May 23, 2012

Luc says mutual interest exists with USC

Jeff Luc

Former Florida State linebacker Jeff Luc and two of his former coaches at Treasure Coast High School in Port St. Lucie, FL said Monday he is interested in USC and is getting interest in return. “I’m just looking around right now but I’ve been keeping in contact with them,” Luc said. “He’s looking at USC for a visit, and as far as I know they are interested in him,” said Treasure Coast head coach Irvin Jones. “He’s still in limbo and doesn’t have anything lined up, but South Carolina is interested,” said Treasure Coast defensive coordinator Anthony Sheapard. “There are some things they have to talk about. But there’s mutual interest on both sides.” Purdue and Tennessee State are two other schools to show interest according to Jones who said Luc was not a problem child at Florida State. “He’s not a character problem kid,” the coach said. “I don’t know if he fit into what they do at Florida State.” Luc played in 19 games in two seasons with the Seminoles and made 23 total tackles.

South Aiken coach Jeremy West has seen several recruiters drop by his school this spring to take a look at DB Deandre Schoultz (5-9 175) and OL Justin Day (6-8 290). USC and Clemson recruiters have been in with the Gamecocks showing a little more interest than the Tigers. “South Carolina wants Schoultz at a one day camp and wants him to bounce around the camp to see where he would fit in best,” West said. “Coach Mangus said he liked how Day looked in pads. He wants to get him into camp to see how he works with Coach Elliott.” Vanderbilt, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, NC State, Appalachian State, The Citadel, Tennessee and Furman are some of the other schools to check out the pair this spring. West said LSU is also showing interest in Schoultz who was forced to play quarterback last season after Bo Baldwin was injured. He had 30 tackles last season and returned two punts and an interception for touchdowns. Day played defensive end last season and will be an offensive tackle this season. “They all know how green he is but they know the potential of the finished product,” West said.

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Top cornerback has Clemson at the top of his list

Kendall Fuller

Clemson and Virginia Tech are the top two with DB Kendall Fuller of Olney, MD according to his coaching staff. The Good Counsel program revealed on its Twitter account Monday morning that the Tigers and Hokies are at the top with Fuller who is regarded by some as the top cornerback prospect in the country. Michigan and Tennessee are next on his list. Fuller attended Clemson’s junior day in March and has been strong on the Tigers ever since. One of his teammates, LB Dorian O’Daniel, has already committed to the Tigers. Fuller’s brother plays at Virginia Tech and that is one of the strong draws for the Hokies.

DE Dane Rogers of Shelby, NC holds a Clemson offer and the Tigers are making it clear they want him in the program. “I’ve talked to Coach Hobby and he and Coach Brooks have been by,” Rogers said. “Coach Hobby wants me to be a part of their team. I’ve also talked to Coach Swinney and he said I have the speed and quickness they need for the edge. I’ve been talking the most to Coach Hobby and Coach Brooks.” Rogers, whose cousin is Clemson recruit Carlos Watkins, went to two games there last season and will visit again this summer. But while Clemson is strong with him, Rogers doesn’t want to identify an outright favorite right now. “I’m not saying a favorite because I really haven’t been anywhere,” Rogers said. He also has offers from NC State, Tennessee, North Carolina and Rutgers. LSU, Maryland and Florida also are showing interest and he plans to get to each this summer.

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Clemson in strong position with top North Carolina receiver

Marquez North

WR Marquez North (6-3 210) of Charlotte has Clemson at the front of his list right now though his coach says he’s not ready to make a final decision. “He’s gathering all the data and just enjoying it right now,” Mike Palmieri said. “He’s taking it all in.” Clemson recruiters were by the school Thursday to check on North who also likes NC State, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio State among his favorites. Some of his other offers include USC, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Auburn, Florida State and Alabama. USC also has been thru. North has visited Clemson, NC State, North Carolina and Duke. Last season he had 39 catches for 1022 yards and 19 touchdowns, and he rushed for 410 yards and 4 touchdowns. “He is strong, fast and big,” his coach said. “He’s explosive and runs good routes. He’s one of those guys who can go up and get the football.”

