South Carolina has been a favorite of defender Juwon Gaston for several weeks.
But Gaston, a 5-11 and 170-pound security guard from Montgomery, Alabama, got an offer from Auburn last week, and considering the proximity of his home, it was only logical that the Tigers would come in immediately and mess things up with a new USC coach. , Shane Beamer and company.
Gaston offered some tips on that assumption last week.
“I really want to leave the state so I can meet more people, new people,” said Gaston on Thursday. “But I appreciate the opportunity that they (Auburn) gave me. They said they really like me. They like how I play and think I can go to their program and help them ”.
Gaston said he spoke to Beamer by phone on Thursday.
“He was making sure that I was still locked up with them and stuff, and that I still felt good about the team,” said Gaston. “He was telling me about the new strength and conditioning coach. I hear about them every day. “
Gaston said he has a connection from Zoom to the USC team on Tuesday.
“I’m feeling great about South Carolina,” said Gaston. “I’m feeling really good about them. They are still number one. They are still my favorites. They recruited me the same way since they volunteered. They are big favorites. “
Gaston had Tennessee and South Alabama on his list, but with the change of coach in Knoxville, he said the Vols are no longer being considered. He plans to wait until the Signature Day next month to announce his decision, but he will privately commit to his choice before that.
It was a few monumental days for quarterback Cade Klubnik (class of 2022) from Austin, Texas. First, he led his Westlake High team for a second consecutive state championship. Then more offers arrived, including one from Texas A&M, his parents’ alma mater, and another from the state of Florida. It also has offers from Texas, Auburn, Arizona, the State of Arizona, Baylor, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, the State of Mississippi and others.
Clemson continues to show a very strong interest in Klubnik. He and quarterback coach Brandon Streeter have spoken several times in the past few weeks. Klubnik has not yet received an offer, but is optimistic.
“With luck,” said Klubnik. “I was on the phone with the entire offensive team on Tuesday. It’s going very well. I think they like me more and more each week. They really liked the way I played in the past few weeks. Obviously, they love my game, for sure. “
Klubnik and his family visited Clemson in October, and an offer from the Tigers was one he coveted as part of his recruitment process. The fact that he still hasn’t received any did not detract from his feelings about the program.
“I like them very much,” said Klubnik. “I’m not in a hurry anyway. We’re just talking every week. This is kind of like that. Just continuing to build the relationship. “
Texas A&M’s offer was special.
“Very happy about it,” said Klubnik. “A&M is very young. I haven’t talked to them a ton. They kind of took action. We’ll see with that. “
Klubnik said Clemson, Auburn, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M and TCU are just a few of the schools he has been talking to regularly and is still open to all his offers and other interested parties.
Leading his team to the state title this season, Klubnik passed more than 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. He completed 62 percent of his passes with just three interceptions. He also ran for 15 touchdowns.
One week to go before National Signature Day, and USC target Trevin Wallace, a 6-2 £ 217 linebacker, went into chill recruiting mode. Boston College’s old commitment is not to sweat the decision because it is practically made. So he has spent more time talking to his family and less time talking to recruiters.
He hears from USC coach Shane Beamer via text message almost every day. Just a word or two of inspiration. Wallace said it has been a while since he last spoke to a Gamecock recruiter.
The others you’ve heard of are Auburn, Kentucky, Illinois and Ole Miss.
“My plan is to make everyone sit and wait without understanding,” said Wallace. “I’m sitting in disguise now.”
Wallace said he had Zoom sessions with coaches from USC, Auburn, Tennessee and LSU. He is a 4-star recruit at 247Sports Composite. He is classified as the No. 13 internal linebacker nationally.
Wide receiver Jordan Mosley of Mobile, Alabama, who has been a target of the USC, has withdrawn from Tennessee. Mosley is classified as a potential 4-star customer on the 247Sports Composite and is ranked as the No. 52 receiver nationally in the 2021 class. This season, he had 31 receptions for 635 yards and eight touchdowns.
The only USC target cornerback, Dontae Balfour, from Starke, Florida, received the three finalists from Auburn, LSU and North Carolina.
