Will Muschamp didn’t have much time to get settled after taking the job at South Carolina. With the recruiting dead period fast approaching Monday, he has spent most of this week working on recruiting and figuring out which recruits will fit in his program.

Recruiting and evaluating talent on defense are two of Muschamp’s bigger strengths.

With the Gamecocks going through transition and Clemson rolling, it won’t be an easy run for Muschamp, but here is a three-point plan that will help the Gamecocks have a successful signing day.

1. Prioritize the Palmetto

This is tough sledding for Muschamp. Not everyone is enamored with him taking the job and the in-state rival is on the cusp of playing for a championship.

The state of South Carolina belongs to Clemson, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Four-star wide receiver Bryan Edwards is a good place to start. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound prospect from Conway, S.C., wants to play in a wide-open no-huddle offense and he wants to play earlier.

South Carolina can give him both of those things and that could sway Edwards away from the Tigers.

John Simpson is the top offensive line prospect in the state and the 6-foot-4, 295-pound blocker from North Charleston has a good relationship with assistant Shawn Elliott. The Gamecocks will have a shot to overtake Clemson if they can get an official visit.

The Gamecocks are also pushing after five-star running back Tavien Feaster out of Spartanburg, S.C., but the 6-foot, 200-pound prospect seems solid to Clemson. Just getting an official visit from Feaster, the nation’s top running back, would be a recruiting victory for South Carolina

2. Make sure the QB stays put

Muschamp continued to bring the old band back together by hiring Kurt Roper as his offensive coordinator. Roper ran the offense for the Florida Gators in 2014 and wants to continue to run an up-tempo, no-huddle style of play.

Pennsylvania dual-threat quarterback prospect Brandon McIlwain seems like the perfect fit for the offense and he’s already committed to the Gamecocks, but he’s disenchanted with the program after Muschamp didn’t retain assistant G.A. Mangus. The good news is the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year was supposed to meet with Muschamp and Roper on Wednesday and if McIlwain solidifies his commitment it would be big for momentum.

3. Go after Auburn targets

Muschamp could have success swaying one or two prospects from Auburn, especially in the secondary where he and new defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson do their best work.

Defensive end Keir Thomas is a former FSU commit and current top target for Auburn, but his primary recruiters were Muschamp and Robinson.

Expect the two to convince the 6-foot-3, 250-pound strong-side prospect from Miami to take an official to Columbia before making a final decision.

Also keep an for a potential commitment from defensive back Jamarcus King, a junior college prospect the two had been recruiting to Auburn. King, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback, has played two years at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and will take an official to South Carolina this weekend.