Gamecocks Land Two Under the Radar Athletic Recruits to 2016 Class
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Since Will Muschamp took over the head coach job at South Carolina, every day has been a busy one getting his staff together but more importantly out on the recruiting trail. The hard work has paid off with South Carolina netting seven verbal commitments since Dec. 15 and two over the last two days. On Friday, North Carolina running back/athlete Rico Dowdle committed and on Saturday in-state wide receiver Chavis Dawkins joined the group.
Dowdle had an explosive senior season for A.C. Reynolds (Asheville) High School. Dowdle went from being a contributor on a 7-6 team to helping lead the Rockets to an 11-2 record and a run into the high school playoffs. The 6’0”, 205 pound, athlete was a true dual-threat under center for the Rockets passing for 1,211 yards with 10 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Significant for a first year starter to only throw four interceptions while completing 64 percent of his passes.
South Carolina sees the North Carolina talent at running back, an action he proved very capable of fulfilling after picking up 2,382 yards with 48 touchdowns on the ground. Few schools outside of the region were familiar with Dowdle limiting his recruiting but schools like Boston College, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Appalachian State, N.C. State, and Vanderbilt all offered.
Finding a replacement in the class for committed and then decommitted Cavin Ridley did not take long. Ridley (6’1”, 190), from Deerfield Beach in Florida, sided with South Carolina and two days later committed to Georgia. The change of events has worked out well for the Gamecocks and in-state talent Chavis Dawkins.
Dawkins has been a key offensive force for Byrnes High School’s back-to-back 12-2 seasons coming up with 34 receptions for 606 yards with seven touchdowns as a junior. During his senior season through seven games, the 6’2”, 195 pound, target had caught 30 passes for 546 yards with six scores (*stats for Dawkins’ season were incomplete). In the Shrine Bowl, Dawkins had two touchdown receptions against top area competition.
Dawkins had reported offers from N.C. State, Old Dominion, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Wake Forest, and Louisville.
South Carolina now has 19 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class with a heavier emphasis thus far on offense with just seven players slated to play on defense. Players have been pulled from nine different states with North Carolina and South Carolina being the biggest resource states for the Gamecocks.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List (19)
CB Jamarcus King, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Coffeyville C.C., Coffeyville, KS
CB Tre Jackson, 5’10”, 178 lbs, Univ. Lab HS, Baton Rouge, LA
DE Griffin Gentry, 6’2”, 255 lbs, Homewood HS, Birmingham, AL
DE Sadarius Hutcherson, 6’6”, 250 lbs, Huntingdon HS, Huntingdon, TN
DE Javon Kinlaw, 6’5”, 275 lbs, Goose Creek HS, Goose Creek, SC
DE Cecil Stallings, 6’4”, 250 lbs, Tucker HS, Atlanta, GA
DE Keir Thomas, 6’1”, 245 lbs, Miami Central HS, Miami, FL
DE Darius Whitfield, 6’3”, 265 lbs, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Mobile, AL
LB Jacorey Morris, 6’3”, 220 lbs, Clarke County HS, Grove Hill, AL
OT Akeem Cooperwood, 6’7”, 325 lbs, Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, GA
OT Peter Leota, 6’5” 300 lbs, Asheville HS, Asheville, NC
OG Lloyd Cushenberry, 6’4”, 310 lbs, Dutchtown HS, Geismar, LA
OG Will Putnam, 6’5”, 270 lbs, Hickory Ridge HS, Harrisburg, NC
RB Rico Dowdle, 6’0”, 205 lbs, A.C. Reynolds HS, Ashville, NC
RB C.J. Freeeman, 5’11”, 195 lbs, Northern Guilford HS, Greensboro, NC
QB Brandon McIlwain, 6’0”, 188 lbs, Council Rock North, Newtown, PA
WR Diondre Champaigne, 6’4”, 180 lbs, Fort Dorchester HS, North Charleston, SC
WR Chavis Dawkins, 6’2”, 195 lbs, Byrnes HS, Duncan, SC
WR Bryan Edwards, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Conway HS, Conway, SC
WR Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: usatoday.com; No. 5 Rico Dowdle.