Jersey DB enjoyed junior day at USC
By Eric Guimaraes

DB Ronald Baines (6-0 180) of Voorhees, NJ was at USC's junior day this weekend and came away impressed with the event. "It's a really nice place," said Baines. "It was really well organized with something to do all of the time." He liked his opportunity to meet with coaches. "There were not too many players there which was nice," he said. "It gave us more time to meet one-on-one with the coaches." Baines says he appreciated the facilities and the commitment to academics. "The Academic Center was cool," he said. "They want you to walk out of there with a degree and education is the most important thing." He has not received any offers but is hearing from USC, Michigan, Penn State, Kentucky, Temple, UConn, Tennessee, Rutgers, Maryland, and South Florida. So far, Baines has attended junior days at USC, Michigan, Penn St, and Rutgers. He plans to go to Maryland's as well and will take unofficials to UConn and Pitt soon. Last season, he had 45 tackles, five for loss, six interceptions, seven pass break ups, and three forced fumbles. He does not have a favorite.

www.goupstate.com/article/20100224/PSPOR...100229782/-1/PSPORTS

Owens in Cola last Saturday
By Eric Guimaraes

TE Drew Owens (6-5 230) of Charlotte was in Columbia last weekend for USC's junior day and says the visit went very well. "It went real good," he said. "I got to meet with a bunch of the coaches I haven't met yet. They were real cool." Owens says is was an opportunity to familiarize himself with the school. "We got to see the facilities like the weight room, the game field, and the practice field," said Owens. Owens only other junior day was to NC State. "I've been there before but it was nice," he said. "I left a little early because I've met with the coaches before." He has offers from USC, Clemson, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Maryland, East Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Duke. Owens says he will not likely take another visit until the spring. "I don't know where I'll be going next," said Owens. He also says he does not have any favorites. "I used to have a top five but I don't anymore," he mentioned. "I'm just taking it easy." Owens has also camped at Clemson before and says he is interested in both the Tigers and Gamecocks.


www.goupstate.com/article/20100225/PSPOR...100229728/-1/PSPORTS

www.goupstate.com/article/20100301/PSPOR...100309968/-1/PSPORTS


Roberts has offer from Gamecocks
By Eric Guimaraes

LB Marcquis Roberts (6-1 205) of Powder Springs, GA has a single offer thus far and it is from USC. He is also hearing from Georgia Tech, UConn, and Boston College. "I like South Carolina," said Roberts. "I was born there so I have a lot of family there." Roberts was set to go to junior day in Columbia but was unable to make it. "I couldn't get down there because something came up," he said. "I'll probably go to a spring practice once they start up." He wants to learn more about the school. "I don't know too much about them (USC) so I wan't to get down there and get to know more about their program," said Roberts. Last year, he was at the Georgia/Kentucky game in Athens and says that is his only visit. "They've got a nice campus and nice facilities," he said of Georgia. As a junior, Roberts had 86 tackles and six sacks. He does not have any other visits scheduled. Roberts says he does not have any favorites.

Jersey receiver likes USC
By Eric Guimaraes

WR Damiere Byrd (5-9 160) of Sicklerville, NJ was in Columbia for junior at USC last weekend and came away impressed with what he saw. "I loved their campus," said Byrd. "It was really cool. They have great facilities and everything is set up for you to succeed. We had a great time down there." Byrd has offers from USC, Louisville, UConn, Rutgers, Stanford, Duke, and Maryland and is hearing from Clemson, Tennessee, Florida, Oregon, Cincinnati, Cal, and Purdue. Byrd plans to go to to the Nike Combine next week at Tennessee and has already been to junior days at Rutgers and UConn. "Rutgers is in my home state so I am familiar with the campus up there," he said. "It's nice. UConn is a little different and very interesting." As a junior, he had 605 receiving yards and 685 rushing. He rushed for eight touchdowns and caught four more. He also had 2 TDs on returns. Byrd says he plans to visit Clemson at some point and is very interested in the Gamecocks. He does not have any favorites.

