This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the recruits in the Gamecocks’ massive class. This is a look at the best of their recruits and ranking them in order of likelihood that they succeed in college ball.
Zach Bailey, OG Summerville (SC). Yet another talented player from the legendary program outside of Charleston, Bailey is considered one of the best O-Linemen to come from there. Any doubts about his abilities ended when he stonewalled numerous top defensive prospects at the various high school all-star games he was invited to.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: AJ Cann. He isn’t being hyped as much as Cann was when he came to USC, but Bailey looks like a better version of him. Bailey might be a starter from day 1 like Cann was also.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 80%. It’ll be very hard to see him not making 30+ starts for the Cocks at Guard.
Ulric Jones, DT JUCO. A former 5 star recruit originally committed to Miss State, Jones went the JUCO route and committed late in the process to South Carolina. He usually plays strongside defensive end but should slide inside to 2-Gap DT for the Cocks. Power and size are his game, just don’t expect a lot of speed rushing from him. Probably a 2-down/short yardage guy ultimately.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Jarvis Jenkins/Michael Brockers. Don’t judge Jones on the number of sacks he gets, but on the number of blockers he ties up.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 70%. As a powerful DT who clogs up the middle for the rushing defense, he should be a near lock to be a success.
Jalen Christian, ATH Damascus (MD). He’s an elusive WR/CB combo player who makes good things happen when the ball is in his hands. He’s been told that he’s going to play WR in Columbia, but with so much WR talent in front of him (Cooper, Deebo, Googer, Davidson, etc.) he’s going to contribute most as a returner. Don’t be surprised if he plays some DB as well.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Bruce Ellington. He won’t have Ellington’s point guard instincts in the open field, but he’ll still be extremely elusive.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 70% as a 3rd WR (or nickel back)/returner. He’ll be very exciting with the ball in his hand, it’s just getting the ball in his hand.
Sherrod Pittman, OLB/Spur First Coast (FL). Undersized, but with great speed and strength, Pittman seems like a great fit for Ward’s 4-2-1-4 defense, especially as the Spur (SS/LB hybrid spot). He covers a lot of ground in a defensive backfield and the Gamecocks could use that starting Day 1 with him.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: A shorter DeVonte Holloman. He has good instincts for the ball, but he isn’t as big a hitter as other guys to play that spot.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 60% if he moves to Spur, 20% if he stays at LB. He’s behind Skai Moore, Jon Walton and Bryson Allen-Williams at LB and none of those guys are leaving before 2017 (Moore maybe). Pittman could thrive at Spur and start in 2015.
Marquavius Lewis, DE JUCO. A powerful former top DE recruit. Lewis went to JUCO route and absolutely dominated opposing offensive linemen. Lewis was also an early enrollee and will have the winter and spring to learn the defense. He’s expected to start immediately at Strongside DE for the Gamecocks.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Ryan Kerrigan. Both players use their power, hands and ability to disengage from the blocker to make up for their lack of speed/quickness.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 60%. It seems hard to imagine that Lewis won’t be a starting caliber DE for the Cocks. At worst, you’re getting a strongside End who will get 6 sacks a year. The odds are he’ll have a double digit sack season sometime in his two seasons in Columbia..
Christian Pellage, OT Nature Coast Tech (FL). A fluid, athletic Left Tackle prospect, Pellage committed early to South Carolina and kept that commitment despite numerous bigger programs fighting for his signature. A soft promise of potential playing time seems to have been the clinching factor. Pellage could play immediately, his body is CFB-ready. It would be ideal if he redshirted and was the expected starter at LT headed into 2016.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Lane Johnson. Both are tall, fluid OTs with good hand skills.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 55%. If he can fight his way into a starting job in 2015, which is possible, he could be a 40-start guy for the Cocks.
Rashad Fenton, DB Carol City (FL): A straight out of central casting south Florida CB, even at the mythical size of 5-11 178 lbs (which is what all they seem to be). Fenton has great ball skills and is an absolute ballhawk. The problem is that he gambles a lot, especially when he’s playing man press.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Patrick Robinson. Right down to playing better in a zone.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 55%. USC has a great track record with CBs like him. Expect him to be redshirted and be a starter in 2016.
Shameik Blackshear, DE Bluffton (SC). A quick, fast speed rusher at Weakside Defensive End, Blackshear committed early to USC and USC stuck with him even after his knee injury early in the 2014 season. He looks likely to get redshirted in 2015 so that he can get to 100% for 2016.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Daquan Bowers. Blackshear doesn’t let himself get run out of plays and has amazing closing speed like Bowers did (in college).
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 55%. It all depends on his rehab from his knee injury.