USC recruiter Grady Brown was in to check on OL Kyle Schafenacker of Fort Lauderdale, FL earlier in the week as were coaches from Florida State, Duke, Wisconsin, Boston College, Kentucky and Auburn. Schafenacker said Brown will be back to see him in practice next week. “He wants to see me practice and then at a camp and after that he’ll tell me if he will accept a commitment,” Schafenacker said. He plans to camp at USC, Miami and Florida State and will visit SMU and Duke. USC and SMU are his top two and he also likes Cincinnati. “I’m going to wait and see how things to this summer before deciding,” he said. The big tackle has offers from USC, SMU and Cincinnati.

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Thornwell will finish basketball career out of state

Thornwell (with ball) is headed to Oak Hill

The state’s top basketball prospect in the 2013 class, 6-5 Sindarius Thornwell of Lancaster, confirmed via Twitter Wednesday night he will play his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. “I will be going to Oak Hill Academy next year,” Thornwell wrote. “Even though I’m leaving, please don’t forget that South Carolina is my state.” Thornwell averaged over 26 points per game last season. His offer list includes USC, Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State, NC State, Wake Forest, Boston College, Ohio State, Memphis, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio State and Cincinnati.

7-1 Jordan Dickerson of Brooklyn said Wednesday night Providence is his current favorite. “They seem most interested,” Dickerson said. “I like how they play. That’s where I’m sort of leaning, but I’m not saying that’s my final (decision).” Dickerson, who attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, is going to New York this weekend for a tournament and said he will visit Providence next week. He’s not scheduled any other visits but said he’s considering taking one to South Carolina. “I spoke with Coach (Frank) Martin last week,” Dickerson said. “He’s telling me he still had a spot open for me.” Dickerson also has offers from Auburn, Dayton, DePaul and VCU. He’d like to make his decision before June.

Football News:

One of the hottest names in the country in recruiting right now is DL Scott Pagano (6-4 268) of Honolulu. He has offers from across the country including Clemson and USC. And the Tigers and Gamecocks have a legitimate shot with him primarily due to the fact that most of his family lives in the Greenville area. Several of his family members went to Clemson. “It would feel just like family if I were to choose to go there,” Pagano said. Pagano last visited the state when he was eight but he plans to make a return trip. Clemson is a definite for one of his official visits in the fall along with Nebraska, Baylor and LSU. And he said USC is among his top ten schools right now. Both schools are working him hard. Pagano said he talks with Clemson’s Dan Brooks, Chad Morris and Brent Venables, and he’s been in touch with Steve Spurrier Jr. and Shawn Elliott from USC. He has seen recruiters from Oregon, Nebraska, Baylor, Southern Cal, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Utah, Washington and Colorado come thru his school. Notre Dame is coming Friday and Kansas next week. This summer he plans to take a West Coast trip to see Arizona, Arizona State, the California schools, Washington, Oregon and Oregon State. And there is a leader for Pagano right now. “I have a favorite but I don’t want to put it out right now,” he said. He’ll make his decision after taking his official visits. And just to make the rest of us jealous, Pagano has this take on living in Hawaii: “It’s paradise, always sunny and beaches everywhere.”

A source said Wednesday night former Florida State LB Jeff Luc (6-1 242) plans to take an official visit to USC as he goes thru the process of deciding on a new school. Luc was given his release by Florida State in April. He has drawn interest from USC, Kansas State, Cincinnati and Tennessee State. Luc signed with FSU in 2010 and was regarded by the analysts as the top linebacker prospect in the country. He played in 19 games and had 23 tackles in his two seasons with the Seminoles. If Luc were to transfer to USC, he would have to sit out this season and would have two years to play two.

