Gamecocks Pull Imposing 2017 DL Javon Kinlaw out of Mississippi JUCO
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
As the Gamecocks start showing improvement on the field under first year head coach Will Muschamp, South Carolina continues to pull top talent off the recruiting trail to help insure the upward trend continues. On Friday, four-star junior college defensive end Javon Kinlaw verbally committed to the Gamecocks adding the team’s 13th defensive player to the 2017 class.
Kinlaw committed to the Gamecocks on Dec. 23 as part of the 2016 class but ended up going the JUCO route. The Goose Creek (SC) native is listed anywhere from 6-5, 276 pounds, to 6-6, 318, giving the coaching staff the ability to play him in the trenches at end or defensive tackle.
Through eight games played during his true freshman season, Kinlaw helped Jones County J.C. to a 6-3 record coming up with 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for a loss.
The former U.S. Army All-American was not widely recruited with the thought that he would return to his home state to play for the Gamecocks. Still, USC kept him away from teams like Alabama, Tennessee, Maryland, and Louisville.
Rivals ranks USC’s 2017 recruiting class No. 10 in the nation with eight four-star recruits while 247Sports has the class No. 13 overall, No. 7 in the SEC.
South Carolina Gamecocks 2017 Verbal Commitment List (22)
SS Zay Brown, 6-0, 180, Clarke Central, Athens, GA
SS Jaylin Dickerson, 6-0, 174, Pinecrest HS, Southern Pines, NC
CB Tavyn Jackson, 5-9.5, 170, James Rickards HS, Tallahassee, FL
CB Damarri Mathis, 5-11, 175, Lakeland HS, Lakeland, FL
CB Jamyest Williams, 5-9, 170, Grayson HS, Loganville, GA
LB Sherrod Greene, 6-1, 225, Rocky Mount HS, Rocky Mount, NC
LB/DB Hamsah Nasirildeen, 6-3, 210, Concord HS, Concord, NC
LB Damani Staley, 6-1, 200, Ridge View HS, Columbia, SC
LB Eldridge Thompson, 6-2, 218, Coffeyville C.C., Coffeyville, KS
LB/DE Davonne Bowen, 6-2, 220, Woodmont HS, Piedmont, SC
DE Tyreek Johnson, 6-4, 245, Lakewood HS, Sumter, SC
DE/DT Javon Kinlaw, 6-5, 276, Jones County J.C., Ellisville, MS
DE/DT MJ Webb, 6-2.5, 271, Morgan County, Madison, GA
TE Will Register, 6-4, 240, Chapin HS, Chapin, SC
OT Summie Carlay, 6-5, 280, Laurens HS, Laurens, SC
OT Dennis Daley, 6-6, 310, Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, GA
OT Eric Douglas, 6-5, 282, Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, NC
RB Kyshaun Bryan, 5-10, 190, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL
QB Jay Urich, 6-4, 198, Wren HS, Piedmont, SC
WR OrTre Smith, 6-3, 215, Wando HS, Mount Pleasant, SC
WR Shi Smith, 5-9.5, 175, Union HS, Union, SC
WR Chad Terrell, 6-3, 205, North Paulding HS, Dallas, GA
Photo credit: sout.com; No. 7 Javon Kinlaw with Goose Creek.