May 17, 2012

SportsTalk Rewind 07.31.09

We’re back!  Here’s tonight’s recruiting report by Mr. Kornblut.

Humphries to transfer

Barry Humphries is no longer a member of the Clemson football team, Head Coach Dabo Swinney announced on Friday. Humphries intends to transfer to another school for his final year of eligibility this fall.”I would like to be a starter in my final year of college and it would be very difficult for that to be the case at Clemson this year,” said Humphries. “With my suspension for the first two games I was not going to get a lot of action in preseason camp, and it was going to be difficult to get in the mix as a starter. So, I plan to transfer to a school where I might have the opportunity to get a starting position.”

Humphries was to serve a two-game suspension to open the season for a violation of team rules had he remained at Clemson. He was listed as a fourth team center and guard entering preseason camp, which starts on Tuesday.

Humphries was a three-year letterman for the Tigers, but he had an injury plagued 2008 season when he suffered a torn ACL. He played the opening game against Alabama and suffered a knee injury. He attempted to return on October 18 against Georgia Tech, but reinjured the knee and it was determined that he needed season ending surgery.

The native of Anderson, SC and Belton Honea Path High School was second on the 2007 team in knockdown blocks with 86.5. He started seven games that year, five at center and two at right guard. He had a team best 9.5 knockdowns in the season opening win that year against Florida State. He was a second-team center in 2006 when Clemson ranked fifth in the nation in rushing. He red-shirted the 2005 season.

Humphries earned his undergraduate degree from Clemson this past May.

USC could get another recruit for 09 class

USC has been contacted by DB Darrell Givens, a former Penn State signee who was denied admission and released from his letter of intent.  Givens was considered among the top cornerback prospects in the country last season and would be welcomed to USC if he decides to go there and is admitted.  Read more on this story at PalmettoSports.com.

Robinson joins Clemson commitment parade

Clemson picked up their 5th commitment of the week and the 14th for their 2010 class Thursday when DB Darius Robinson of Atlanta announced his pledge.  Robinson had been favoring the Tigers for several weeks and actually committed to the coaches several days ago.  Read more about this commitment at PalmettoSports.com.

Spurrier holds media golf tournament

Steve Spurrier held his fifth annual media golf outing today. The event was at Cobblestone in Blythwood. Following the round The Head Ball Coach met with the media to share his thoughts on how the summer has gone for the Gamecocks. Carolina fans might be encouraged to hear what he had to say.

AUDIO: Spurrier part 1 (6:56)

Unlike the past few years Spurrier seems to be upbeat. Obviously he likes his new assistant coaches and even has high praise for new strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzpatrick. Spurrier appears to be very optimistic about his team heading into year number five in Columbia.

Below is part two of Spurrier’s comments. He begins with his take on North Carolina pulling out of next year’s game in Columbia. He reiterated what most of us already knew. It isn’t North Carolina, it is ESPN that pulled the strings to change the game. It will be made up though and Spurrier doesn’t seem upset about it.

AUDIO: Spurrier part 2 (7:46)

At the end of the audio you heard Spurrier praise Stephen Garcia more than maybe he ever has. No, he didn’t predict Garcia will be ALL-SEC but he is pleased with how the redshirt sophomore has worked this offseason. I think it is safe to say the Gamecocks are in better shape at quarterback than they were this time last year.