Tag: Usc gamecocks

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.

Four-star Josiah Thompson sets commitment date

Four-star offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson has Georgia in his top schools. Where is he favored to commit?

Talented offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson is ready to decide where he will play college football. Thompson intends to decide from among his top six schools. Thompson is the second-ranked recruit in South Carolina and the No. 5 offensive tackle in the country.

Thompson, who is ranked as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, considers South Carolina, Miami, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee to be his top schools. He already knows where he will commit and plans to make his decision on April 11.

The Georgia Bulldogs football program extended a scholarship offer to Thompson in June 2022. Georgia has won back-to-back national championships thanks in large part to excellent offensive line play.

Thompson plays high school football for Dillon High School in Dillon, South Carolina. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle is favored to commit to the South Carolina Gamecocks, according to 247Sports.

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Beamer and South Carolina are off to a strong start recruiting in the class of 2024. The Gamecocks have the No. 6 recruiting class in the country and have commitments from five four-star recruits. However, South Carolina trails Georgia, which has the nation’s top class of 2024.

Georgia recently signed four-star offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who is considered the top class of 2023 recruit in South Carolina.

Thompson is a great student. He holds scholarship offers from top college football programs Tennessee, Oklahoma, Clemson, Texas A&M, North Carolina and many more. Josiah Thompson has committed to playing in the 2024 All-American Bowl on NBC.

On tape, Thompson exhibits impressive mobility and quickness. In Thompson’s sophomore film, he really does a good job of blocking in space. The left tackle shows great flexibility and bend. He projects as an excellent pass blocker at the next level.

Josiah Thompson announced his top schools via Twitter on Jan. 10:

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Elite OT Josiah Thompson updates his list of top schools

Four-star offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson puts Georgia football in his top six.

Elite offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson has released his top six schools. Thompson is one of the top recruits in South Carolina and is ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the nation.

Thompson, who is ranked as a four-star recruit, considers South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Miami, and Tennessee to be his top schools.

The Georgia Bulldogs football program has offered a scholarship to Thompson back in June 2022. Georgia has won back-to-back national championships thanks in larger part to its elite offensive line play.

Thompson is a member of the class of 2024 and plays high school football for Dillon High School in Dillon, South Carolina. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle is the No. 58 recruit, No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 2 player is South Carolina in his class, according to 247Sports.

Georgia recently signed four-star offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who is the top class of 2023 recruit in South Carolina. However, South Carolina is favored to land a commitment from Josiah Thompson.

Josiah Thompson is a great student. He has scholarship offers from top college football programs like Tennessee, Clemson, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and many more. Josiah Thompson has committed to playing in the 2024 All-American Bowl on NBC.

Josiah Thompson will continue to add to his frame throughout the remainder of his high school career. The Dillon star is a good student and has taken a recent visit to Tennessee.

On tape, Thompson exhibits impressive mobility and quickness. In Thompson’s sophomore film, he really does a good job of blocking in space. The left tackle shows great flexibility and bend. He projects as an excellent pass blocker at the next level.

Josiah Thompson announced his top schools via Twitter:

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Former 5-star DE Jordan Burch enters transfer portal

UGA football has a lot of connections to South Carolina defensive end Jordan Burch

Former five-star prospect Jordan Burch recorded 60 total tackles and 3.5 sacks as a junior in 2022 for South Carolina. Burch, who was widely considered one of the best players in the class of 2020, committed to Will Muschamp and South Carolina a few years ago.

Now, Burch has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp is the co-defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Could Burch transfer to Georgia? Burch heavily considered the Bulldogs before he committed to South Carolina.

Burch will have plenty of options and will be one of the top players in the transfer portal. Burch could enter the 2023 NFL draft. He could transfer or could return to South Carolina.

Burch is an athletic defensive end with a solid build. He played high school basketball and is from Columbia, South Carolina. He played high school football at Hammond School. The talented defensive end also considered Alabama, Clemson and LSU when he was coming out of high school.

South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Jordan Burch has a lot of connections to the Georgia Bulldogs. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end attended the same high school as Georgia walk-on quarterback Jackson Muschamp.

Head coach Shane Beamer and South Carolina finished the season 8-5 and exceeded expectations in a lot of ways, but the Gamecocks have lost a number of contributors to the transfer portal.

Max Olson of The Athletic reported that Burch entered the transfer portal.

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4-star OT Josiah Thompson names top schools

Four-star offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson is one of the best class of 2024 recruits in South Carolina. UGA made his top schools.

Four-star offensive tackle recruit Josiah Thompson has named his top nine schools. Thompson is one of the top recruits in South Carolina.

Thompson ranks South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Florida as his top schools.

The Georgia Bulldogs football program has offered a scholarship to Thompson back in June 2022.

Thompson is a member of the class of 2024 and plays high school football for Dillon High School in Dillon, South Carolina. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle is the No. 58 recruit, No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 2 player is South Carolina in his class, according to 247Sports.

South Carolina is favored to land a commitment from Josiah Thompson.

