Kight Dallas (#21)
For the second day in a row, a linebacker commitment has been erased from USC’s 2013 recruiting class, but this time it was by the Gamecocks’ call. A source confirmed Monday night that USC recruiter Lorenzo Ward withdrew the scholarship offer to Kight Dallas of Stone Mountain, GA. The relationship between the two parties had been shaky ever since Dallas took an official visit to California in October, even though after that visit Dallas said he was 100% with the Gamecocks. However, this was a performance based decision. Dallas was playing as a standup linebacker for the first time this season, and the source said after scouting him, the Gamecocks decided they needed a more advanced player for the position. Sunday night Matt Rolin of Ashburn, VA decommitted from USC and committed to Florida. And earlier in the season the Gamecocks backed off committed LB Brandon Golson of Georgia Military JC after he decided to take other visits. The Gamecocks are down to 20 commitments in the class with only three linebackers in the group.
DB Adrian Baker of Hollywood, FL took an official visit to Clemson over the weekend and will take his final official visit this weekend to Oklahoma. The Tigers are very much in the mix for his services. “It is a unique place and very special,” Baker said. “They’re telling me how much they want me and how I could impact the team really early.” The one-time Florida State commitment has limited his decision to Clemson, FSU and Oklahoma. “I don’t want to confuse myself by looking at other schools and making the decision even harder,” he said. He will announce his decision on National Signing Day but plans to make his choice prior to that. “That’s when I will go public with it but I’m going to commit before then,” said Baker. “I’ll tell the coaches but I won’t announce it until National Signing Day.” As for his upcoming trip he said, “(Oklahoma) is a really nice place with a great tradition…just like Clemson. They’re pretty much telling me the same thing Clemson is. I really like them both.” Baker does not plan to take an official visit to Florida State. “I’m going to Oklahoma this weekend and that’s going to be my last trip,” he said. “I’ve got a lot to think about.” He did not want to divulge a leader and says all three schools are even.
TE Zach Riggs of JL Mann spent last week in Myrtle Beach for the North-South Game. With his high school career finished, Riggs can turn his attention the next step and that’s landing a college scholarship. Furman is showing strong interest right now and he’s also hearing from Elon. And Clemson still has a grayshirt offer on the table. “Coach Swinney and Coach Pearman talked to my parents at the North-South awards ceremony Friday night,” Riggs said. “They said they will want me for a grayshirt, there’s a spot on the team.” Riggs remains open about a decision and is waiting to see what offers he might get for the 2013 signing period. This season Riggs had 20 catches for 200 yards and 5 touchdowns.
P/PK Jonathan King of Knoxville, TN was told last week by USC special teams coach Joe Robinson the best the Gamecocks can offer him is a walk-on opportunity. And King was not turned off by that. “I love the program and the coaching staff and it would be a good fit,” said King who averaged nearly 47 yards per punt this season. “It would be on the radar for me.” King has an offer from Air Force and will take an official visit there in January. Alabama also has offered him a walk-on opportunity. He’s also hearing from Marshall and some of the smaller schools in his area. On field goals this season King was 6-9 with a long of 42 yards.
The Immokalee Indians will play for the 5A Florida state championship Saturday in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The game might draw some recruiters from USC. The Gamecocks are going to try to become players with two of the top seniors on the team, DB Mackensie Alexander and DL Deadrin Senat. Both players have done little with their recruiting at this point because of their focus on the season. Alexander has taken an official visit to Clemson. Texas A&M, Miami, Kentucky and Ole Miss were among the schools to scout the players last week. Mississippi State and Florida are also going hard after Alexander. Senat is one of the top defensive linemen in the country and has offers from across the country including USC. He was committed to Florida State but backed off that in May. Florida State has remained high on his list.
WR Demarcus Robinson of Fort Valley, GA is wavering again on his Clemson commitment. Based on comments Monday night on his Twitter page, Robinson is again considering Florida. Robinson visited Florida during the season. He also took official visits to Clemson and Notre Dame. After the Clemson visit, Robinson said he was shutting down recruiting and sticking with Clemson. But Florida has not given up the fight. Gator coaches are expected to visit him this week as are Clemson coaches.
For the second straight weekend, Clemson will entertain one of the top athletes in Florida this coming weekend. Will Likely III of Belle Glade said Monday night he will make an official visit with the Tigers this weekend. Last weekend the Tigers hosted ATH Adrian Baker of Hollywood. This will be Likely’s third official visit. He went to Wake Forest in early September and to Maryland in early November. He is also looking at Tennessee, Cincinnati, Southern Cal, Stanford, Florida, Florida State and LSU. Likely will be an early enrollee and plans to make his decision in two weeks. He plays cornerback, running back and receiver.
USC lost LB commitment Matt Rolin to Florida last weekend. Monday night Gator LB commitment Quinton Powell of Daytona Beach revealed on Twitter that he had decommitted from the Gators. USC was one of his offers before he committed. “At the end of the day I gotta do whats best for me. Dont care who likes it or not,” Powell tweeted. Powell’s decision comes a day after he made an official visit with the Gators. Powell told Scout.com he’s looking at official visits right now to Southern Cal, Oregon and Miami.
Junior TE Jeb Blazevich of Charlotte Tuesday night revealed his top six schools on his Twitter page. Blazevich listed the six, in alphabetical order, as Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Ole Miss. Blazevich narrowed his list from 23 offers. USC also had offered.
