Kublanow (L) has impressed scouts with his tenacity

OL Brandon Kublanow of Marietta, GA has over 20 offers at this point and will not reduce his list before he makes a decision at some point this summer. ‘I’m just going to pick,” Kublanow said. Clemson and USC have been by his school with Clemson showing more interest thus far. “I’ve talked to South Carolina a little bit but I know they’ve got Bryce King and don’t know which position they are recruiting me for. Coach Elliott is supposed to come by. Clemson is definitely recruiting me way harder than South Carolina and I have more interest in them.” He said Clemson is recruiting him as a guard. Kublanow’s offers include Clemson, USC, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, UCLA, Southern Cal, LSU, Florida State and Miami. He does not have a favorite. This summer Kublanow plans to visit Southern Cal, Georgia, Vanderbilt, North Carolina Clemson and some others around the South. 

Clemson remains the favorite for WR Jonathan Howard of Rochelle, GA but he’s not close to making a final decision. And USC has now come on board as a favorite. “Clemson is number one ahead of NC State, Louisville and South Carolina,” Howard said. “Coach Botkin (USC) has been by and wants me to come to a camp before they offer. “ Clemson recruiters Chad Morris and Robbie Caldwell stopped by on separate weeks to check on Howard. ‘I’ve been a Clemson fan for a long time,” he said. “It’s just a nice environment. I can see myself play there for four years and, outside of football, I see myself living there. And I have a good relationship with all the coaches. Coach Caldwell is my favorite coach.” Howard said he’s not sure when he’ll make a decision because he wants to take more visits. Recruiters from NC State, Troy, Alabama, Maryland, Georgia State, South Alabama, Wake Forest and Florida also have been by his school. Howard has offers from Clemson, Louisville, NC State, South Florida, Southern Miss, Troy, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee and Missouri.

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Ryan Jenkins

WR Ryan Jenkins of Marietta, GA will announce his college decision over the July 4th weekend at The Opening at the University of Oregon. He will cut his list to 3-5 schools after his spring practice ends Friday. He has offers from Clemson, Louisville, Missouri, Wake Forest, UCLA, Mississippi State, Houston and Vanderbilt, and he says he’s close to an offer from Alabama. Jenkins communicated thru Facebook Sunday with Clemson recruiter Chad Morris. “He said he would be real excited to have me at Clemson and light things up in their offense,” said Jenkins who is the brother of Clemson defensive back Martin Jenkins. “It would be cool to play with my brother but that doesn’t really have much of an impact on my decision.” Jenkins said Clemson, Missouri and Alabama have been recruiting him the hardest.

It appears to be just a matter of time until LB Brandon Golson of Georgia Military JC commits to USC. According to his former coach at Calhoun County Walt Wilson, Golson is set on giving it another shot with the Gamecocks after being denied admission to the university following his graduation from high school. “He’s a Carolina boy,” Wilson said. “It’s 35 minutes from home and he’s loving it. And Carolina is a program now that you’re proud to be a part of. If you can go 35 minutes from home and play for one of the top programs in the country and in one of the top conferences in the country….yeah.“ Wilson has been in touch with the USC staff and says linebackers coach Kurt Botkin loves Golson. “He’s playing outside linebacker right now but he’s the kind of kid who can put his hand on the ground,” he said. “He’s an edge player. He’s more of a (Eric) Norwood type with more speed.” Golson has offers from USC, Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona, Middle Tennessee, Kent State and Akron. Plus he’s drawing interest from Tennessee and Ole Miss.

With offers from USC and Missouri, OL Lucas Crowley of Ponte Vedra, FL picks up his third offer last week from Tennessee. “I was really happy with that offer, Crowley said.  ”They came by spring practice last week and that’s when they offered.” He has yet to visit Knoxville but plans to do so. “I’ve got a lot of family up that way so I’ve grown up always kind of liking them (Tennessee),” he said. “I definitely want to get up there for a visit.” Crowley has visited USC four times and remains interested in the Gamecocks but is unsure of a return trip. “If I can work things out, I’m going to go back but I just don’t know right now,” said Crowley. He is hearing from Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, South Florida and Alabama. Each school has visited him during spring practice. Steve Spurrier, Jr. has also been by to see him. Crowley plans to camp at Florida this summer with Alabama as a possibility. “They told me they didn’t want to waste my time so they told me they’d let me know if they’re going to offer before the camp,” he said. “If they offer, I’ll go. I’m sure I’ll go to some other camps but I just haven’t made up my mind yet.” Crowley did not name a favorite.

