New USC offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo jumped right into recruiting mode for the Gamecocks when he arrived in Columbia last week. The 2020 quarterback was set in Luke Doty, so he turned his attention to the 2021 prospects. One that has been a fixture on the Gamecock board is Colten Gauthier of Dacula, GA. He has an offer and has visited, and Bobo quickly reached out to him.

“I have been DM-ing and texting coach Bobo this week,” Gauthier said. “Talking about getting me there ASAP, sometime in January. I don’t think anything has changed. I had a great relationship with coach Werner. I enjoy the campus and the school and think their program is headed in the right direction.”

Clemson also is a player with Gauthier. He visited there a couple of times during the season and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter scouted one of his games. The Tigers have not offered but he is under consideration.

“I speak to coach Streeter every week,” Gauthier said. “As you know, theur process is different than most schools. He has been to one of my games and he loved what he saw. They have three 2021 kids they are evaluating right know and I am one of them, and I am high on the list. They probably won’t make a decision until February.”

As for what’s ahead, Gauthier has his recruiting mapped out.

“My plan is to continue to go thru the process, attend some junior days and hopefully have it narrowed down,” he said. “As far as a decision, I would like to definitely have a decision sooner then later. All the schools have continued to recruit me hard…Clemson, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Kansas, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, UCF, Colorado, Baylor, Florida State, Texas Tech, LSU, Virginia Tech, Memphis, Kentucky, Duke and Tennessee. There are a couple that have my high interest.”

And Gauthier has some specific boxes he wants checked by the school he chooses.

“Can I still go to this university without football, the offense, degree, culture and relationships with the coaches.”

This season Gauthier passed for 2456 yards with 31 touchdowns. He was named all county and all region. Rivals rates him as a 4 star prospect and the #15 quarterback prospect nationally in the 2021 class.