| USA TODAY Sports Network Special – South Carolina
As you can expect, after Will Muschamp’s resignation 15 days ago, the 2021 recruiting class for South Carolina is falling apart.
There were six decommitments. Two have already pledged elsewhere: safety Jayden Johnson for Arkansas and linebacker Trenilyas Tatum for Georgia Tech.
Linebacker Bryce Steele of Raleigh, NC, was one of those who announced a withdrawal last week.
“In the beginning, that was the school of my dreams,” said Steele. “I committed to Muschamp and his team in April and was looking forward to playing there. It was really sad to see coach Muschamp get fired. … Coach (Mike) Bobo is the interim coach, but at the moment there is no coach named. I sign up soon, and I thought it best to reopen my recruitment.
“I think it is difficult to build a relationship with the head coach, and South Carolina is unlikely to find a new coach until the end of the season. So, it leaves me about a week to try to establish a good relationship with him. That would be difficult for me to do. “
South Carolina fires football coach Will Muschamp seven games in his fifth season
Gamecocks are deeply involved in their search for coaching with interviews taking place. Sports director Ray Tanner has set the goal of having a coach on the pitch at least a week before Signature Day, which is December 16. As far as Steele is concerned, the sooner the better for Gamecocks if they want a real chance at him again.
“I always wanted to go to South Carolina, but the change of coach left me out of the way,” said Steele. “If the new head coach is hired soon, my family and I will be open to learn about the new head coach and see where he is.”
Steele said he is currently focused on Boston College, NC State, Michigan State and Texas.
Price listening to USC, but looking elsewhere
Wide receiver Simeon Price of Pensacola, Florida, had another disengagement last week, although he still keeps Gamecocks on his short list. He just wants to see what happens with the search for coaching and with some other opportunities coming his way.
“Before putting it on Twitter, I called Coach (Bobby) Bentley to talk a little bit,” said Price. “I told him about the uncertainty I had about who they can bring and how long it can take. I just wanted to open things up and make sure that I’m looking at all of my options going forward. “
Price said Bentley couldn’t give him any hard and fast answers about who or when.
“He said maybe a few weeks. He didn’t tell me a precise schedule because he didn’t know, and that’s totally understandable, ”said Price. “He just said that as soon as they got one, he would let me know. And he told me that my offer is still under discussion with South Carolina. ”
More: South Carolina has an intense secondary focus to take Kevin Harris 1,000 yards in Kentucky
Price will have many good opportunities as he progresses through the process. It wasn’t long after the news that Muschamp was fired on November 15, other schools started looking for Price, who this season played receiver, running back, safety and corner.
“Almost immediately, when news broke that Coach Muschamp had been fired, the State of Mississippi immediately texted me, and Tennessee and Georgia Tech, among others,” said Price. “Clemson, I talked a little bit with coach (Mike) Reed, their singing coach. It would be a way forward. … He just told me that, due to my size (6 feet, 204 pounds) and attack ability, I would be able to fit into their program. “
Price said the schools he listens to most regularly at the moment are USC, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Mississippi State. It also has offers from Boston College, Louisville, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Michigan State and Indiana. Price, who also runs tracks, said he would not sign until February.
USC recruitment rumors
► As for Gamecock’s other disengagements, the defensive tip George Wilson was offered by Florida State, Boston College and Auburn, and wide receiver Rodarius Thomas did not add any new offers.
► Defensive tip Byron Young (6-3 240) from Georgia Military JC and Carvers Bay, but now living in Columbus, Georgia, said he has heard of USC defense technician Mike Peterson since the shooting of Muschamp, but is not close to a decision.
“They are going to hire a new coach and team and I don’t know how that will work in my favor,” said Young of USC. “I am not very inclined towards them. I focused on Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Missouri and Mississippi. “
Young, who visited Auburn a week ago, said he plans to sign on December 16, so he is considering making his decision about a week earlier. Young said he would be open to talking to the new Gamecock coach if he is hired before making his decision.
► Cornerback Damarius McGhee of Pensacola, who has an offer from the USC, has withdrawn from Tennessee.
Foreman visits Clemson
The five-star defensive tip Korey Foreman (6-4, 260) from Corona, California, who was engaged to Clemson for about three months in early 2020, returned to campus last weekend for the Pitt game.
Foreman’s senior season in California has moved to spring, but he is graduating and signing in December, so he won’t be playing. Without football this fall, he had time to travel and has been to Georgia and LSU.
Foreman told Adam Gorney of Rivals, prior to Clemson’s visit, that he still has a lot to consider with his recruitment.
“The trip is not over yet. We still have how many days we have until Signature Day to see where I will land, ”said Foreman. “Love was never lost to Clemson. They do everything right with me, me and my family, let’s see how far they go. I just want to see the environment one last time: is this where I want to commit again? Is this a place I’m really considering? Let’s see some things and vibe out there. “
Foreman, of course, is a special talent. But Clemson is not thin in his position. Tigers were placed on the defensive end in the last recruiting classes. Foreman is aware that competition for playing time at Clemson would be fierce, but that does not discourage him.
“Clemson has a lot of players. They have wonderful players, really, ”said Foreman. “They are standing out now. All my dogs, I met them at the opening. God bless you, and I hope God takes you and your talents as far as they can. I can’t say too many bad things about Clemson. God bless everyone up there. “
Georgia, LSU, Southern Cal, Oregon and Arizona State are the schools that Foreman listed with Clemson as the ones he is focused on in the final weeks of his recruitment.
Clemson recruiting rumors
► Domani Jackson (6-1 185), classified as the country’s No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2022 and the No. 1 cornerback in California, revealed his last six as Clemson, Arizona State, Michigan, Ohio State, Southern Cal and Oklahoma.
Jackson, from Santa Ana, has been talking to Clemson cornerback coach Mike Reed. He recently paid a prepaid visit to Michigan. Jackson had 48 tackles with one interception and nine pass breaks as a second year. His junior season will be played in the spring.
► Jaheim Singletary of Jacksonville, Florida, a 2022-class cornerback who has Clemson in the top 9, plans to announce his engagement on January 2. The others on his list are Ohio State, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Miami and LSU.
► 2022 WR Caleb Burton, a class 2022 wide receiver from De Valle, Texas, who was a target of Clemson, committed to the state of Ohio. He is classified as the number 1 recipient candidate nationally in the class.