South Carolina Keeps Rolling with Recruiting, Adds In-State DE Javon Kinlaw
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Gamecocks continued to roll under head coach Will Muschamp adding a fifth recruit in the month of December when defensive end Javon Kinlaw committed on Wednesday.
South Carolina added a versatile athlete to the mix with Kinlaw. Kinlaw made a name for himself playing defensive end for Goose Creek High School but the 6’5”, 275 pound, recruit could play defensive end, defensive tackle, or even somewhere along the offensive line at the next level. At the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Kinlaw is expected to play some offensive tackle against some of the top players in his class on a national stage.
The Gamecocks have been recruiting Kinlaw since the Steve Spurrier era and closed the deal under Muschamp. South Carolina stole the in-state recruit away from Alabama, Clemson, East Carolina, Louisville, Miami-Ohio, Florida, and Florida State.
Kinlaw’s recruiting may have been slowed some during a junior season that was limited to six games. In six games he had 14 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and a sack. In 2015 the Gators went 9-4 playing through a tough schedule. Kinlaw played in eight games tallying 40 tackles.
South Carolina’s other December commits include JUCO defensive back JaMarcus King, wide receivers Bryan Edwards and Diondre Champaigne, and Kinlaw.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List (17)
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 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 Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: usatoday.com; Javon Kinlaw gets his U.S. Army All-American jersey.