There’s been a change in the top five with RB Lovasea Carroll of Warrenton, GA and IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. January 17th he named his top five as USC, Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Ohio State. But he has dropped the Buckeyes from his list and replaced them with Tennessee. As for the Gamecocks, they remain very much in the hunt and very active with their recruiting.
“It’s pretty much been the same, just talking to the coaches and stuff like that,” Carroll said. “They are still saying that I’m a priority and stuff like that. I’ve been talk to Coach Mike (Bobo), the quarterbacks coach, and Coach (Bobby) Bentley, the running backs coach. They are saying to go ahead and jump on the train. They are trying to change the program around and they want me to be a part of it.”
Recently jumping on that train was quarterback Colten Gauthier of Dacula, GA. He and Carroll are close friends from their younger football days, and Gauthier has been doing what he can to convince Carroll to join him in Columbia.
“We boys, we talk all the time,” Carroll said. “He’ll text me. It’s not an everyday thing but we talk a lot, though. I wouldn’t mind going to play right beside my boy at the end of the day.”
The end of the day in his recruiting has been set for August 6th. Between now and then, when visits are once again allowed, Carroll plans to take official visits to all five finalists. He had scheduled one with USC for the spring game.
Florida remains the favorite at this point but is by no means a lock according to Carroll.
“It’s not big (lead), it can be overcome,” Carroll said. “All the schools are right there in the same category, it’s just that Florida is just a little ahead. It could be anybody still.”
Carroll is a four-star prospect who rushed for over 1400 yards a a sophomore. A shoulder injury last season limited his playing time and he rushed for 570 yards and 8 touchdowns. He did average 10 yards per carry.
