Coaching staffs hit road for evaluations

The spring evaluation period for college football recruiting is under way and South Carolina and Clemson coaches plan to hit the road this week. Staffs are allowed four weeks of evaluation through May 31.

QB Morgan Newton (6-5, 215) of Carmel, Ind., will be throwing for coaches today and is expecting Clemson's Rob Spence to be on hand. Newton said he talked to Spence last week.

"He said I was number one or number two on his list," Newton said. He's also expecting coaches from Penn State, Florida and Kentucky to watch him today. USC also is an offer for Newton and he expects quarterbacks coach David Reaves to visit at some point. Newton recently picked up offers from Mississippi State, Cincinnati and Nebraska.

In other recruiting news:

LB Corico Hawkins (6-0, 225) of Milledgeville, Ga., has cut his list of more than 20 offers to Clemson, Auburn and Florida. At one time he appeared on the fast track to a Clemson commitment, but he's slowed things down. "I'm going to take my time and look into these schools and see what kind of impact I would have at those three schools," he said.

ATH Stephen Gilmore (6-2, 190) of South Pointe attended USC's spring game and spent time with defensive coordinator and recruiter Ellis Johnson. "He talked about how I can come in and have an impact on the defense," Gil-more said. "I just got to talk to him and know him a little bit more." Gilmore did not make it to Clemson's spring game but did visit Tennessee recently. He also has offers from Florida State, Florida, Alabama, LSU, N.C. State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Colorado and Rutgers.

Columbia High DB Damario Jeffery (6-3, 211) has added offers from Maryland, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska and Duke, according to coach Kemper Amick. And Southern Cal called late last week to express its interest. Jeffery also has offers from USC, Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

USC made recent offers to a pair of ffensive linemen, Antonio Foster (6-4, 290) of Valdosta, Ga., and Jonathan Harrison (6-4, 290) of Groveland, Fla. Foster has a top three of Florida, Georgia Tech and Miami. He also has offers from South Florida, UCF, Miami, Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Alabama. Harrison also has offers from Boston College and Southern Miss.

OL Quinton Washington (6-4, 315) of Timberland likes the in-state schools but will also look outside the borders. "Going away doesn't bother him," said his coach Art Craig, "but he loves both in-state schools. Both have done outstanding jobs recruiting him." He also has offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, Michigan and Miami. He recently won the state heavyweight weightlifting championship with a 565-pound squat and a 375-pound bench press.

Kentucky is showing the most interest in Timberland TE Aldrick Fordham, and Liberty is looking hard at Timberland RB Rockarius King (5-7, 190).

Rising junior RB Marcus Lattimore (5-11, 210) of Byrnes visited Clemson on Friday and now calls the Tigers his favorite ahead of USC and Georgia. He also has early offers from Florida State, Kansas and North Carolina.

WR Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217) of Calhoun County was officially offered Friday by Florida State. He also has offers from USC, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Southern Cal, NC State and Florida. Calhoun County ATH David Sims (6-0, 208) has an offer coming from FSU once defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews approves it. He has offers from USC, Alabama, UNC, Wake Forest, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Colorado and N.C. State.

DB DJ Swearinger (6-1, 205) of Greenwood was offered last week by Duke. He also has offers from Vanderbilt, Illinois, Maryland, Auburn and N.C. State. He's also getting interest from USC and Penn State.

DE Nick Kasa (6-7, 255) of Broomfield, Colo., has picked up a Clemson offer. Some of his other offers are Notre Dame, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, California, Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Colorado State and Miami.

USC has offered DL Josh Elizondo (6-2, 285) of Naples, Fla. He also has offers from Pittsburgh, Iowa State, N.C. State, Duke and Troy.

RB Jaamal Berry (5-11, 190) of Miami attended Ohio State's spring game and was impressed enough with the Buckeyes to move them to the top of his list right now. He's also been to Florida. Clemson and USC are also among his offers and he said he's getting a stronger push from Clemson. "I talk to Clemson all the time," he said. He also has offers from Florida State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Minnesota, Rutgers, Tennessee, Michigan and Florida International.

DB Cory Addison (6-1, 190) of Jacksonville, Fla., had planned to attend USC's spring game but couldn't make it. He hopes to visit this summer. He has visited Florida and Florida State and said both are close to offering. Among his 13 offers are USC, Miami, Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Louisville and Ole Miss.

WR Jheranie Boyd (6-3, 185) of Gastonia, N.C., took in N.C. State's spring game and won't visit any more schools until the summer. Boyd has trimmed his list to nine and said USC and Clemson made the cut. Some of his other offers are Mississippi State, Alabama, NC State, Wake Forest, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon and Southern Cal.

USC and Clemson have offers out to DB Ricardo Dixon (5-11, 168) of Hallandale, Fla. He also has offers from North Carolina, Florida State, Ole Miss, Auburn, West Virginia, Central Florida and Tennessee. Dixon said he will take an official visit to USC in the fall. Last season, he had 52 tackles with 30 passes broken up and one interception.

LB Michael Gilliard (6-2, 200) of Valdosta, Ga., has an offer from USC and knows the Gamecocks have strong interest after talking with defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. "He told me I was his number one prospect at linebacker and said I'm the type of player that he wants to get in there and get into his system," Gilliard said. Georgia, Georgia Tech and Florida are his top three right now. He also has offers from Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, N.C. State and Tennessee. Last season, Gilliard had 112 tackles with 18 for loss and eight sacks.

LB Jon Bostic (6-2, 225) of Wellington, Fla., could not make it in for USC's spring game but plans to visit at some point. He recently picked up offers from Florida and Auburn to go along with the ones from USC, LSU, Miami, Central Florida, N.C. State, Purdue and Florida International.

A.C. Flora OL Trip Watson (6-4, 270) and LB Conor Hozey (6-1, 225) attended Tennessee's spring game. Neither player has been offered at this point.

A.C. Flora TE/LB Adger Rice (6-3, 220) will go to The Citadel this fall as an invited walk-on where he's expected to play tight end.

Basketball news

USC coach Darrin Horn scouted rising seniors 6-4 Kenny Manigault of Pinewood Prep and 6-7 Khris Middleton of Porter-Gaud last week. Manigault also is drawing interest from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Elon, Presbyterian, The Citadel, Charleston Southern and the College of Charleston. Middleton has an offer from High Point while Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Charlotte and Winthrop are among the others showing interest.

Former Clemson small forward 6-7 Julius Powell is transferring to Lenoir-Rhyne.

Anderson native 6-6 Ty Patterson of Dodge City JC, Kan., signed with Chattanooga.