensive commitment for USC following yesterday's verbal commitment of JUCO Defensive End Alfy Hill.

Go Gamecocks!

JUCO Defensive End Commits to South Carolina

According to Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network and TheBigSpur the Gamecocks received a verbal commitment today from JUCO defensive lineman Alfy Hill. Hill currently plays footbal at Los Angeles Valley Community College in California.

The Shallotte, NC native originally signed with the University of Alabama back in 2010 and participated in a couple of preseason football drills before the NCAA Clearinghouse delared Hill ineligible because of an online high school course.

The 6'5" 270-pounder is hoping to graduate in December of 2012 and enroll at South Carolina in January 2013. The defensive lineman will have two years to play two seasons with the Gamecocks upon acceptance into USC. Hill was a four-star recruit his senior year of high school with more than two dozen offers from SEC, ACC and Big East schools.

Hill becomes the second verbal commitment in the Gamecocks 2013 recruiting class joining Dillon High School OL D.J. Park from Dillon, SC. Park committed to USC back in January.

Go Gamecocks!

The Final "Horn" Blown for Hoops Coach at USC

According to TheBigSpur USC Athletics Director Eric Hyman has relieved USC Head Basketball Coach Darrin Horn of his duties at South Carolina coming on the heels of a 10-21 record, third straight losing season and fourth one-and-done in the SEC Tournament.

A 1:30 press conference has been called for the official announcement by USC.

In four seasons at South Carolina, Horn compiled a 60-63 overall record and 23-45 SEC Conference record. The Gamecocks were 4-26 in their last 30 SEC Conference games. Under Horn, Carolina was 0-4 in the SEC Basketball Tournament.

Coach Horn is currently under contract through March 2015 roughly $800k per season. Based on his contract figures, Horn is owed $2.4 million from USC but IMHO both sides will agree to an amicable divorce and walk away from this situation with both sides feeling good about the buyout.

The search for a new men's basketball coach will begin immediately and the prevailing name will be Wichita State's Greg Marshall, the former Winthrop University basketball coach. Marshall is a Greenwood, SC native and has made his intentions known his desire to coach at USC.

There will be multiple candidates for this job opening and my IMHO Greg Marshall will be one of the first phone calls if not the very first phone call made by Hyman.

I'll post more news as it beomes available.

Go Gamecocks!