South Carolina Gamecocks add 4-Star WR Cavin Ridley
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Deerfield Beach was not the offensive machine many may have hoped to see in 2015 but the Bucks still finished the season 10-2 with a wealth of talent on the squad. The defenses was set with Aaron Robinson (Florida Gators) and James Pierre (North Carolina) but the driving force in the passing attack was Cavin Ridley.
Ridley jumped out on the recruiting circuit after a standout junior season picking up offers from teams like Ohio State, Tennessee, South Florida, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, and West Virginia along the way. In 2015 Ridley had 36 receptions, 501 yards receiving, and four touchdowns.
On Oct. 7, Ridley named Auburn, Alabama, and Tennessee among his leaders. After multiple unofficial visits to the Tuscaloosa campus, many thought Alabama was the top team but an official visit to South Carolina on Dec. 11 helped seal the deal. On Jan. 2, the Gamecocks landed the prized 4-star Under Armour All-American adding a fourth wide receiver to the 2016 recruiting class.
The future of South Carolina’s offense is starting to take shape under new head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. USC had 4-star Newtown, Pennsylvania, quarterback Brandon McIlwain, 3-star running back C.J. Freeman, 4-star wide receiver Bryan Edwards, and now Ridley. In all, the Gamecocks have 18 verbal commitments heading into National Signing Day with just a month of heavy recruiting left to go.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List (18)
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 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 Bryan Edwards, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Conway HS, Conway, SC
WR Cavin Ridley, 6’1”, 190 lbs, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL
WR Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: 247sports.com; Cavin Ridley in action.