The tight end of western Florence, Dylan Snyder, has committed to the Citadel.
Spartanburg kicker Will Fowler has committed himself to South Florida.
AC Flora quarterback Ethan Beamish bet on Limestone.
Spring Valley defender John Javis has committed to West Point.
Abbeville linebacker Luke Evans has made a commitment to Coastal Carolina.
Camden Security Joseph Byrnes accepted USC’s preferred walk-on offer.
Cooper Dawson, a former Hanahan defender, is moving from Syracuse to Charleston Southern.
The Clemson 2022 target, QB Ty Simpson from Martin, Tennessee, was offered by Notre Dame.
Cornerman Domani Jackson of Santa Ana, California, who had an offer from Clemson, committed to Southern Cal.
Leesburg High School, Georgia, has been a breeding ground for USC recruitment in recent years. Former safety Jammie Robinson came from Leesburg, and striker Caleb McDowell starred there last season. The Gamecocks returned to Leesburg with some 2022 offers, one for safety Jaron Willis and the other for tight end Tyrus Washington.
Gamecock’s new technical team recently made the offer to Washington. Tight team coach Erik Kimrey, running back coach Des Kitchings and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield are the ones in contact and developing the relationship with Washington.
“The relationship is very strong. I like that, ”said Washington. “I have been talking to the tight end coach, the running back coach and the offensive coordinator. I can separate and be like a wide receiver, and go down and hit the big boys, block the defensive line attackers. “
Washington, which recently withdrew from the state of NC, said Coastal Carolina, Cincinnati, USF and Arkansas are some of the other schools he has heard a lot about. He already has offers from Georgia Tech, Pitt, Ole Miss, Boston College, Charlotte, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Troy. Washington wants to make its decision ahead of its senior season and he will sign in December.
Defensive discharge Mykel Williams (6-5, 255) from Columbus, Georgia, is a four-star contender in the class of 2022. He is classified as the 4th defensive outfit nationally. He recently reduced his long list of offers to 10 and set March 15 as an appointment date.
Clemson made the cut, USC did not. Defense coach Lemanski Hall is handling Clemson’s recruitment for Williams, and the two seem to be building a solid relationship.
“(Hall) said he loved my movie and can’t wait to take me to campus,” said Williams. “I talk to Coach Hall every week. It’s been great, just getting to know each other. He likes how I am knowledgeable, how I am and how I play. How well I play with my hands, and how I could weigh 100 to 60 kg and be hit by attackers with speed and still come with force. And my work ethic.
“As a player, I am a hardworking and humble guy who will come in and make a better program.”
Williams is coming out of a junior season in which he had 69 tackles, 19 loss tackles, 17 sacks and forced 5 fumbles.
Clemson offered the 5-star defensive end Jeremiah Alexander of Alabaster, Alabama. He’s a former Alabama pledge. USC also offered it to him. This season, he had 119 tackles with 25 loss tackles and nine sacks.
USC offered Houston wide receiver Noah Thomas (6-5, 187). He was rated 3 stars in the 247Sports Composite and placed 70th nationally for the 2022 class. This season, he had 40 receptions for 883 yards and seven touchdowns. Some of its other offerings are Penn State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Cal, Colorado, Arkansas, Houston and Tennessee.
Five-star defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (6-3, 275) from Lakeland, Florida, has USC and Clemson in their top 11. The others are Florida, Nebraska, Southern Cal, Texas A&M, USF, Ohio State, Pitt, Oklahoma and LSU.
Basketball
USC is one of the schools that contacted Texas Tech 6-4 transfer shot guard Nimari Burnett. The freshman has played 12 games this season with an average of 17 minutes and five points per game. Ryan McMullen of Zagsblog.com. reported that some of the other schools that had contact are Arkansas, Oregon, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Dayton, Missouri, Maryland, Wake Forest, DePaul, Marquette and Minnesota.
Former Lower Richland highlight 6-6 Quenton Flood committed to Austin Peay. He’s at Sunrise Christian in Wichita.