South Carolina Lands Prized Recruit over Georgia and Clemson

Written by Ryan Wright

Recruiting efforts for the South Carolina Gamecocks have picked up over the last 14 days seeing their commitment total jump from five players to 13 by Wednesday with the commitment of prized defensive end Jordan Smith.

Smith, 6’5”, 225 pounds, has picked up 20-plus offers after coming up with 71 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and one fumble return for a touchdown as junior last season.

The 4-star Lithonia High School star was widely recruited throughout the SEC and ACC regions with offers from Alabama, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Missouri, N.C. State, Michigan State, and LSU among others.

On Monday July, 20, Smith released his Top 5 schools in order: South Carolina, Georgia, Clemson, Florida, and Tennessee. Smith has been vocal about liking the Gamecocks due to their need at defensive end and the greater potential for early playing time.

Landing Smith was a big recruiting battle win for Steve Spurrier and his staff. In early June Smith named in-state rival Clemson as his leader and pulled him away from in-state powerhouse Georgia in less than two months.

Smith is the second defensive end pledged to the Gamecocks joining another Georgia recruit, Cecil Stallings (Tucker High School).

2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List
FS Marlon Character, 6’0”, 170 lbs, Grady HS, Atlanta, GA
FS Jaqui “JJ” Givens, 6’1”, 165 lbs, Atlee HS, Mechanicsville, VA
CB Tre Jackson, 5’10”, 178 lbs, Univ. Lab HS, Baton Rouge, LA
DE Jordan Smith, 6’5”, 225 lbs, Lithonia HS, Lithonia, GA
DE Cecil Stallings, 6’4”, 250 lbs, Tucker HS, Atlanta, GA
LB P.J. Blue, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Park Crossing HS, Montgomery, 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
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 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: thestate.com; Jordan Smith watches a South Carolina camp.