Making A Dinner Reservation: Assessing USC's Chances With Some Top Prospects
posted by Scott Hood, Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Lawing has been a college football coach for almost 30 years and has recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of prospects.
So, I sat up and paid attention when he compared a commitment in today’s world of college football recruiting to a dinner reservation.
Translation: a verbal commitment means a player may or may not sign with the particular school he’s pledged to.
After watching and following recruiting for a few years now, there are two concrete rules I faithfully follow when it comes to 17 and 18 year old boys: 1) it isn’t over ‘til it’s over and 2) never say never. As a result, until ink hits paper on Feb. 3, USC’s chances with any prospect are less than 100 percent and greater than zero. Anything in between is fair game.
So, when I watched Manning (S.C.) CB John Fulton put on an Alabama hat Saturday at the Under Armour game in St. Petersburg, Fla., I flashed back to a year ago and recalled that WR Alshon Jeffery was committed to Southern Cal until the last minute.
Then, when I heard Sharrif Floyd had dropped USC from consideration, I didn’t keel over as if someone had kicked me in the stomach. At least not yet anyways.
There’s still a month until Signing Day. And, as we‘ve found out in recent years, 30 days is an eternity in recruiting. Someone’s three-star prospect one day can be someone else’s four-star phenom the next.
We’ve already been treated/forced to endure/subjected to a steady stream of prospects parading in front of the cameras and announcing in one form or other which college colors they intend to play their football for.
With the ever-growing influence of the internet and TV, recruiting sometimes feels like a never-ending theatrical production with all the props and well-rehearsed lines.
But I digress.
Some Gamecock fans were, without a doubt, thrown into panic by Fulton’s decision to verbally commit to Alabama. Shane Beamer and the USC staff worked their magic in crunch time last year with Jeffery. Can they do the same thing with Fulton? Maybe, maybe not.
Ultimately, Fulton’s decision will come down to how much loyalty he has for his home state. Jeffery switched to the Gamecocks because he wanted to stay closer to home and help USC climb the SEC ladder. Will Fulton feel the same urge?
Remember, USC still hasn’t had their big recruiting weekend. That’s supposed to occur Jan. 15-17. USC has a home basketball game against Vanderbilt on Sat. Jan. 16. You can be assured every recruit will attend that game, and they’ll certainly be paying attention to the atmosphere.
Believe me, trying to predict what high school boys will do is exceptionally difficult. But, at the risk of being wrong, I’ll take a stab at it. After careful consideration, here is how I rate USC’s chances of signing some of the top prospects left on their board, in no particular order:
Marcus Lattimore (RB): The top prize. USC is still the favorite despite overtures from schools like Auburn, Oregon and Penn State. Some recruiting analysts will tell you Lattimore has been a lock for the Gamecocks for some time. He’s supposed to announce Feb. 2, the day before National Signing Day, at his church in Spartanburg. USC chances: 80 Percent.
Ace Sanders (WR): Rivals.com described him recently as “currently one of the most coveted offensive recruits from the Sunshine State.” He is set to visit USC on Jan. 22. Assistant G.A. Mangus is scheduled for a visit later this week. The chief competition will come from South Florida and West Virginia. Right now, USC has a good chance to land him. USC’s chances: 50 Percent.
Jeremy Deering (S): Although he is listed as a 6-foot-2 safety from Tampa, USC is talking with him about playing slot receiver. He is scheduled for an official visit to USC on Jan. 15. Mangus will visit him on Thursday. He’s visiting Florida State this weekend and Rutgers on Jan. 22. He might be hard to pull out of the Sunshine State. USC’s chances: 30 Percent.
Kadron Boone (WR): His recruiting went into overdrive when Mike Leach was fired as head coach at Texas Tech. He claims he’s still committed to the Red Raiders. USC is maneuvering for a visit but right now it’s unlikely he ends up in Columbia. USC Chances: 10 Percent.
Mychal Rivera (TE): A former Oregon player, the 6-foot-4 prospect is attending College of the Canyons JC in California. He had a home visit with Jeep Hunter Monday night and claims they clicked. He has set an official visit with USC for the big recruiting weekend of Jan. 15-17. He also plans to visit Kansas State and Utah State. Considering the competition, I like USC’s chances in this battle. USC’s Chances: 60 Percent.
Kegan Funderburk (DE): USC likes the 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end very much but grades could be a problem. If he qualifies, USC has a great shot to sign him. He impressed some observers at the Shrine Bowl with his skills. Right now, Rivals.com lists his only offers as Michigan State and Wisconsin. Will USC sign and place? They might. USC’s Chances: 70 Percent.
