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We’re 24 hours away from the most important day in America for fax machines — and college football programs — National Signing Day. What used to be a low-key event for only the hardest of hardcore fans has turned into a day-long spectacle, complete with hat dances, late drama and enough stars to fill a planetarium.
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Will Muschamp and his staff have covered a lot of ground on the recruiting trail since taking on the task of rebuilding South Carolina’s football program, and with about a six-week window with which to work (factoring in dead periods), this is a class that’s in pretty good shape.
Losing four-star junior-college running back — and former Alabama recruit — Tyren Jones to academics is a blow, but on the eve of Signing Day, the Gamecocks have already filled most of their most pressing needs in this class.
Brandon McIlwain, who’s off to a hot start as a college baseball player, will compete for the quarterback job, Bryan Edwards and Kiel Pollard should provide immediate help at receiver and a small army of defensive end prospects (at least five) should provide a boost at a problem position.
There’s still plenty of drama for South Carolina on Wednesday as nine players who have the Gamecocks among their final choices will announce their decisions on television throughout the day.
SOUTH CAROLINA’S 2016 RECRUITING CLASS
National Rank: 32
SEC Rank: 10
No. of commitments: 22 (Javon Kinlaw is still listed, but will be attending a junior college in 2016)
No. of commitments by Rating: 3 four-stars, 18 three-stars and 1 two-star
Top incoming offensive players: Four-star QB Brandon McIlwain, four-star WR Bryan Edwards, three-star WR Kiel Pollard
Top incoming defensive players: Four-star CB JaMarcus King, three-star DE Keir Thomas, three-star DE Darius Whitfield
Primary remaining targets: Four-star DT Karomo Dioubate, four-star DT Stephon Taylor and three-star WR Korey Banks
Best-case scenario: The Gamecocks have a shot at nine players, including the three targets listed above, who will announce their decision on Signing Day. An already impressive class (if you consider how quickly a new staff put it together) would become all the more so if a few of the announcements break South Carolina’s way.
VERBAL COMMITS
Kiel Pollard WR, 3 stars
Rico Dowdle RB, 3 stars
Darius Whitfield DE, 3 stars
Evan Hinson TE, 3 stars
Akeem Cooperwood T, 3 stars
Sadarius Hutcherson DE, 3 stars
TJ Brunson LB, 3 stars
Chavis Dawkins WR, 3 stars
Robert Tucker LB, 3 stars
Pete Leota T, 3 stars
Dennis Wonnum DE, 3 stars
Diondre Champaigne WR, 3 stars
Will Putnam T, 3 stars
Lloyd Cushenberry G, 3 stars
Griffin Gentry DE, 2 stars
2016 RECRUITS
Brandon McIlwain QB, 4 stars (enrolled)
Bryan Edwards WR, 4 stars (enrolled)
JaMarcus King CB, 4 stars (signed NLI)
Keir Thomas DE, 3 stars (enrolled)
CJ Freeman RB, 3 stars (enrolled)
Kobe Smith DT, 3 stars (enrolled)
Chris Smith CB, 3 stars (enrolled)
Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to the 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.
Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.
