February 3, 2008

Jim Baxter
SCVarsity.com

Clemson and USC hope to have a super finish to this recruiting campaign. With National Signing Day Wednesday, both have a chance to finish with a flourish. USC expects to get at least two more targets while the Tigers have five left on their board. Check out all of the weekend recruiting movement in this week's edition of SCVarsity.com's Recruiting War Room.

By: Jim Baxter and Phil Kornblut

?????? Clemson Tigers

• The Tigers have five targets left on their board. One will announce today, the others Wednesday. TE Dwayne Allen (6-4 240) of Fayetteville, NC will have his moment today at 1:00 PM. He's been committed to Georgia but Clemson made a strong, late push capped by a visit from Tommy Bowden and two assistants after Allen's basketball game Friday night. Sunday he talked by phone with Tiger assistants Billy Napier and Chris Rumph. "They told me it wasn't just a want for me at Clemson but a necessity," Allen said. "They said me coming there would not only help the program in the future but also bring along some other guys on Signing Day. I just said I understand. They are all great schools. They each offer something different." Allen also talked to a recruiter from North Carolina and a player from Georgia Sunday.
• RB Jamie Harper (6-0 222) of Jacksonville, who visited Miami over the weekend, is down to the Tigers, Hurricanes, Florida State and Illinois and will announce Wednesday. Clemson has felt good about its position with him for months. Clemson recruiter Dabo Swinney met with Harper Friday before he left for Miami.
• LB Jerrell Harris (6-4 215) of Gadsden, AL, who visited Tennessee over the weekend, also is considering Southern Cal, Auburn and Alabama. Clemson's entire defensive staff visited Harris last week. "He's looking at graduation rates, an opportunity to win a conference title and a national title, an opportunity to play at the next level, and early playing time," said his defensive coordinator Ali Smith lat week. Harris will announce Wednesday.
• OL Antoine McClain (6-6 294) of Anniston, AL, who is close friends with Harris, canceled a visit to LSU over the weekend but is still considering the Tigers, Tennessee and Auburn along with Clemson. His mother and his coach visited Clemson Saturday for a closer look since his mother did not accompany him on his official visit. He has a Wednesday news conference set.
• And OL Bobby Massie (6-6 315) of Lynchburg, VA, who visited North Carolina over the weekend, will sign with either the Tigers or Tar Heels, if he signs at all. Massie will attend Hargrave Prep, VA in the fall and may choose not to sign Wednesday.
• The Tigers eased off on two other uncommitted players on their board. OL Benjamin Jones (6-6 295) of Miami and DLJeremy Lewis (6-3 300) of Palm Beach, FL are expected to sign with Miami.
  
  South Carolina Gamecocks
  
• Today the Gamecocks are optimistic about getting the nod from DEDevin Taylor(6-6 220) of Beaufort. Virginia Tech was the strongest competition but no longer is a factor because the Hokies filled up their class over the weekend. Duke and Wake Forest do remain under consideration.
• The final uncommitted prospect on the USC board is DE Chaz Sutton (6-4 230) of Savannah. He made his official visit to USC over the weekend. Sutton was a Florida commitment but the Gators backed off due to his academic situation. USC hopes to sign him Wednesday and, if necessary, place him in a prep school for a season.
• The Gamecocks missed on three other targets last week. WRJaron Brown (6-3 190) of Cheraw committed to Clemson, DE Glenn Harbin (6-5 245) of Mobile, AL committed to Alabama and LB Sterling Lucas (6-2 220) of Orangeburg-Wilkinson committed to NC State.
• With Brown's commitment to Clemson, LB Robert Quinn (6-6 255) of Fort Dorchester stands as the last of the state's uncommitted major prospects. Quinn is deciding between North Carolina, Auburn and Alabama and will announce his decision Wednesday. "All three seem about the same to me," Quinn said last week. He talked to his recruiters from all three schools over the weekend.
• ?

??????? South Carolina State Bulldogs

• South Carolina State has a dozen commitments heading into Signing Day: DL DL Dyrell Porchea (6-3 260) of Carvers Bay, DB Derek Belin (6-0 180) of Wilson, LB C.J. Missick (5-10 200) of Stratford, DE Ronell Ferguson (6-2 240) of Lincolnton, GA, DE Arnett James (6-3 240) of Pee Dee Academy, RB Gary Grace (5-11 225) of Alpharetta, GA, OL Larry Patterson (6-5 260) of AC Flora, OL Justin Garrick (6-4 280) of Lower Richland, DB Yari King (5-9 170) of Irmo, DB Marquel Goodman (6-2 175) of Dreher, DL Sam Hammond (6-3 300) of Union County, QB Ronald Holiday Jr. (6-3 230) of Atlanta and RB Chris Merrill (5-9 180) of Hillcrest.
  

????? Other Recruiting Action

• Newberry picked up commitments last week from twins LB Jason Conaway (6-1 185) and LB Juston Conaway (6-6 245) of Ridge Spring-Monetta, RB Qua Gilchrist (6-2 205) of Abbeville and RB Donivic Harder (6-1 215) of Irmo.
• The Indians and Gaffney LB J.B. Shippy (5-11 200) decided by mutual agreement not to follow thru on his commitment. Shippy may be headed to Georgia Military JC.
• OL Marcus Green (6-3 320) and RB Cody Young (6-2 175) of Ridge Spring-Monetta will sign with Feather River JC, CA.
  Furman reeled in a commitment from QB Dakota Derrick (6-4 183) of Conway. The last two seasons Derrick passed for 4881 yards and 49 touchdowns.
• JL Mann DB J.T. Floyd (6-0 185) last week switched his commitment from Tennessee to Michigan.
• Charleston Southern gained a commitment from P/PK Andy Brown (6-0 165) of Daytona Beach, FL according to the Daytona News-Journal.
  AC Flora DB Eric Sephes (5-11 165) committed to Tusculum.
• Irmo TE Neil Strange (6-6 250) committed to The Citadel while Yellow Jacket OL Al Stevens (6-0 280) committed to Lenoir-Rhyne.
• OL Austin Chariker (6-4 240) of Saluda will join the Coastal Carolina program as an invited walk-on with a chance to earn a scholarship in his second year.
• TE Andrew Power (6-5 245) of Myrtle Beach made an official visit to Arkansas over the weekend. He was not offered by the Razorbacks who are waiting on replies from a couple of other tight ends. Power has an offer from Buffalo
• Irmo QB Leander Barney (5-10 182) committed Sunday to Georgia Southern at the conclusion of his official visit to Statesboro. "They are going to five me the opportunity to play quarterback and that's what I want to do," Barney said. Barney also considered offers from Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State. Last season he rushed for 1064 yards and 15 touchdowns and passed for 638 yards and 9 scores.
• ATH Ingram Bell (6-0 187) of St. James committed to Appalachian State.