We’re inside of 24 hours until ink hits paper in college football, the most important day of the offseason in the SEC as touted prep seniors sign binding letters of intent. National Signing Day has become a February spectacle we’re all interested in as football fiends, one that breeds anticipation at every major program in the country.

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Entering its 11th signing day under the program’s all-time winningest coach Steve Spurrier, South Carolina expects a well-balanced class to produce immediately, especially on the defense where the Gamecocks were ranked last in the SEC in sacks during a disappointing 2014 campaign.

South Carolina is trying to rebound from a crippling onslaught of a nation-leading nine decommitments — including three-star cornerback Damon Arnette on Monday — to hold steady at No. 17 nationally with 29 commits. The Gamecocks are hoping four-star defensive end Arden Key, twice a verbal commitment, signs with South Carolina on Wednesday despite pledging to LSU on Monday night.

Key can’t seem to make up his mind and South Carolina’s staff is hoping they’ve done enough work to out-recruit LSU’s Ed Orgeron and Frank Wilson for the Lithonia, Ga. native’s services.

The lone remaining target the Gamecocks have a great shot at landing is three-star cornerback Rashad Fenton out of Miami. Florida and Louisville are also finalists.

Among the Gamecocks’ current 29 commits, one of the top players is Marquavius Lewis, a talented defensive end and JUCO transfer out of Greenwood, S.C. Considered an instant-impact early enrollee, Lewis will compete for snaps during spring practice and help incoming freshmen — notably pass rushers Shameik Blackshear and Quandeski Whitlow.

South Carolina 2015 recruiting class

  • National Rank: 17
  • SEC Rank: 7
  • No. of Commitments: 29
  • No. of Commitments by Rating: 7 four-stars, 21 three-stars. 1 two-star

Top incoming offensive players: Four-star OG Zack Bailey; Three-star QB Lorenzo Nunez
Top incoming defensive players: Four-star DE Marquavius Lewis; Four-star DE Dexter Wideman
Primary remaining target: Three-star DB Rashad Fenton
Best-case scenario: South Carolina flips four-star defensive end Arden Key on Wednesday to jump back into the Top 15 nationally.

Verbal commits

  • Shameik Blackshear, DE, Four-star
  • Jalen Christian, ATH, Four-star
  • Zack Bailey, OG, Four-star
  • Christian Pellage, OT, Four-star
  • Octavis Johnson, ATH, Four-star
  • Dante Sawyer, DE, Four-star
  • Lorenzo Nunez, QB, Four-star
  • A.J. Turner, RB, Three-star
  • Dexter Neal, WR, Three-star
  • Mon Denson, RB, Three-star
  • Toure Boyd, S, Three-star
  • Daniel Fennell, LB, Three-star
  • Quandeski Whitlow, DE, Three-star
  • Antoine Wilder, S, Three-star
  • Blake Camper, OT, Three-star
  • Trey Derouen, OG, Three-star
  • Kyle Markway, TE, Three-star
  • Connor Redmond, TE, Three-star
  • Joseph Charlton, P, Three-star
  • Devante Covington, DE, Three-star
  • Dennis Daley, OT, Two-star

Current Class

  • Marquavius Lewis, DE, Four-star (early enrollee)
  • Dexter Wideman, DE, Four-star (early enrollee)
  • Sherrod Pittman, LB, Four-star (early enrollee)
  • Christian Owens, WR, Three-star (early enrollee)
  • Jalen Henry, LB, Three-star (early enrollee)
  • Ernest Hawkins, LB, Three-star (early enrollee)
  • Jerad Washington, WR, Three-star (early enrollee)
  • Ulric Jones, DE, Three-star (signed during Juco period)

Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.