South Carolina Gamecocks

The class

Recruits: 24 (22 high school seniors, two enrolled early, and two junior college players, one who enrolled early).

Top prospects: Marcus Lattimore was the No. 2 running back prospect in the country and the 19^th best player overall. Offensive guard A.J. Cann and defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles were also ESPNU 150 prospects. Cornerback Victor Hampton chose South Carolina after initially committing to Florida.

Sleepers: The Florida schools may be wishing in a few years that they had recruited receiver Ace Sanders a little harder. Safety Brison Williams is another player to watch.

Needs met: Beefing up the offensive line was clearly the priority, and the Gamecocks did that by signing six offensive line prospects. They also needed another pass-rusher, and Brandon Golson gives them that hybrid outside linebacker they can move around. There wasn’t a marquee quarterback signed in this class – for the second year in a row -- and that’s a problem.

Analysis: The best thing the Gamecocks did was clean up in state, and it’s the second year in a row that they have won more than their share of the in-state recruiting battles. Lattimore may be one of the most important players Steve Spurrier has signed since coming to South Carolina. He’ll get a chance right away to pump some life into the Gamecocks’ sagging running game.

Scouts Inc.: B-

What Steve Spurrier said:

• “We’ve got some new (offensive linemen) on the way, a new coach on the way and a new running back on the way. So, yes, we’re going to try and emphasize the running game.”
• “I think we’ve done a really good job, our coaches, of emphasizing to our in-state players that we can win big here.”
• “With these new players coming in, I really believe we’ve got a chance, the next four or five years, to be a lot better than we’ve ever been here.”