| Herald-Journal
Here is a look at the eight players hired by South Carolina during the start of the early signing period on Wednesday. The class is ranked 106th by 247Sports.
Nicholas Barrett, defensive line, 6-3, 329, Goldsboro, NC (Eastern Wayne). The Eastern Wayne High School defensive tackle in Goldsboro, NC … will graduate from high school early and enroll in South Carolina in January … did not play in the fall because North Carolina football postponed its schedule to the spring … has been a starter on the Warriors’ main team since his freshman season … co-captain … collected 66 tackles, including 15 sacks as a junior in 2019 … coached by Leander Oates … is a honor roll student … 247Sports Composite considered him the 48th best candidate in the state of Tar Heel and No. 60 in the country in defensive tackle … Rivals ranked him as the 39th best player in North Carolina.
O’Mega Blake, athlete, 6-1, 188, Rock Hill, SC (South Pointe). Outstanding athlete from South Pointe, a Class 4A high school in Rock Hill, SC … played wide receiver, quarterback and cornerback … ended his senior season with 1,272 total attack yards and a dozen touchdowns for the Stallions , who reached the second round of the AAAA Class playoffs … played 381 yards, ran 182 and picked up 50 passes for 709 yards … picked up 38 passes for 800 yards and carried 39 times for 353 yards as a junior … played mostly in defense when he was a sophomore in 2018, intercepting four passes … coached by ex-Gamecock DeVonte Holloman … also played basketball and ran on track … ranked as the ninth best player in the state of Palmetto, the 108th best country wide receiver en ° 701 overall by 247Sports Composite … Rivals ranked him as the sixth best player in South Carolina and the 30th best “athlete” in the country.
Jordan Davis, offensive line, 6-5, 300, Fairburn, Georgia (Creekside). The offensive line prospect at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia … plans to enroll in South Carolina in January and go through spring exercises … helped the Seminoles move to 7-3 in 2020 and advance to the second Georgia’s AAAAA state playoff round … nominated for AJC’s 5A pre-season state team … coached by Maurice Dixon … considered the 137th best player in the state of Georgia and the 124th best offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports Composite.
Marcellas Dial, defensive back, 5-11, 177, Woodruff, SC (Woodruff / Georgia Military). Junior college defensive back … spent two years at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville … did not play an autumn season in 2020 … plans to enroll in South Carolina in January and go through spring exercises … will have three seasons of eligibility … trained by Bert Williams at the GMC … ranked JUCO’s eighth best cornerback and No. 47 overall by 247Sports Composite … prepared at Woodruff (SC) High School.
Colten Gauthier, quarterback, 6-3, 214, Bethlehem, Ga. (Hebron Christian Academy). The 2021 recruit class defender … plans to graduate in December and enroll in South Carolina in January … executed an “Air Raid” attack at the Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Georgia … trained by Stan Luttrell … played 34 games during his three-year career for Lions, completing 444 of 811 passes for 6,541 yards with 61 touchdowns … also ran for 17 points … as a senior, he went 156 out of 300 passes for 2,052 yards with 22 touchdowns … took his team to a third game played the 2019 state playoffs as a junior, including his first win over Commerce High in 25 years … completed 143 of 252 junior passes for 2,401 yards with 20 touchdowns … was a member of the GACA All-State 2019 team and performed in all regions … completed 145 of 259 passes for 2,088 yards with 19 TDs in the second year in 2018 … also played college baseball … ranked 55th best player in Georgia, the 23rd best player for professional defender in the country and No. 623 overall for the 247Sports Composite… Rivals ranked him as the 26th H-best player in the state and the 13th quarterback of the country’s professional style.
Caleb McDowell, running back, 5-8, 180, Leesburg, Georgia (Lee County). He played running back, receiver, defensive back and kick and punts returned to the Trojans of Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia … helped his team advance in Georgia’s AAAAAA class playoffs … also goes by the name “JuJu “… coached by Dean Fabrizio … considered the 65th player in the state of Georgia, the 47th best running back in the country and the overall number 756, according to the 247Sports Composite … Rivals ranked him as the 70th best player from the state of Peach and the multifunctional No. 13 back to the country.
Jondarius Morgan, offensive line, 6-3, 326, Birmingham, Ala. (Huffman). The prospective customer on the offensive line who prepared at Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama … trained by Bill Smith for the Vikings … could play both guard and tackle on the offensive line … listed on the All- List American from Sports Illustrated High School … considered Alabama’s 51st best player and 107th best offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports Composite … Rivals ranked him as the 56th best player in the state.
Sam Reynolds, wide receiver, 5-8, 170, Alabaster, Ala. (Thompson). The oldest Gamecock appointment for the 2021 class … will graduate from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, in December and enroll in South Carolina in January … played slot receiver, running back, nickel and kicked back … led the Warriors with a perfect 14-0 record and a state champion for the second consecutive year in 2020 … took 36 passes for 380 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … helped his team win the state title of Alabama Class 7A 2019 … coached by Mark Freeman … also a standout on the track that ran 6.93 in the 60 and 10.76 in the 100 meters … ranked the Alabama’s 35th best player, the 126th best wide receiver in the country and No. 872 overall by the 247Sports Composite … Rivals ranked him as the 45th best player in the state.
Player capsules provided by the South Carolina Athletics Department
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