Tigers, Gamecocks add linebacker commitments

South Carolina and Clemson added linebackers last week to their football commitment classes while the Gamecocks deleted a tight end, and two players from the state accepted out-of-state offers.

LB Quin Smith (6-1, 208) of Lenoir, N.C., committed to the Gamecocks over offers from Duke, East Carolina, Western Carolina and Navy. Last season, he made 182 tackles with four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,074 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Clemson gained LB Quandon Christian (6-4, 210) of Lake View, who committed after a camp session. Clemson was his first official offer. Last season, he had 89 tackles and 11 sacks.

Coming off the USC commitment list was TE Will Middleton (6-5, 245) of Marietta, Ga. He had committed May 9, but after seeing him in camp earlier this month, he said the coaches weren't sure how he'd fit in with the offense. He's now looking at Akron, Maryland and Rutgers.

WR Alshon Jeffrey (6-3, 217) of Calhoun County last week committed to Southern Cal, the first prospect on record from South Carolina to accept a scholarship offer from the Trojans. Jeffrey is scheduled to visit the school for the first time June 24.

OL JerQuari Schofield (6-6, 298) of South Aiken committed Saturday to Tennessee, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Schofield was offered by the Vols at their camp Thursday. He also had offers from Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern.

USC will try to fend off Tennessee for DE Aldrick Fordham (6-4, 237) of Timberland after offering him last Monday at camp. Fordham said he will choose either the Gamecocks or Vols after visiting both schools in July. Fordham said USC has the edge right now because of location.

The Gamecocks also lead for DE Euclid Cummings (6-3, 228) of Roswell, Ga., who picked up a Gamecock offer at camp last week. North Carolina is second on his list and he also has offers from Duke, Indiana, Maryland, Central Florida, Middle Tennessee State and Richmond. Georgia Tech and Auburn also are showing interest.

LB Matt Coffee (5-11, 210) of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., will visit USC June 28 with his mother. The Gamecocks currently lead, and Coffee might be ready to commit on the visit. "I just want to see what it's like up there," he said. "I've never been there." Coffee attended a seven-on-seven camp at Auburn last week. He also has offers from Ole Miss, N.C. State, Maryland, Illinois, Southern Mississippi, Marshall, Iowa State and Mississippi State.

Clemson holds the edge for WR Jheranie Boyd (6-3, 185) of Gastonia, N.C., after he spent three days there for camp last week. "It's just the relationship I have with the coaches," Boyd said. USC, North Carolina and N.C. State are tied for second on his list. Boyd will camp at North Carolina on Friday.

DB Branden Smith (5-11, 165) of Atlanta also spent three days at Clemson last week observing, but not participating in, the camp. Smith has not yet trimmed his long list of offers and said he does not have favorites. He also has been to Georgia and will go to Auburn this week.

Columbia DB DaMario Jeffery (6-3, 211) attended a camp at Auburn on Sunday where he worked on one-on-one drills and pass coverage. He said USC, Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, Michigan and Tennessee are at the top of his list right now. "Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina are coming at me the hardest," he said. Jeffery attended a seven-on-seven camp at USC recently where he talked with coaches David Reaves and Ron Cooper. He is no longer considering Clemson.

ATH David Sims (6-0, 215) of Calhoun County has cut his list to USC, Tennessee, Georgia Tech and N.C. State, according to his coach, Walter Wilson. Sims has visited all of the schools except N.C. State, and he plans to get there this summer.

Daniel DB Jerrodd Williams (6-0, 185) of Daniel, who committed to Virginia Tech a little over a week ago, attended a half session of camp at Clemson on Thursday and a seven-on-seven tournament Saturday, and an offer from the Tigers might cause him to rethink his Hokie pledge. "I don't want to say yes or no," Williams said. He also has an offer from USC and is getting interest from Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. He will camp at North Carolina later this week.

ATH Marsalis Teague (5-11, 170) of Paris, Tenn., recently visited Clemson and is strong on the Tigers. He was scheduled to be at Miami over the weekend. He's also considering offers from Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Memphis, Ole Miss and Duke.

Timberland OL Quinton Washington (6-4, 315) is not attending camps this summer. From his nine offers, USC, Clemson, Tennessee, Alabama and Miami are the ones "he feels good about in no particular order," according to his coach, Art Craig.

USC got a look at TE Jim Teknipp (6-6, 230) of McDonough, Ga., in camp and is waiting to hear back on an offer. He has offers from Central Florida and Akron and is getting interest from Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia. He is scheduled to camp at Alabama today and also plans to camp at Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Michigan.

