Tag: South Carolina Football

Commanders to hire former NFL quarterback as director of player development

Adam Peters makes another impressive hire.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters continues to raid other organizations for top talent. On Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 (Click 2 Houston) Houston reported that Washington was hiring Houston Texans director of team development Dylan Thompson for a similar role in the organization.

Thompson, 32, played college football at South Carolina under former Washington coach Steve Spurrier from 2010-14. The Boiling Springs, S.C., native appeared in 36 games for the Gamecocks, completing 58% of his passes for 5,401 yards, with 40 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

In 2015, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers. After Colin Kaepernick went down for the season with an injury, he spent some time on San Francisco’s 53-man roster. The 49ers released him after the season, and he signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He spent the 2016 training camp with the Rams before he was cut.

In 2017, Thompson accepted a position for the Charleston-Southern men’s basketball team as the director of player development. He received his first NFL gig in 2018 when the Detroit Lions hired him as the team’s character coach until he landed with the Houston Texans in 2021.

With Houston, Thompson was the director of team development. In that role, Thompson helped the rookie class or any young player adjust to life in the NFL off the field. This could involve educating the players or spending time with them off the field to help make their transition to the NFL much smoother.

Washington let its former senior director of player development, Malcolm Bracken, go earlier this offseason, and Thompson will fill that role.

Rutgers football offers standout class of 2026 running back Jaylen McGill

Rutgers football offers explosive South Carolina athlete Jaylen McGill.

Jaylen McGill, one of the top running back prospects in the class of 2026, was offered by Rutgers football on Monday.

The offer from Rutgers now puts McGill at five offers from Power Five programs.

Twice named an All-American by MaxPreps, McGill will be a junior this fall at Broome (Spartanburg, South Carolina). Last year in 10 games played, he had 1,602 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns.

In eight games, he topped 100 yards rushing. McGill averaged a staggering 9.1 yards per carry.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound athlete also played linebacker where he had 16 total tackles and caused a fumble.

He is a four-star in the 247Sports Composite where he is the No. 303 recruit in the nation as well as the fifth-highest ranked recruit in South Carolina’s class of 2026.

He holds offers that include North Carolina State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech among others.

Following his offer from Rutgers, McGill posted about it on social media where he tagged head coach Greg Schiano and running backs coach Damiere Shaw.

 

Rutgers has been expanding its recruiting blue print over the last two years, including landing two players from North Carolina as part of the class of 2024.

[lawrence-related id=38204,38175]

In the 2025 recruiting class,ranked No. 30 in the nation, North Carolina athletes Steven Murray and Isaiah DeLoatch both committed to Rutgers within the past month.

Spencer Rattler fell in the NFL Draft, and his appearance on Netflix’s QB1 reportedly could be why

It’s easy to see why this show might have hurt Spencer Rattler’s draft stock.

Spencer Rattler wasn’t the highest-touted quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, but parts of his tape probably did say he should’ve been drafted much earlier. Instead, the former South Carolina signal-caller fell all the way to the fifth round and the New Orleans Saints.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Rattler’s draft stock might have taken a hit because of his appearance on Netflix’s QB1 reality show back in 2019. Rattler was, of course, a high school football player back then, but it seems his approach on the show might have rubbed some teams the wrong way.

Whether that’s the right approach to evaluating a draft prospect (it probably isn’t) is a different story:

Hmm. What could Rattler have possibly done as a teenager to hurt him in his future NFL Draft? One clip from a Twitter user from the program shows Rattler criticizing his teammates. That isn’t necessarily groundbreaking — I imagine most good quarterbacks critique their teammates all the time — but NFL teams might have seen instances like this and deemed that it crossed a line:

Whatever happened here, this should all hopefully be water under the bridge for Rattler. He has his NFL home in New Orleans, and he can finally start focusing on his professional football future.

A look at Clemson football’s complete 2024 schedule

Here is a look at Clemson football’s entire 2024 schedule.

After a long wait, we finally have a complete look at the Clemson football team’s 2024 schedule.

While we have known who the Tigers will be facing for some time, we now have the date and week for each game. Times are yet to be determined, as many factors go into the time choices for each game. Even so, we know what week each game will take place, so Clemson fans can now plan accordingly.

With the release of the schedule, we put together a week-by-week schedule of our own for you to see who Clemson will face each week and where it will be. Take a look at Clemson’s complete 2024 schedule below.

Updated 3/31

Former Ohio State receiver named South Carolina coach

Former Ohio State receiver named South Carolina coach #GoBucks

Few Ohio State football fans will remember Mike Furrey from his playing days for the Buckeyes, but Furrey set receiving records after he transferred to Northern Iowa. Furrey also went on to have an excellent professional career, which saw him have a cup of coffee with the Indianapolis Colts and then played a role with the Las Vegas Outlaws in the first edition of the XFL.

