Gamecocks Connection: It's getting interesting

Hey, I’m Chris Clark with GamecockCentral.com, and welcome to Gamecocks Connection.

This weekly newsletter will consist of a summary of some of the latest happenings in Gamecock Country and one “main idea” that’s on my mind. Plus, there will be some other goodies along the way.

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What’s on the docket today?

There are two home games left in Williams-Brice Stadium this season.

One is against a team that’s become quite an SEC rival. The other is against USC’s most hated rival.

Shane Beamer’s program needs both to ensure bowl eligibility.

Beyond that, USC’s staff is looking to keep its 2024 class intact and the transfer portal is on the verge of opening.

Things are about to get very interesting.

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Get caught up.

A few quick things to know about your Gamecocks from the last few days.

🏀 Dawn Staley continued her stellar track record of keeping in-state talent home by landing Camden’s Joyce Edwards on Wednesday. The newest 2024 signee is the number two prospect in the country.

🏈  All three of USC’s coordinators previewed the Kentucky game yesterday.

🏀 It was a nice day for hoops in Columbia on Wednesday for the men’s program too, as Lamont Paris landed a four-star guard in Eli Ellis.

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The main idea.

There are two very important games left for South Carolina to close out the regular season.

There will be plenty of big-time recruits in town for both, and at least one of them (UK) is a night game.

The stakes are high in more ways than one. If USC can win both, that means the team is assured bowl eligibility. It would represent a pair of very satisfying wins for the Gamecock fan base.

It would also improve USC’s record for recruiting purposes as the staff looks to keep its current ’24 class stable and as the transfer portal window opening approaches.

Win or loss these next two games, this is going to be a huge offseason for USC.

When the portal opens early in December, there will be programs looking to poach some of South Carolina’s young talent. This is where the culture that Shane Beamer spends so much effort and energy on, plus other factors like NIL, will be important.

That culture, by the way, may be a big reason that USC’s been able to keep its 2024 class intact so far in the midst of a trying season.

There have been just two decommitments in this class, and both were before the season even began.

One of them was Ohio product Karson Hobbs, an early pledge who defected to Notre Dame. 

The other – offensive lineman Mike Williams – could more accurately be described as a parting of ways. He’s committed to Florida.

The Gators, by the way, have lost three commitments in the last week alone.

There have been other programs coming after USC’s commitments, but so far things look OK. The Gamecocks look poised to potentially flip a guy or two down the stretch – like four-star EDGE Kam Fountain.

We also know that the Gamecocks are going to be very active in the transfer portal. There aren’t many positions that USC will not look at, and how much success is had there will go a long way toward setting the course for 2024.

 There’s going to be a lot to cover over the next couple months.

Buckle up.

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SHOP GC!

— If you haven’t heard, we recently launched the GamecockCentral Shop!

We’re going to expand the store in the future, but we have some cool designs to offer right off the bat.

The first is a reboot of the popular “Bluff Road Football Club” shirt, designed by SC native and Gamecock superfan Kev Roche. (You may have seen his work on ESPN’s baseball broadcasts). This shirt is available in charcoal or gray

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