The responses were mixed, maybe a little negative, when Will Muschamp was announced as the next head coach at South Carolina. Unlike Florida, where Muschamp was following a championship run by Urban Meyer, South Carolina is a program in transition and, to be honest, probably a better fit for Muschamp.
He won’t have some of the limitations in recruiting that he complained about at Florida in terms of the outdated facilities. The facilities at South Carolina continue to improve. The $14 million indoor facility opened in November. The athletics center is less than 3 years old. The Dodie Academic Center is around 5 years old.
The tools are there. Muschamp just has to prove he is the right craftsman to put them to use. It won’t be easy. South Carolina needs an identity and it is being overshadowed by the in-state rival.
Here are five things South Carolina can do to improve recruiting:
Keep up with Clemson
Let’s be honest: The Tigers are hot and they have recruited better than the Gamecocks over the past few years. Clemson has the luxury of an ACC schedule, but South Carolina isn’t dealing with the gauntlet that is the SEC West, either.
But Clemson just came up short in the national championship game and the Tigers are finally starting to meet expectations. The teams are about even with in-state recruiting, but Clemson is winning big with top targets in Florida (Mackensie Alexander, Deon Cain, Artavis Scott, Jayron Kearse) and Georgia (Deshaun Watson, Mitch Hyatt). South Carolina has to continue to be on Clemson’s level with in-state recruiting and step up its efforts around the southeast.
Extend the recruiting map
South Carolina had some success recruiting in New Jersey a few years back under assistant coach G.A. Mangus, but only wide receiver Damiere Byrd panned out as safety Sheldon Royster and Tanner McEvoy transferred.
South Carolina needs to be a little stronger in Texas, in my opinion. Obviously there are many programs in Texas, but there are many prospects in Texas, too, and South Carolina could find a welcoming situation in the Lone Star state.
Another area would be the Virginia/Maryland/D.C. area, where prospects are only a 5-6 hour drive from home. The one year Muschamp and Travaris Robinson spent at Auburn may help the program get stronger in the Gulf Coast states.
Aim higher in Florida
South Carolina has had plenty of productive recruits from Florida. Guys like wide receiver Ace Sanders, linebackers Shaq Wilson and Skai Moore, tight end/H-back Pat DiMarco, safety Antonio Allen, etc.
But they have to do more in Florida and get better players. I was surprised South Carolina couldn’t get into the mix for four-star wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers because they had something that he really wanted — the opportunity for early playing time.
Those are the types of players South Carolina needs to target.
South Carolina seems to only work the east coast of Florida with a couple of exceptions, but the I-4 corridor in the center of the state and I-75 from Lake City to Fort Myers/Naples are also areas the Gamecocks staff should target.
Clemson beats South Carolina in Florida because it recruits the Tampa area well and the Suncoast from Ocala down to Fort Myers.
Promote the opportunity
There’s still a lot of untapped potential at South Carolina. Steve Spurrier had a nice four-year run from 2010-2013 that showed what the Gamecocks are capable of achieving.
The SEC East still isn’t strong, and there’s still a lot of transition within the conference.
Florida doesn’t have a quarterback, Georgia is going through a coaching change and Tennessee might implode based on the ramifications from this Title IX lawsuit. The SEC East is wide open for a team to make a major move, and South Carolina is a fresh face that recruits would embrace if the program can show some signs of success under Muschamp.
Take advantage of satellite camps
If the SEC is serious about letting coaches take part in satellite camps this summer, then South Carolina should be at the front of the line.
Rules still need to be established, but the assumption is they won’t be allowed to participate in satellite camps in states where SEC programs are located, which would eliminate Texas, unfortunately.
But North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, D.C., Ohio and Pennsylvania are all in play. Even if they can’t find any 2017 targets at these events, it would be a great opportunity to locate 2018 and 2019 prospects and start an early focus on the underclassmen.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