Cheraw RB Travis Small (5-10, 183) was offered by Duke last week, his first official offer. Small camped at USC but the Gamecocks did not offer because of concern about his speed, something he will try to improve over the summer. Small has rushed for 5,500 yards and 66 touchdowns in his career, including 1,964 yards and 22 TDs last season.

South Pointe LB Devin Wherry (6-0, 220) attended USC's camp earlier this month, and he favors the Gamecocks, but he has not been offered by them. He has offers from South Carolina State, Liberty and Western Carolina. He's also getting interest from Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and N.C. State. He also has camped at Wake Forest. He will be at North Carolina today and N.C. State on Tuesday.

ATH Victor Marc (6-0, 205) of Hollywood, Fla., plans to visit USC and Clemson this summer. He has 17 offers and will trim the list to five by the end of summer, and he said the Gamecocks and Tigers will be in the final group. "When nobody knew about me, they showed me the love," Marc said. Some of his other offers are Ohio State, West Virginia, Boston College, North Carolina, Florida and Auburn.

LB Daniel Mack (6-0, 198) of Miami also plans to visit USC and Clemson this summer when he's in the state to see relatives in Holly Hill. Among his other offers are Mississippi, Purdue, Wisconsin, Auburn, West Virginia, Boston College and Florida.

Clemson and USC have offered LB Frankie Telfort (5-11, 205) of Miami, and he said he hears more from the Tigers than the Gamecocks. He has not cut his list of 32 offers and is not attending any camps. Some of his other offers are Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, LSU, Florida and West Virginia.

OL Bobby Massie (6-6, 340) of Lynchburg, Va., now favors Alabama after a recent visit to Tuscaloosa. He also has offers from Clemson, North Carolina and Georgia. He will attend Hargrave Prep, Va., this fall.

DE Justin Anderson (6-6, 260) of Blythewood attended a USC camp last week. Blythewood coach Geremy Saitz said Anderson has official offers from Georgia Southern, Newberry and Presbyterian, and verbal offers from Maryland and Georgia Tech. Anderson visited Georgia Tech about a month ago and plans to camp at Maryland and Virginia Tech.

DE Chris Crenshaw (6-2, 235) of Louisville, Ga., camped at USC last week but did not receive an offer. He visited Georgia Tech on Saturday and was offered by the Yellow Jackets, and committed on the spot. He also had an offer from Mississippi State.

WR Jackson Cooper (6-2, 194) of Williston-Elko is drawing interest from Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Furman, Charleston Southern, UNC and N.C. State.

Richland Northeast ATH Derek Frost (6-1, 180) has an offer from Newberry.

Air Force has offered P/PK Grant Clayton of A.C. Flora who camped last week at Western Kentucky and Kentucky. He's also getting interest from Central Florida, Maryland, Furman, Wofford, Presbyterian, Charleston Southern and S.C. State.

Newberry has offered Flora ATH Carlos McCoy (5-8 160). He's also getting interest from S.C. State, North Carolina A&T, Morgan State, Army and Air Force.

Basketball news

USC has reestablished contact with 7-0 Matt Wilson of Raleigh, and he might visit this week after making stops to UNC Wilmington and the College of Charleston. Wilson was offered by the previous staff but only recently began hearing from the Gamcocks' new staff. "I've been in touch with the coaches and they like me again," he said. Davidson and Richmond also are strongly involved.

Clemson, Wake Forest and LSU are three of the possibilities for 6-5 Doneal Mack of Charlotte, who announced last week he was leaving the Memphis program after two seasons as a backup. Mack's father, Greg, played at the College of Charleston.

Former USC guard Trevor DeLoache was scheduled to visit Monroe JC, N.Y., over the weekend. He's also visited Chipola JC, Fla. He will decide between those two schools.

Kenny Manigault (6-4) of Pinewood Prep was a recent visitor to USC and is waiting to hear back on an offer. Wichita State also has been showing strong interest along with C of C, Charleston Southern, Georgia Tech, Georgia, James Madison and Presbyterian.

Baseball news

Clemson added a late signee for 2008 in RHP Thomas Cruz (5-11, 180) of Sewart JC, Kansas. And for their 2009 class, the Tigers have pledges from 3B Richie Shaffer (6-4, 195) of Charlotte, RHP Madison Younginer (6-4, 180) of Mauldin, and RHP TJ Wofford of Richmond.