Dante Sawyer, DE JUCO. A 2014 non-qualifier the Gamecocks could have used his inside/outside rushing ability last season. Sawyer can flip between DE, DT and rush LB but you have to keep him going at the QB. That’s his biggest strength. He has combined good technique with relentless drive when chasing down a QB.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Melvin Ingram without the “take no prisoners attitude.” Sawyer might be a passing down DT ultimately, but he’ll do that job well.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 55%. If we’re talking about a situational pass rusher who works his way into the starting lineup like Ingram.
Trey Derouen, OL Parkview (GA). A big right tackle in high school, he’ll slide inside to guard in college. He has some great skills to work with, but he too often gets locked on one defender and blocks him to absurd degrees. This causes him to forget what his assignment was for the play. If they can coach that out of him, he’ll be a 4-year starter.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: John Jerry. Big, heavy, plays too high but with good feet for such a big man.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 50%. He probably should redshirt to put some distance between him and Stanley/Park, but he could be a starter at RG for a few seasons.
Octavis Johnson, ATH Clinch County (GA). A tall, rangy DB who doesn’t have the hip quickness for CB. He looks like a FS, maybe a SS if he bulks up. He has the skills in space to be a starter at either, the question for him will be learning the reads and helping to make the calls. He played primarily at RB and CB in high school.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Morgan Burnett. He might not have the straight line speed of Burnett, but similar style of play.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 45%. Can he make the switch to safety or not; that's the question about him.
Dexter Wideman, DE Prep School. A DT/DE tweener, Wideman is also an early enrollee but took the prep school route when his grades weren’t good enough. Wideman has great pass rush skills, but is a bit too slow to be a full time DE. He also plays a bit too high. A move inside to DT looks most likely.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Jon Bullard. Both guys are tall with good size for a DE, but both are more natural inside.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 40% as a Defensive end, 60% at Defensive tackle. He just isn’t quick enough to be a full time end, but if he moves inside he should be a quality starter.
Christian Owens, WR/TE Griffin (GA). A massive WR (6-5) with great ball skills, he’s walking into a situation where he’ll have to sit a year (at least) or have to move to TE to see the field. He has some experience playing as a TE in high school also. The Cocks stole him from Georgia and got him entered in early so he’ll have the full spring to work with the coaches.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Juron Criner or Tommy Streeter. Owens has better body control than Criner and isn’t as fast as Streeter.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 35%. With Pharoh Cooper, Deebo Samuel, Terry Googer, Shaq Davidson on the roster and Kyle Davis probably coming in 2016, Owens probably has to move to TE to see the field.
Lorenzo Nunez, QB (Dual Threat) Harrison (GA). A dual threat QB with good speed and good size. He was very productive as a runner, and he’s done very well developing his passing skills. He’s still raw as a passer though but has good mechanics..
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: JT Barrett. In the read-option that Spurrier runs now, he could be as productive as Barrett, but then again USC doesn’t play the creampuffs that OSU does.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 35%. He could unseat Mitch at QB in 2015, but thats far from a sure thing. Also with McElwain coming in 2016, he has a small window to try and get ahold of the job. The opportunity is there for him though.
Quandeski Whitlow, DE Opelika (GA). Whitlow is another pure rusher recruit for the Gamecocks. Very raw overall as a player, Whitlow sports very good technique and amazing closing speed from the edge. A redshirt season might be a good idea to let him grow into his role.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Bruce Irvin. Right down to his mean streak towards QBs.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 35%. Not because of his skill set, but he has a lot of other freshman DEs in front of him for playing time. His best path to success is waiting behind Lewis until 2017, then going for a starting job.
Mon Denson, RB Lagrange (GA). A tall speedster, Denson showed good breakaway ability and elusiveness with the ball in his hand. Playing behind a big, veteran offensive line, he also showed good patience waiting for his blocks and using his acceleration to shoot into holes quickly.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Charles Sims. Both play tall and are more quick than fast.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 35% His size is something that Spurrier will love and he should have the inside track in 2016 to be Williams’ prime backup.
AJ Turner, RB Centreville (VA). He’s a slashing 2nd level runner who thrives when he can get the ball headed to the corner and start using his acceleration to blow past defenders. He played primarily as the Wingback in a flexbone offense, so it's hard to see how he could do as a prime back behind a QB.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Shane Vereen. At the very worst, the Cocks are getting a 3rd down back who can do great on screens, flares and hitches.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 20%. He’ll be behind David Williams and Mon Denson. And Spurrier likes his back with more size and power. Turner will have to make his bones as a 3rd down back first then hope Williams leaves for the NFL early.
Jalen Henry, LB Foley (AL). Foley is another undersized LB with good pursuit skills but struggles in coverage. He’ll have to make it first as a special teamer and running downs specialist, but the talent is there.
At his best, who he’ll remind you of: Lawrence Wilson/Rico McCoy. He'll struggle in space, but will do well running down a RB.
Odds that he’ll fulfill his potential: 20% as a defensive starter. He’s on a defense who doesn’t need a lot of MLBs for awhile.