South Carolina football has been synonymous with success for much of Steve Spurrier’s time in Columbia. The team had three straight 11-2 seasons from 2011-2013, but suffered through a disappointing 2014 season. Winning football games didn’t come by accident. The biggest reason for success was an incredible run on the recruiting front. The likes of Stephon Gilmore, Jadeveon Clowney and Marcus Lattimore propelled those South Carolina teams to new heights. Here’s an update on the 2015 class and an early glance at the future of South Carolina football.
Expectations for the Gamecocks were sky-high before the 2014 season, being picked as favorites to win the SEC East, and their newest recruiting class reflected that hype around Columbia. The 2015 class has suffered greatly since then though, and seven commits have decided to go to school elsewhere. Despite losing those seven, the Gamecocks still have an impressive class. ESPN has ranked it as the sixteenth-best in the nation, and Rivals has the class at thirteen.
Steve Spurrier Jr., South Carolina’s recruiting coordinator, has his work cut out for him in the next few weeks before National Signing Day. The Gamecocks currently have 27 commits in their class, and it’s crucial that they keep all of them. Three players have already signed their letters of intent. Four star defensive end Marquavius Lewis is joined by three star recruits Ernest Hawkins and Ulric Jones. DB Maurice Smitherman has had the eye of Spurrier Jr., but is firmly committed to Mississippi State.
Dexter Wideman, a four star recruit from Camden Military Academy is enrolling early and looks to make an immediate impact for the Gamecocks. The defensive tackle is expected to help shore up a defensive line that had an incredibly poor 2014 season. The defense as a whole had an atrocious 2014 season, and this class will need to step up to help turn that unit around. Six of the four star recruits from the class are on the defensive side of the ball.
Since the last player dropping, there really hasn’t been too much movement on the recruiting side of things. Steve Spurrier has changed his stance on retiring in the next two years which will make recruits feel better, but the Gamecocks will have to work hard in the next few weeks to secure a great class.
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