Morgan Moses (OL): USC’s chances with the nation’s No. 6 prep school prospect depend on whether Moses qualifies for early enrollment in January. If he does, he will sign with Florida or Virginia. If he doesn’t, USC has a chance to land him. So, it really comes down to academics. And, he has to hit it off with new O-Line coach Shawn Elliott. That’s a lot of questions for an elite prospect. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
Victor Hampton (DB): He’s been impressing coaches and teammates this week at the U.S. Army All-American Game. Rivals.com described him as the “most consistent cornerback” in pre-game workouts. USC has positioned itself nicely with the four-star prospect and the 11th best player in South Carolina. The other major contenders for Hampton are Tennessee and North Carolina. But Rivals.com wrote he is “very likely” to pick the Gamecocks. USC’s Chances: 70 Percent.
John Fulton (DB): His commitment to Alabama isn’t too surprising considering he’s been saying positive things about the Crimson Tide for several months. But it’s still a shock to see an elite player from the Palmetto State leave and go somewhere else, especially a school in the SEC West. However, rest assured USC won’t give up and will try to turn him before Signing Day. They were successful with Jeffery last year. It’s a small chance, but it’s a chance. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
J.R. Ferguson (DL): USC’s chances with the elite defensive line prospect don’t look good right now. He’s already visited LSU, Notre Dame and California. He is supposed to visit Oklahoma on Jan. 22. He told Rivals.com a couple of days ago at the U.S. Army All-America game in San Antonio that the fifth and final visit will be to Miami, Florida State or UCLA. Unless Ferguson visits USC, they have no shot. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Kyle Woestmann (DT): He committed to Vanderbilt in June after giving USC some consideration. But the Commodores’ poor season has given him pause. He has a home visit with Mangus scheduled for Wednesday and an official visit to USC firmed up for Jan. 22. With Shariff Floyd and J.R. Ferguson likely out of the picture, USC will put the full-court press on to turn him towards Columbia. USC’s Chances: 50 Percent.
Tavaris Barnes (DT): He committed to Florida State last June and now that the Bobby Bowden situation has been resolved, it appears he will stick with the Seminoles after wavering for a time. USC could be one school he looks at when he decommits. But that probably won’t happen. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Sharrif Floyd (DT): He is supposed to announce Saturday at the U.S. Army All-America Game in San Antonio. His final three schools are reportedly Ohio State, Florida and North Carolina with the Buckeyes as the favorite. But he wrote today in his diary that USC is still in the running as one of his Final Four. So, there's still some hope. If you’re wondering how the Buckeyes were able to leapfrog to the front after months of doing a good job of ignoring Floyd, you’re not alone. G.A. Mangus put forth a valiant effort for a year to keep USC in the mix but, right now, it looks like he will fall short. However, remember that it’s never over ‘til it’s over, even after Saturday's announcement. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Justin Parker (LB): Most recruiting analysts are skeptical of his recent comments that LSU is the current leader after months of saying USC was in front. Heck, even his coach acknowledged the Gamecocks are the leader. He’s also seriously considering Clemson and is scheduled for an official visit to the Upstate this weekend. Right now, those are the main schools in contention. He will visit LSU on Jan. 22 and Georgia Tech on Jan. 29. He took his official to USC in November for the Florida game. USC’s Chances: 60 Percent.
Kendall Moore (LB): He flirted with USC last summer (he made multiple unofficial visits to Columbia) before finally committing to Notre Dame. However, the ouster of head coach Charlie Weis has the Raleigh, SC native looking around. Brad Lawing has been after this guy for a while and is trying to get him to visit on Jan. 15. He’s been offered by most ACC and several SEC schools. If USC can convince him to visit, they have good shot. Until then, it’s unlikely he’ll be a Gamecock. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
Eric Mack (OL): Gamecock Nation was thrown into a panic when he was photographed wearing an Auburn hat over the weekend. But now it appears it was a cruel joke by someone connected with a Tigers web site. I was confident all it would take to smooth things over was a visit from new OL coach Shawn Elliott. Elliott met with Mack on Monday along with Shane Beamer and RB coach Jay Graham. Sure enough, Mack exited the meeting still committed to USC with an official visit planned to Columbia for Jan. 15-17. Considering he has a infant child in Orangeburg, he’s unlikely to leave the state. USC’s chances: 90 Percent.
