Since being named head coach of South Carolina back in December, Will Muschamp’s main priority for the football program has been clear – hit the recruiting trail as hard as possible and upgrade the overall talent of the roster.

So far, Muschamp and his staff have been able to accomplish that goal. With 15 total prospects committed toward the 2017 recruiting cycle, South Carolina currently ranks as a Top 20 class according to 247Sports’ Recruiting Composite Team Rankings and the best may be yet to come.

The Gamecocks recently hosted 6-foot-3, 240-pound five-star in-state defensive end Xavier Thomas, currently rated the No. 4 overall prospect in the nation according to 247Sports, and seemed to impress the state’s top player during the visit. Check out this picture Thomas tweeted out Friday afternoon:

https://twitter.com/atxlete/status/743897136895524864

The Gamecocks, along with Clemson and Florida State, are currently the favorites to land the 2017 U.S. Army All-American participant. Landing a player of this caliber could very well spark a program renaissance similar to the signing of Jadeveon Clowney and  Marcus Lattimore did during Steve Spurrier’s tenure as South Carolina head coach.

But it’s not just defense Muschamp is after, as top Tennessee running back Chase Hayden recently vaulted the Gamecocks to the top of his board following a weekend visit to the campus. Following the visit, Hayden spoke to Tony Morrell of The Big Spur on where he would currently put South Carolina on his list.

“Definitely at the top,” Hayden said of the Gamecocks.

Rated as a three-star prospect, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Hayden has been selected to participate in The Opening Finals next month and is also being recruited by Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida and Michigan among others.

After signing two of the nation’s elite quarterback prospects this offseason, South Carolina has already got the ball rolling toward rebuilding the roster and could very well turn that momentum into a Top 10 class in Muschamp’s first season in Columbia. While many questioned the initial hiring of the former Florida head coach, there is no debate he and his staff are doing a tremendous job on the recruiting front thus far and look to be only gaining steam heading into the fall.