DB Cameron Sutton of Jonesboro, GA adds several offers to his ever-growing list. “I can’t tell you how many I have to be honest,” said Sutton. With offers from USC, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Missouri already, Sutton has picked up offers from Arkansas, Purdue, North Carolina, NC State, Illinois and Pitt among others. He continues to hear from Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, Auburn, Miami and Wisconsin. Sutton traveled to Columbia in late March for his first visit to USC. “It went really well,” he said. “I got to see them practice and tour a lot of the campus. I like everything about them from their head coach to their players. It’s a nice atmosphere.” He plans a return trip and will camp at USC this summer. “I’ll go to several one-day camps but I’m not sure of the other ones I’ll go to,” he added. He also plans to attend the Manning Brothers camp in Louisiana as well. Sutton will narrow his list to five over the summer and plans to commit sometime during his senior campaign. He does not have a favorite.

DB Justin Williams of Port St. Lucie, FL has been leaning to South Carolina and will see Gamecock recruiter Grady Brown on Thursday. But, he’s not planning to commit. “I think I want to visit first before I commit,” Williams said. “My mind keeps changing on where I want to go. It’s a hard decision. I’m also thinking hard about Michigan State and Oregon.” Williams said he’ll now wait until after summer camps to decide. Central Florida, Florida, West Virginia, Northern Illinois, Florida State and Michigan State have been thru his school. He has offers from USC, Purdue, Cincinnati, Florida International, Massachusetts and Middle Tennessee State. Williams will camp at UMass June 17th and will go on a road trip with his coaches which will include a stop at USC.

WR Tramel Terry of Goose Creek has committed, decommited and recommitted to Georgia. Do not expect him to do so again. “I’m done,” he said simply of his recruiting process. “It’s home. It’s hard to explain but I know that’s where I’m supposed to be.” Terry continues to hear from Clemson but says that USC “took it to heart” and is no longer recruiting him. Clemson running backs coach Tony Elliott remains in contact with Terry. “Coach Elliott and I have built a pretty good relationship,” he said. “He’s like a father-figure to me. Of course he still wants me to go there (Clemson) but he understands.” Terry will not take any other unofficial visits but did say he could take a couple of official visits. Clemson and Florida are the only two schools other than Georgia he would consider. “I’m just going to focus on winning another state championship,” said Terry.

Clemson joins offer list for highly recruited lineman

Na'Ty Rodgers

OL Na’Ty Rodgers of Pomfret, MD has added Clemson, Virginia and Nebraska to his growing list of offers. He is now at 21. USC, Oklahoma, Maryland, Arkansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Pitt, West Virginia, Rutgers, Southern Cal and Vanderbilt are just some of his other offers. “I’m kind of neutral on Clemson right now,” Rodgers said. “I don’t feel good or bad about them because I don’t know too much about them yet. I’m looking forward to getting down there for a visit so I can check them out for myself and learn more about them.” He has not heard much from the Tigers. USC on the hand has remained in contact with the Maryland prospect. “I really liked it down there,” he said of his visit during the spring game. “They have stayed in touch with me and that’s a good thing.” Offensive line coach Shawn Elliott has shown a lot of interest in Rodgers. He plans to return for another visit. “I’ll go to Clemson and South Carolina on one trip,” he said. Rodgers plans to narrow his list at the end of the summer and will take all five official visits before committing. He said, “South Carolina has a great chance at one of those visits”. Rodgers did not name a leader.

USC quarterbacks coach GA Mangus has taken care of his quarterback for the 2013 class and is starting to dig around for his 2014 targets. One could be Bo Baldwin (6-5 231) of South Aiken. Mangus was at the school Monday to check on Baldwin. It was his second trip to the school. “He said he liked him a lot and is very interested,” South Aiken coach Jeremy West said. “He said he’s more athletic than he thought.” Baldwin only played in three and a half games last season due to a broken collarbone. He is being tutored this season by former college assistant coach Ted Cain who joined the staff this spring. West said Baldwin has a lot of potential. “He has deceptive speed and is real poised in the pocket,” he said. “He’s always looking downfield.” Clemson quarterbacks coach Chad Morris also has been in to see Baldwin but with a 2014 quarterback commitment already stocked away, West is not sure Clemson will make a strong push. LSU, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Tennessee also have been in to check Baldwin who has not been offered.

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