After the XFL folded, Furrey earned All-Arena honors with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League and his elite play gave him another shot in the NFL, where he actually started in the defensive backfield for the Los Angeles Rams.

After a stint with the Rams, Furrey landed with the Detroit Lions, where he started both in the defensive backfield and at receiver, while also leading the NFC in receptions with 98 in 2006. Furrey spent one season with the Cleveland Browns, where he again played on both sides of the football. Furrey ended his professional career with the Washington Redskins.

In addition to being a well-traveled player, Furrey became a well-traveled coach as well. Furrey spent time as a head coach at Kentucky Christian and Limestone and also as a positional coach at Marshall and for the Chicago Bears.  It was announced today that Furrey would land his next gig in the SEC with South Carolina.

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Former Alabama DL Monkell Goodwine announces SEC transfer destination

Former Alabama DL Monkell Goodwine is staying in the SEC

Former Alabama defensive lineman [autotag]Monkell Goodwine[/autotag] announced on Sunday his commitment to the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Goodwine is a former four-star recruit from Maryland and joined [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Crimson Tide as a part of the 2021 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman would redshirt his first season in Tuscaloosa and would only see action in three games over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Goodwine will be entering his redshirt junior season when he joins the Gamecocks and will have two years of eligibility remaining and will likely have a much larger role with South Carolina during that time than if he stayed with the Crimson Tide.

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Texas A&M should offer former South Carolina LB Stone Blanton

Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko must offer former productive South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has utilized the transfer portal more in one month than former head coach Jimbo Fisher in his coaching career in College Station (TX). Already landing seven players through the portal, another productive defender has entered his name, and Elko needs to pick up the phone A.S.A.P.

On Saturday, former stand-out South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton announced his departure after two seasons with the program, as the Mississippi native is looking for a new home and will receive plenty of offers to stay in the SEC. Receiving an offer from A&M as a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, Elko is more than familiar with Blanton’s ability during his time as A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2017-2021.

After an understandably slow first season, Blanton shot out of a cannon during the 2023 campaign, recording 52 tackles (31 solo tackles), one sack, one forced fumble, and an interception.

After the departure of star junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to the 2024 NFL Draft weighs on the starting rotation, freshman LB Taurean York has already shown his value in spades but needs more help as senior backer Chris Russell Jr. will also leave in 2024, leaving former Youngstown State LB Alex Howard as a potential starter opposite York.

Knowing Blanton’s versatile skillset, Elko needs more speed at the second level in coverage, with Texas and Oklahoma entering the SEC next season. With two years of experience, I can safely say Blanton would earn a starting spot as soon as fall camp.

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South Carolina DL Xzavier McLeod plans visit with UGA

Former four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod set to visit Georgia football

South Carolina defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod has planned a visit with Georgia football. McLeod entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season.

Kirby Smart and Georgia need to add a transfer along the defensive line. McLeod played high school football for Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman was the No. 117 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 16 player at his position. McLeod was the second-ranked recruit in South Carolina.

As a true freshman, McLeod did not play much for the Gamecocks. He recorded one tackle and an interception in 2023. On3 reported McLeod’s visit to Georgia:

Georgia’s defensive line and run defense was not as dominant in 2023 as it was in previous years.

South Carolina star wide receiver enters the transfer portal

The Tigers and Gamecocks are both losing one of their top wide receivers to the transfer portal.

Activity in the transfer portal is in full swing as players are now announcing their plans to enter the portal and look for a fresh start at a new program. 

The latest for Clemson is starting wide receiver Beaux Collins, who announced Thursday morning that he intends to enter the portal. Collins isn’t the only starting wide receiver in the state to enter the transfer portal; however, a South Carolina star wide receiver is doing the same. 

Dealing with injuries throughout the 2023 season, Wells was a superstar for the Gamecocks in 2022 and 2021. In 2022, Wells had 68 receptions for 928 yards, and in 2021, he had 83 for 1,250 yards. We will keep a close eye on where Wells plans to transfer to.

Former Tiger takes shots at South Carolina

This former Tiger took shots at South Carolina for their frequency of not being bowl-eligible.

When Clemson took down their rivals 16-7 last Saturday on the road, they ended South Carolina’s season as the Gamecocks finished with a 5-7 record and failed to earn eligibility for a bowl game. 

Former Clemson player Harold “Dutch” Coleman let his feelings about the Gamecocks be known, roasting South Carolina for another year of not being bowl-eligible. Shots have been fired, and Coleman completely recognizes this. 

This will seem like a shot at our rival, & while it’s definitely a shot at them, no question about that, & with all certainty & intent, it’s still a general statement. It’s pretty hard to consistently not be bowl eligible. Maybe once. But all the time?

This rivalry means something, even with players who have long departed from the program. Clemson will participate in their 25th straight bowl game while the Gamecocks are looking toward next season.