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South Carolina’s 2015 season didn’t turn out very well for a number of reasons.
One reason was a lack of success — and luck — on the recruiting trail. For their Week 3 trip to Georgia, the Gamecocks had seven players in their two-deep that were either former or current walk-ons. You can praise the work ethic of those players, as Steve Spurrier chose to do, or you can wonder why the players signing letters of intent aren’t filling those spots.
A little more punch on the defensive line would have been nice. In 2015, the Gamecocks had the worst defense in the SEC — in large part because it finished last against the run. Those issues start up front, and the new coaching staff has six defensive linemen committed in their first class.
One player that could have helped last season was Shameik Blackshear.
Despite tearing an ACL during his senior season at Bluffton (S.C.) High, Blackshear was a four-star recruit and the 10th best defensive end prospect in the nation who spurned offers from Georgia, LSU and Clemson to attend South Carolina.
He got into two games this season and made two tackles before the coaching staff decided to redshirt him. He wasn’t happy and he took to Twitter in October to voice his displeasure, second-guessing his decision to attend the school.
Then, things went from bad to worse for him in December, when he was shot twice at a Columbia apartment complex.
The book is not closed on Blackshear, however, as he is expected to resume his career and the new coaching staff seems open to him doing so.
“He’s doing well,” coach Will Muschamp said. “I talked to him a couple days ago. He seems to be doing well … Right now his health is the most important thing. I want to visit with him a little bit and go forward with (his future).”
As for the man himself, in only his second tweet since the October dust-up, he seems excited once again to be part of the program:
When we take off (🐔🏈 ) dont hop on the train💯
— Shameik Blackshear (@Gwopo_7) December 16, 2015
He faces rehab from his injuries, a crop of returning linemen and a host of newcomers at the position as obstacles to ever becoming a difference maker at South Carolina.
That puts him in a unique position — a recruiting miss that still has a chance to fulfill his potential.
Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.