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Without question, one of the best comments I’ve ever heard about recruiting was uttered by South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing in Union, SC last April.
Lawing has been a college football coach for almost 30 years and has recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of prospects.
So, I sat up and paid attention when he compared a commitment in today’s world of college football recruiting to a dinner reservation.
Translation: a verbal commitment means a player may or may not sign with the particular school he’s pledged to.
After watching and following recruiting for a few years now, there are two concrete rules I faithfully follow when it comes to 17 and 18 year old boys: 1) it isn’t over ‘til it’s over and 2) never say never. As a result, until ink hits paper on Feb. 3, USC’s chances with any prospect are less than 100 percent and greater than zero. Anything in between is fair game.
So, when I watched Manning (S.C.) CB John Fulton put on an Alabama hat Saturday at the Under Armour game in St. Petersburg, Fla., I flashed back to a year ago and recalled that WR Alshon Jeffery was committed to Southern Cal until the last minute.
Then, when I heard Sharrif Floyd had dropped USC from consideration, I didn’t keel over as if someone had kicked me in the stomach. At least not yet anyways.
There’s still a month until Signing Day. And, as we‘ve found out in recent years, 30 days is an eternity in recruiting. Someone’s three-star prospect one day can be someone else’s four-star phenom the next.
We’ve already been treated/forced to endure/subjected to a steady stream of prospects parading in front of the cameras and announcing in one form or other which college colors they intend to play their football for.
With the ever-growing influence of the internet and TV, recruiting sometimes feels like a never-ending theatrical production with all the props and well-rehearsed lines.
But I digress.
Some Gamecock fans were, without a doubt, thrown into panic by Fulton’s decision to verbally commit to Alabama. Shane Beamer and the USC staff worked their magic in crunch time last year with Jeffery. Can they do the same thing with Fulton? Maybe, maybe not.
Ultimately, Fulton’s decision will come down to how much loyalty he has for his home state. Jeffery switched to the Gamecocks because he wanted to stay closer to home and help USC climb the SEC ladder. Will Fulton feel the same urge?
Remember, USC still hasn’t had their big recruiting weekend. That’s supposed to occur Jan. 15-17. USC has a home basketball game against Vanderbilt on Sat. Jan. 16. You can be assured every recruit will attend that game, and they’ll certainly be paying attention to the atmosphere.
Believe me, trying to predict what high school boys will do is exceptionally difficult. But, at the risk of being wrong, I’ll take a stab at it. After careful consideration, here is how I rate USC’s chances of signing some of the top prospects left on their board, in no particular order:
Marcus Lattimore (RB): The top prize. USC is still the favorite despite overtures from schools like Auburn, Oregon and Penn State. Some recruiting analysts will tell you Lattimore has been a lock for the Gamecocks for some time. He’s supposed to announce Feb. 2, the day before National Signing Day, at his church in Spartanburg. USC chances: 80 Percent.
Ace Sanders (WR): Rivals.com described him recently as “currently one of the most coveted offensive recruits from the Sunshine State.” He is set to visit USC on Jan. 22. Assistant G.A. Mangus is scheduled for a visit later this week. The chief competition will come from South Florida and West Virginia. Right now, USC has a good chance to land him. USC’s chances: 50 Percent.
Jeremy Deering (S): Although he is listed as a 6-foot-2 safety from Tampa, USC is talking with him about playing slot receiver. He is scheduled for an official visit to USC on Jan. 15. Mangus will visit him on Thursday. He’s visiting Florida State this weekend and Rutgers on Jan. 22. He might be hard to pull out of the Sunshine State. USC’s chances: 30 Percent.
Kadron Boone (WR): His recruiting went into overdrive when Mike Leach was fired as head coach at Texas Tech. He claims he’s still committed to the Red Raiders. USC is maneuvering for a visit but right now it’s unlikely he ends up in Columbia. USC Chances: 10 Percent.
Mychal Rivera (TE): A former Oregon player, the 6-foot-4 prospect is attending College of the Canyons JC in California. He had a home visit with Jeep Hunter Monday night and claims they clicked. He has set an official visit with USC for the big recruiting weekend of Jan. 15-17. He also plans to visit Kansas State and Utah State. Considering the competition, I like USC’s chances in this battle. USC’s Chances: 60 Percent.
Kegan Funderburk (DE): USC likes the 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end very much but grades could be a problem. If he qualifies, USC has a great shot to sign him. He impressed some observers at the Shrine Bowl with his skills. Right now, Rivals.com lists his only offers as Michigan State and Wisconsin. Will USC sign and place? They might. USC’s Chances: 70 Percent.
