The South Carolina Gamecocks are trending up as a program under Will Muschamp, but how are they doing on the recruiting trails? Here is their 2018 class.
Things are looking up for the South Carolina Gamecocks as a football program. It seems that they the right guy coaching them in Will Muschamp. South Carolina has been very competitive in the SEC East during Muschamp’s first two years in Columbia. Even in a rebuilding year for the program, South Carolina was the second best team in the division after the rival Georgia Bulldogs.
South Carolina doesn’t usually dominate recruiting like some of its regional rivals. The Gamecocks do share the same state with another college football power in the ACC’s Clemson Tigers. However, South Carolina is usually able to land a top-25 class most years. So how is 2018 shaping up for Muschamp’s Gamecocks?
According to 247Sports, South Carolina has the No. 19 class in the country and the No. 6 in the SEC. South Carolina trails Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida. They are ahead of programs like Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Muschamp has 21 commitments, 11 of which are early enrollees. Another seven have signed there national letters of intent during the early signing period in December. While the Gamecocks have not landed a five-star, they do have 8 four-stars headlining their impressive class.
Here is the 2018 South Carolina football recruiting class.
2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football recruiting class
Three of South Carolina’s eight four-star recruits have enrolled early. Those guys include dual-threat quarterback Dakereon Joyner (North Charleston, South Carolina), defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (Atlanta) and inside linebacker Rosendo Louis (Deerfield Beach, Florida). Joyner may have to bide his time backing up Jake Bentley under center, so a redshirt could be in play. Enagbare and Louis have better opportunities to play early.
South Carolina’s best prospect is wide receiver Josh Vann from Tucker, Georgia. He is a four-star tight end, as the 13th best tight end in the country, the No. 22 player from Georgia and the No. 178 player nationally. The Gamecocks other top-200 player is offensive tackle Dylan Wonnum, also from Tucker. He is a hard commit, but could be joining his high school teammate Vann in Columbia this fall.
Overall, Muschamp and his staff have put together a well-balanced recruiting class, touching on all bases. Ideally, you’d like to see some more defensive tackles, but this looks to be one of the better recruiting classes South Carolina has had in years. There are a lot of good players that can compete for playing time and contribute early.
Next: Top 25 NFL players from SEC
If they could pull in one player on National Signing Day, that would ideally be four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge from Concord, North Carolina. Sandidge is the No. 6 player from North Carolina, the No. 14 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 141 player nationally. He would be the biggest name South Carolina would sign in this cycle. Though the Gamecocks haven’t hit any home runs in this class, they have wisely navigate this recruiting cycle with some timely singles and doubles. Not bad at all.
Grade: B