The four-star junior has scholarship offers from top college football programs like Tennessee, Clemson, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and many more. Josiah Thompson has also committed to playing in the 2024 All-American Bowl on NBC.

Josiah Thompson will continue to add to his frame throughout the remainder of his high school career. The Dillon star is a good student and has taken a recent visit to Tennessee.

On tape, Thompson exhibits impressive mobility and quickness. In Thompson’s sophomore film, he really does a good job of blocking in space. The left tackle shows great flexibility and bend.

Josiah Thompson announced his top schools via Twitter:

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Pair of key South Carolina defenders out for the season

South Carolina linebacker Mohamed Kaba,and pass rusher Jordan Strachan are expected to miss the remainder of the 2022 college football season.

The South Carolina defense lost two critical players to injury during its SEC opening game at Arkansas. The Gamecocks lost linebacker Mohamed Kaba, who has eight tackles this season and 32 tackles last season, for the 2022 college football season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Additionally, South Carolina lost senior pass rusher Jordan Strachan for the season due to a torn ACL. Strachan, who previously transferred from Georgia State, has 10 tackles and a sack this year.

The Gamecocks will look to bounce back in Week 3 as they host the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs. However, South Carolina will be without both Strachan and Kaba for the remainder of the season. It is a tough blow for coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.

Georgia is dealing with some injuries heading into the South Carolina game as well. The Bulldogs are banged up at the wide receiver position.

South Carolina’s depth will be tested on Sept. 17 against Georgia. The Bulldogs have one of the most talented teams in the country, but have not played on the road yet during the 2022 season.

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4-star DL Xzavier McLeod sets commitment date

Four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod put Georgia football in his top schools earlier this summer.

Four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod plays high school football for Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina. McLeod plans to decide where he will play college football on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman is the No. 172 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 25 player at his position. McLeod is the third-ranked recruit in South Carolina. He’s a key in-state recruit for the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are favored to land his commitment per 247Sports.

The four-star will decide among Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. The elite defensive line prospect plans to play in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

McLeod is a key SEC East recruit. How are teams in the division fairing with the class of 2023 recruiting cycle? Here’s how the SEC East stacks up (rankings per 247Sports).

  • Georgia Bulldogs (No. 5)
  • Florida Gators (No. 10)
  • Tennessee Volunteers (No. 11)
  • South Carolina Gamecocks (No. 19)
  • Kentucky Wildcats (No. 33)
  • Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 49)
  • Missouri Tigers (No. 67)

Oregon, Penn State, Texas and Florida are among the long list of schools that have offered a scholarship to Xzavier McLeod.

The Camden standout named his commitment date via Twitter:

McLeod later updated his commitment time.

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4-star DL Xzavier McLeod names top six schools

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top six schools for four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod.

The Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks are among the top six schools for four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod, a key in-state recruit for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks are hoping to land a commitment from the Camden High School star. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman is the No. 162 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 24 player at his position. McLeod is the third ranked recruit in South Carolina.

The four-star puts Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, LSU and Texas A&M in his list of top schools. McLeod is a solid student and is considered a South Carolina lean per 247Sports.

The elite defensive line prospect has taken recent visits to Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M. The rising Camden senior plans to play in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

Oregon, Penn State, Texas and Florida are among the long list of schools that have offered a scholarship to McLeod.

The Camden standout named his top schools via Instagram:

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South Carolina adds two major transfers

The South Carolina Gamecocks have added two major transfers in former Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner

The South Carolina Gamecocks have added two major transfers in former Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner.

Entering the 2021 college football season, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler was considered the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Lincoln Riley went on to bench Rattler following some inconsistent performances. Rattler entered the transfer portal following Oklahoma’s defeat against Oklahoma State in the season-finale.

Let’s dive deeper into South Carolina’s two new transfers and how they will impact the SEC East:

Two former Georgia football players/coaches leave South Carolina for NFL

Two former Georgia football players and coaches have left South Carolina to coach in the NFL.

Two coaches are leaving the South Carolina program to take NFL coaching jobs.

Both of those coaches happen to be guys who played and coached at the University of Georgia.

Thomas Brown, who played running back at Georgia from 2004-07, has joined the Los Angeles Rams staff as the running backs coach, where he will coach former Dawg Todd Gurley.

Related: Thomas Brown hired to Rams

And Bryan McClendon, who caught passes in Athens from 2002-05, will be joining the Steelers staff as receivers coach.

Related: Report: Former Georgia WR Bryan McClendon hired to Steelers

After their collegiate playing careers, both players returned to Georgia to coach shortly after testing out the NFL.

McClendon coached the running backs and receivers in Athens from 2009-2015, after spending two seasons as a grad assistant at Georgia.

Brown coached at Georgia in 2011 as a strength coach and then came back in 2015 to coach the running backs, which at the time was Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Both ended up on the same staff at South Carolina under none other than former Georgia defensive back Will Muschamp, who is head coach of the Gamecocks.

Georgia ties run deep.