Gamecocks Connection: The mailbag

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?

A bit of a different format this week. I opened things up to questions from USC fans.

There was one that was very popular. Keep reading.

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Get caught up.

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

🏈 Marcus Lattimore spoke with GamecockCentral.com on Thursday and mentioned how impressed he was with USC back Mario Anderson.

🏈  Members of the USC football program from the golden 2010-2013 era will be honored at the Jacksonville State game this weekend. We relived some of the best wins from that time frame.

🏀 Lamont Paris’ team picked up a come-from-behind exhibition win over Wofford on Thursday night. Several Gamecocks were in action for the first time in the Garnet and Black.

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The main idea.

Let’s hit some questions from the mailbag…

Q: Is there any news on potential last-minute recruits or flips for the 24 class? – CockyJoe via X

No new names to report at this time, although that’s going to change after the season. Why? Well, that’s when the transfer portal opens. We anticipate hearing lots of new names on the recruiting board at that time.

As for any flips candidates, the guys we have been tracking – Kam Fountain and Braylon Staley – for instance – are still in play to varying degrees (Staley does not seem as likely as of this writing, to us).

We’re keeping an eye on it, and there should be more activity on the high school front even before the portal opens. We’ll have a better sense in the next few weeks.

What’s our confidence level in landing Hill? Seems the longer it goes it may be good for us? – Kent Atkins on X

Daniel Hill would have committed to South Carolina, had he kept his original commitment date back in August.

He hasn’t been back on campus since the summer, and some other signs have seemed quite favorable to Alabama.

There are still some positive things being said about USC’s chances behind the scenes. That said, there’s a reason the decision was pushed and a reason you hear so much about Alabama here.

The Gamecocks are still working it, so we’ll see. I don’t think the longer it goes the better it is for USC; I think he’ll likely make a decision this month.

Traevon Dunbar? (Asked in some form by Donnie Lucas, Anthony Prosser, and Timothy Legrand on X)

The in-state back out of Midland Valley has had a huge season, rushing for over 2,200 yards heading into the playoffs.

The Gamecocks have one running back already committed in Matthew Fuller – who’s had a huge season of his own in Georgia.

As mentioned above, they will continue to swing at Hill until there’s a reason to stop.

We also know that USC is going to be looking to the transfer portal again. The intent last cycle was to take two, and Mario Anderson was the lone acquisition (although a quality one).

In short, USC is going to keep an eye on Dunbar, as they have been for a while. No offer yet, and it may not arrive.

It’s a situation we’ll continue to track. 

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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

A thanks and a request.

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