www.goupstate.com/article/20100301/PSPOR...100309964/-1/PSPORTS

Peach State twins check out USC


southcarolina.scout.com/2/949097.html

JAX RB has Gamecock offer
By Eric Guimaraes

RB Andrew Buie (5-10 190) of Jacksonville has the offers piling up including one from USC. His other offers are from Michigan, Iowa State, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Auburn, Maryland, and Louisville. He does not have much knowledge of the Gamecocks but has family ties to Steve Spurrier. "I watched them play a couple of times on television but that's about it," said Buie. "My cousin (Guss Scott) played for Coach Spurrier at Florida." Scott is now his running back coach in high school. Buie plans to go to junior day at Auburn on March 27 and that will be his first. This summer he has plans to visit several schools. "Me and a couple of other D1 prospects are going to take a road trip," he said. "We'll start in North Carolina and work our way down." Buie says he plans to stop in Columbia to see USC. As a junior, he totaled 2043 yards with 1901 of those rushing the ball. He totaled 33 touchdowns, 24 on the ground. He does not have any favorites. Buie says most ACC and SEC schools are showing interest.
www.goupstate.com/article/20100302/PSPOR...100309918/-1/PSPORTS

North Carolina corner likes USC
By Phil Kornblut

DB Douglas Middleton (6-0 185) of Winston-Salem, NC has been to USC several times, including for last season's Florida and Clemson games, and he likes the Gamecocks the most of all the teams showing interest. He's not yet been offered. Middleton also is drawing interest from Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Marshall and Vanderbilt. He attended USC's junior day and plans to go to one at North Carolina. He said he will also visit Clemson and Duke. He also plans to make another visit to USC and will camp this summer with the Gamecocks. Last season Middleton had 45 tackles with 3 interceptions and 8 deflections. He also had 200 yards in punt returns.



www.goupstate.com/article/20100303/PSPOR...100309853/-1/PSPORTS

Grady at USC junior day, liked it
By Eric Guimaraes

QB Joshua Grady (6-0 192) of Seffner, FL is still waiting on his first offer but says Michigan and South Florida could offer within the month. "Both of them told me they'll be offering soon," said Grady. He was in Columbia for junior day at USC and liked what he saw. "The atmosphere is great there," he said. "Steve Spurrier seems down to earth. I visited there and North Carolina but I liked South Carolina better. It's got a better atmosphere." Grady also likes Michigan and South Florida. "Michigan has got all new facilites up there," he said. "South Florida is close to home and Coach (Skip) Holtz seems real cool." He is garnering interest from USC, Michigan, USF, Wake Forest, North Carolina,Purdue, and Georgia Tech. Last season, he completed 120 passes of 178 attempts for 2106 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also ran for 586 yards and eight more scores. Grady says South Florida, Michigan, and Wake Forest are his current leaders.

www.goupstate.com/article/20100307/PSPOR...100309707/-1/PSPORTS

USC offers Henry Friday
By Eric Guimaraes

DB Jared Henry (6-0 184) of Jacksonville is starting to receive offers, one of those from USC last Friday. "South Caroliina offered me this past Friday," said Henry. "Maryland offered me the week before." Henry has not been to any junior days but plans to take some visits soon. "I'm going to Georgia and maybe Maryland," he said. "It's just kind of far. I want to go to Central Florida and South Carolina." Henry has been to Columbia once before. "I went to South Carolina for basketball,"he mentioned. "I liked the facilities I saw. There is a lot going on there. I like the people, the area, and the atmosphere really." As a junior, Henry had around 100 tackles, two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. He also forced a fumble. Though he does not have any favorites, he did express interest in the Gamecocks. "I know they put a lot of players in the league," said Henry.
www.goupstate.com/article/20100308/PSPOR...100309648/-1/PSPORTS

Shell planning some spring break visits
By Phil Kornblut

OL Brandon Shell (6-8 295) of Goose Creek hasn't done much with his football recruiting due to basketball. Now that he's hung up the sneakers for another season, Shell can spend some time working on his list and checking out some schools. He plans to take some visits during his spring break with Clemson, USC, Alabama and Georgia possible stops. Shell has multiple offers including those four schools, Southern Cal, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Miami, LSU, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina, Illinois and Kentucky. He does not have a favorites list. "I'm going to have one before practice this summer," he said. "I haven't sat down and done research on the schools." Clemson and USC are, of course, make strong pitches for Shell, and he's listening. "They are close to home," he said of the in-state schools. "Playing for your state would be good. I don't favor one over the other." Shell added that he's got a list of things he'll be considering about the school that make it to his final list. "I'll be looking at the team's history, the head coach, the offensive line coach, the weight rooom and the academics."