DL Jaynard Bostwick of Port St. Lucie, FL continues to favor Miami and is also showing interest in USC. He visited the Gamecocks in April and picked up an offer. “I like the way their coaches were real honest with me,” Bostwick said. “They also told me about their academics and how a lot of players graduate. They took me to see their football facilities and they were really nice.” Bostwick is considering a return visit but is not firm on that decision. “To be real honest, I don’t know yet if I’m going to go back,” he said. “I would like to, but I don’t know.” His other offers include Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Louisville and Miami. The Hurricanes lead for Bostwick. “It’s what I’ve grown up around,” he admitted. “My cousin plays there so I’ve been around them a lot.” A week into spring practices, LSU, FSU, Alabama, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Miami have been by to see him. He is expecting USC this week. He did not name a time frame for a commitment.

Josh McNeil

TE Josh McNeil of Durham, NC continues to reduce his list. Friday he announced on Twitter a final 11…Clemson, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, NC State, Oregon, Cal and East Carolina. McNeil said he will announce his decision July 5th at the ESPN combine The Opening at Oregon. Last season McNeil had 58 catches for 575 yards and 6 touchdowns. He did not indicate a favorite.

WR DeMarcus Robinson (6-2 200) of Fort Valley, GA has a connection to USC thru his uncle, former Gamecock receiver Marcus Robinson, and the Gamecocks were by his school last week to check on him. Clemson was in earlier this week. Notre Dame, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon and Oklahoma have also been by. All of those schools have offered along with North Carolina, Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Miami and Auburn. “I like all the schools,” he said. “I’ll narrow down later in the summer or fall.” Robinson does have interest in the Gamecocks and Tigers. “My uncle went to South Carolina, and I like how Clemson talks about their program and the state of their program. Clemson said I’m their number one receiver, and South Carolina said that. And Notre Dame. I’m getting most stuff from Notre Dame.” Robinson visited Notre Dame earlier in the spring and that was his only visit. He plans to visit Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn, Florida and Miami this summer. He wants to take his official visits before deciding, and he plans to graduate early. There is no favorite.

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Pharoh Cooper

DB Pharoh Cooper of Havelock, NC committed to USC Thursday night becoming the Gamecock’s third commitment of the day.  Cooper picked the Gamecocks over offers from NC State and East Carolina.  He also drew interest from North Carolina, Alabama, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Ohio State and Pittsburgh.  Cooper said earlier in the week he was going to commit to USC but thought it would happen next week.  “I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and I loved the facilities,” Cooper said earlier in the spring after visiting USC.  Cooper will play quarterback this season.  Last season he accounted for 28 touchdowns receiving, rushing and in returns.  He had 1300 receiving yards, and as a cornerback he had six interceptions. 

USC recruiter Lorenzo Ward has targeted DE David Johnson of Lithonia, GA for the last two years and that effort paid off Thursday with a commitment. “We teach our kids a lot about loyalty, and South Carolina has been loyal to him since the end of his 9th grade,” said Lithonia assistant coach Lloyd Morrison. “He also likes the scheme. He likes how they allow (Jadeveon) Clowney to rip and go after it. That’s appealing to him.” The 6-2, 250 pound Johnson is being recruited as a defensive end but could grow into a tackle. His versatility is what makes him special. “He can play with his hand on the ground but he moves like a defensive back,” Morrison said. “That 250 pounds are well proportioned. He’s a down hill player coming to smack you in the mouth.” Johnson also liked Auburn a lot, and he also had offers from Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Mississippi State, NC State and Pittsburgh. He’s the third player in three years from Lithonia to commit or sign with the Gamecocks. Two years ago Ward landed LB Cedric Cooper. Last year it was OL Joe Harris. Morrison said Harris is still working to qualify and is waiting on his most recent test score to return. He said if Harris does not qualify, he will enroll at Fork Union Prep in Virginia.

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