South Pointe CB Chris Smith Recommits back to South Carolina
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
For the second time in Will Muschamp’s brief tenure with the Gamecocks he has brought a recruit back into the fold after a decommitment landing South Pointe defensive back Chris Smith for a second time.
Smith committed to South Carolina during the Steve Spurrier era, back on July 24 after an unofficial visit. Everything was fine with the Gamecocks until Muschamp told Smith that he could not be an early enrollee due to numbers. With too many players on scholarship and too many junior college recruits coming in, Smith would have to wait to report in the summer with the rest of the 2016 recruiting class.
Smith decommitted on Dec. 22 wanting to weigh his options after working hard in the classroom to graduate in December so he could start participating in spring workouts and spring practices with South Carolina in the new semester.
The two-way South Pointe star began making a name for himself in the 2014 season using his speed and athleticism finding the end zone as a wide receiver and cornerback. The Stallions finished each of the past two seasons the way all sports squads want to end it, with a win. South Pointe went 12-3 in 2014 beating Hartsville 21-7 for a South Carolina state title and then went 14-1 topping Midland Valley 35-0 for another trophy.
Smith’s commitment to South Carolina early may have scared off some other big programs in recruiting the 5’10”, 170 pound, athlete. Other programs to offer Smith include South Carolina State, Old Dominion, Charlotte, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, and Air Force.
The Gamecocks are back up to 17 commitments, where they were before Steve Spurrier resigned in mid-season.
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 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/CB Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: thestate.com; Chris Smith recommits back to the Gamecocks.