www.goupstate.com/article/20100309/PSPOR...100309595/-1/PSPORTS

TheBigSpur.com - 2011 update: Guerrieri

thebigspur.com//news/story.php?article=4878

Byers now with three offers
By Phil Kornblut

Northwestern DL Roderick Byers (6-4 255) has added offers from Texas Tech and Maryland to his initial one from USC. Byers said Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech also are showing strong interest but have no offered. He feels Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are close to doing so. Byers attended USC's junior day last month and will go to Georgia Tech April 17th. He is also planning to attend spring practices at USC and North Carolina. Byers said USC remains his favorite. He does not have a timetable for a decision.

Byers now with three offers
By Phil Kornblut

Northwestern DL Roderick Byers (6-4 255) has added offers from Texas Tech and Maryland to his initial one from USC. Byers said Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech also are showing strong interest but have no offered. He feels Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are close to doing so. Byers attended USC's junior day last month and will go to Georgia Tech April 17th. He is also planning to attend spring practices at USC and North Carolina. Byers said USC remains his favorite. He does not have a timetable for a decision.

Byers now with three offers
By Phil Kornblut

Northwestern DL Roderick Byers (6-4 255) has added offers from Texas Tech and Maryland to his initial one from USC. Byers said Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech also are showing strong interest but have no offered. He feels Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are close to doing so. Byers attended USC's junior day last month and will go to Georgia Tech April 17th. He is also planning to attend spring practices at USC and North Carolina. Byers said USC remains his favorite. He does not have a timetable for a decision.

www.goupstate.com/article/20100311/PSPOR...100319883/-1/PSPORTS

Dixon Jr. planning to take some visits
By Phil Kornblut

DL Gerald Dixon Jr. (6-2 270) of Northwestern is still sitting on just the one offer from USC at this point, and he continues to favor the Gamecocks right now. He attended USC's junior day last month. Dixon said he will make visits this spring and summer to North Carolina, Tennessee and LSU.
www.goupstate.com/article/20100311/PSPOR...100319888/-1/PSPORTS

New York guard sought by USC
By Phil Kornblut

USC is in hot pursuit of 6-4 shooting guard Mike Taylor of Brooklyn. Taylor said the Gamecocks have offered along with Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. Johns, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Providence, Maryland and Indiana. He's also getting interest from Penn State, West Virginia, Connecticut, Miami, Florida and Illinois. "South Carolina is pretty high on my list," Taylor said. "I went down there for a tournament in Myrtle Beach last year and I liked the environment. I haven't seen the school. I like their style of play. The coach looks like he lets his kids play, so I like that." Taylor said he hears a lot from USC assistant coach Mike Boynton and has talked to head coach Darrin Horn two or three times. He plans to take some visits this summer and will sit down with his coach at some point and decide where he will go. Taylor averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game in the regular season and is averaging 25 points per game in the playoffs. He led his team to the city championship and will play in the state championship March 28th. Taylor said all the schools are recruiting him about the same. He does not have a favorite.

www.goupstate.com/article/20100312/PSPOR...100319830/-1/PSPORTS

USC makes Adams happy today
By Eric Guimaraes

ATH Jerrell Adams (6-5 220) of Scotts Branch got the offer he was looking for today. "Coach (Shane) Beamer called me today and offered me," said Adams. "Yes, I'm happy." The USC offer becomes Adams' third offer with offers already from Illinois and Arkansas. He expects NC State and Maryland to follow suit. "I like everything about South Carolina," he said. He says he has been told that the coaches like him on either side of the ball he he is being recruited to play tight end or defensive end. "I like tight end better," said Adams. "I like offense." Adams plans to make an appearance in Columbia for a spring practice it he can work it out. He says USC is his leader.
www.goupstate.com/article/20100315/PSPOR...100319749/-1/PSPORTS