Morgan Moses (OL): USC’s chances with the nation’s No. 6 prep school prospect depend on whether Moses qualifies for early enrollment in January. If he does, he will sign with Florida or Virginia. If he doesn’t, USC has a chance to land him. So, it really comes down to academics. And, he has to hit it off with new O-Line coach Shawn Elliott. That’s a lot of questions for an elite prospect. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
Victor Hampton (DB): He’s been impressing coaches and teammates this week at the U.S. Army All-American Game. Rivals.com described him as the “most consistent cornerback” in pre-game workouts. USC has positioned itself nicely with the four-star prospect and the 11th best player in South Carolina. The other major contenders for Hampton are Tennessee and North Carolina. But Rivals.com wrote he is “very likely” to pick the Gamecocks. USC’s Chances: 70 Percent.
John Fulton (DB): His commitment to Alabama isn’t too surprising considering he’s been saying positive things about the Crimson Tide for several months. But it’s still a shock to see an elite player from the Palmetto State leave and go somewhere else, especially a school in the SEC West. However, rest assured USC won’t give up and will try to turn him before Signing Day. They were successful with Jeffery last year. It’s a small chance, but it’s a chance. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
J.R. Ferguson (DL): USC’s chances with the elite defensive line prospect don’t look good right now. He’s already visited LSU, Notre Dame and California. He is supposed to visit Oklahoma on Jan. 22. He told Rivals.com a couple of days ago at the U.S. Army All-America game in San Antonio that the fifth and final visit will be to Miami, Florida State or UCLA. Unless Ferguson visits USC, they have no shot. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Kyle Woestmann (DT): He committed to Vanderbilt in June after giving USC some consideration. But the Commodores’ poor season has given him pause. He has a home visit with Mangus scheduled for Wednesday and an official visit to USC firmed up for Jan. 22. With Shariff Floyd and J.R. Ferguson likely out of the picture, USC will put the full-court press on to turn him towards Columbia. USC’s Chances: 50 Percent.
Tavaris Barnes (DT): He committed to Florida State last June and now that the Bobby Bowden situation has been resolved, it appears he will stick with the Seminoles after wavering for a time. USC could be one school he looks at when he decommits. But that probably won’t happen. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Sharrif Floyd (DT): He is supposed to announce Saturday at the U.S. Army All-America Game in San Antonio. His final three schools are reportedly Ohio State, Florida and North Carolina with the Buckeyes as the favorite. But he wrote today in his diary that USC is still in the running as one of his Final Four. So, there's still some hope. If you’re wondering how the Buckeyes were able to leapfrog to the front after months of doing a good job of ignoring Floyd, you’re not alone. G.A. Mangus put forth a valiant effort for a year to keep USC in the mix but, right now, it looks like he will fall short. However, remember that it’s never over ‘til it’s over, even after Saturday's announcement. USC’s Chances: 10 Percent.
Justin Parker (LB): Most recruiting analysts are skeptical of his recent comments that LSU is the current leader after months of saying USC was in front. Heck, even his coach acknowledged the Gamecocks are the leader. He’s also seriously considering Clemson and is scheduled for an official visit to the Upstate this weekend. Right now, those are the main schools in contention. He will visit LSU on Jan. 22 and Georgia Tech on Jan. 29. He took his official to USC in November for the Florida game. USC’s Chances: 60 Percent.
Kendall Moore (LB): He flirted with USC last summer (he made multiple unofficial visits to Columbia) before finally committing to Notre Dame. However, the ouster of head coach Charlie Weis has the Raleigh, SC native looking around. Brad Lawing has been after this guy for a while and is trying to get him to visit on Jan. 15. He’s been offered by most ACC and several SEC schools. If USC can convince him to visit, they have good shot. Until then, it’s unlikely he’ll be a Gamecock. USC’s Chances: 20 Percent.
Eric Mack (OL): Gamecock Nation was thrown into a panic when he was photographed wearing an Auburn hat over the weekend. But now it appears it was a cruel joke by someone connected with a Tigers web site. I was confident all it would take to smooth things over was a visit from new OL coach Shawn Elliott. Elliott met with Mack on Monday along with Shane Beamer and RB coach Jay Graham. Sure enough, Mack exited the meeting still committed to USC with an official visit planned to Columbia for Jan. 15-17. Considering he has a infant child in Orangeburg, he’s unlikely to leave the state. USC’s chances: 90 Percent.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.