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2016 South Carolina Football Recruiting Class: With little time to work, could Will Muschamp come up with a good class? He did a great job sprinting towards a good finish and a stepping-stone recruiting season to 2017.

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South Carolina Football Recruiting Class Overview

Dog Will Muschamp’s time at Florida all you want, but he did a decent job on the recruiting trail, especially for the defensive side. He went more for the offense in his first, short time working at South Carolina in a huge haul with more recruit than any other SEC class. There aren’t any real sure-thing stars, and there’s certainly not a Jadeveon Clowney talent in the picture, but it’s a good enough base being formed to start going big-game hunting next year.

The Class Is Heavy On …

Offensive linemen. The receiving corps is going to be stronger getting Kiel Pollard, Bryan Edwards and Chavis Dawkins, three tall prospects who can get physical. But the D line got the bulk of the star power starting with tackles Kobe Smith and Stephon Taylor – two big bodies for the interior – while Aaron Thompson, Keir Thomas and Evan Hinson might be the best of a deep group of ends to form the base of what Muschamp likes to do defensively.

The Star of the Class Is …

QB Brandon McIlwain, 6-1, 195 – One of the biggest problems at Florida under Muschamp was his inability to get decent play out of the quarterbacks – Jeff Driskel went on to put up huge numbers at Louisiana Tech. McIlwain isn’t all that big, and he’s not the best passer, but he can move. As a quarterback, he’s not for everyone with the athleticism to switch positions, but he’s enough of a baller to fit what the Gamecocks will need.

The Team’s Biggest 2016 Depth Chart Hole Is …

Offensive linemen. Overall, the Gamecocks need to find more offensive playmakers and more options who can make a difference to get the Muschamp offense rolling, but the O line needs the most reworking. Star tackle Brandon Shell and guard Mike Matulis are gone from the left side, while guard Will Sport is another key loss up front. Throw in the departure of TE Jerell Adams, and the Gamecocks need help.

2016 South Carolina Football Recruiting Class

Korey Banks Jr. WR 5-11 173 Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek)
T.J. Brunson LB 6-1 225 Columbia, S.C. (Richland Northeast)
Akeem Cooperwood OL 6-7 359 Knoxville, Tenn. (Fulton/Georgia Military)
Randrecous Davis WR 5-10 173 Atlanta, Ga. (Mays)
Chavis Dawkins WR 6-2 200 Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes)
Rico Dowdle RB 5-11 208 Asheville, N.C. (A.C. Reynolds)
Bryan Edwards WR 6-3 200 Conway, S.C. (Conway)
C.J. Freeman RB 5-11 196 Greensboro, N.C. (Northern Guilford)
Griffin Gentry DL 6-1 246 Birmingham, Ala. (Homewood)
Evan Hinson TE 6-4 228 Deltona, Fla. (Deltona)
Sadarius Hutcherson OL 6-4 230 Huntingdon, Tenn. (Huntingdon)
Jamarcus King DB 6-1 170 Mobile, Ala. (Blount/Coffeyville CC)
Pika Leota OL 6-5 305 Asheville, N.C. (Asheville)
Brandon McIlwain QB 6-0 198 Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North)
Kiel Pollard WR 6-0 232 Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)
Will Putnam OL 6-5 282 Harrisburg, N.C. (Hickory Ridge)
Chris Smith DB 5-10 168 Rock Hill, S.C. (South Pointe)
Kobe Smith DL 6-3 295 Lawrenceville, Ga. (Archer)
Stephon Taylor DL 6-4 285 New Orleans, La. (McDonogh 35)
Keir Thomas DL 6-1 245 Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)
Aaron Thompson DL 6-3 269 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard)
Robert Tucker Jr. TE 6-3 238 Atlanta, Ga. (B.E.S.T. Academy)
Darius Whitfield DL 6-2 281 Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul’s Episcopal)
Dennis Wonnum Jr. DL 6-5 227 Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson)

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