College Football 2011: Newly Released Rivals 100 on South Carolina's 2012 Radar

After picking up the biggest recruit in its history, the University of South Carolina is aggressively hitting the recruiting trail for the 2012 season, and some of the top 100 players on Rivals.com recently released list have the Gamecocks high on their radar.

Some have the potential to be game breakers, and others will add depth to an already deep team. 

Keep in mind these players have a long way to go until they make up their minds. It will be a long and arduous journey. However, expect South Carolina to come away with a handful of these players and once again end up with a highly ranked recruiting ranking. 

This is where the future begins, and it is never too early to start taking a look!

I will update this towards the end of the summer, once again after the season and right before signing day!

(Keep in mind the top five teams for Rivals.com change daily, and the interest meter for all of the players is set to MEDIUM. The complete Rivals' Top 100 list can be found here.

#1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: Steve Spurrier Jr.  

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Notre Dame

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

Dorial Green-Beckham has no clear-cut favorites right now, and South Carolina is one of only five schools with a full-time recruiter listed to him. They have as good of a shot as any at this point. 

#3. D.J. Humphries, DE, North Carolina

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: Jay Graham

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Georgia Tech, Georgia, South Florida, South Carolina, Florida

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: High

Currently, Florida holds a slight lead on this huge recruit from North Carolina. He also said he loves Auburn and South Carolina, even though Auburn isn't in his top five. 

Other media outlets have South Carolina rated first on his list. 

#4. Eddie Goldman, DT, District of Columbia

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: None Listed

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): California, Florida State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low-Moderate

It seems as though Goldman really wants to go to Florida State or Alabama, but South Carolina has a shot. 

#5. Darius Hamilton, DE, New Jersey

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Colorado, Cincinatti, Michigan, Penn State, Southern Cal

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

Hamilton seems to enjoy his time around South Carolina. He doesn't have any clear-cut favorites at this point, and South Carolina is soundly in the mix. 

#7. John Theus, OT, Florida

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: Steve Spurrier Jr. 

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Central Florida, Miami, Auburn, Clemson, Mississippi State

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

While not listed in Rivals' top five, Theus seems to have a soft spot for Georgia, Florida and South Carolina based on his comments. 

#8. Stefon Diggs, WR, Florida

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Auburn

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low-Moderate

He has many schools gunning for him, and he seems to be really high on Virginia Tech and the Florida schools. There is still a chance. 

#9. Nelson Agholor, Athlete, Florida

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Texas, South Florida

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

At the moment, he seems to favor the Oregon Ducks (unlisted in Rivals' top five). 

#13. Noah Spence, DE, Pennsylvania

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Penn State, Iowa, West Virginia, Rutgers, Virginia Tech

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

Although it is very early, Spence seems to be favoring schools in the northeast, and it looks as though Penn State may be his choice. 

#16. Jonathan Bullard, DE, North Carolina

Star Rating: 5

Current Recruiter: Shawn Elliot

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Vanderbilt, California, NC State, Auburn, Miami

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

At this point, he only knows Florida will be a finalist. He is wide open, and it is anyone's game.

#27. Travis Blanks, CB, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: John Butler

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Southern Cal, Duke, Southern Mississippi, Stanford, Arkansas

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

Blanks is a player who has traveled a great deal and visited many schools already. He is not close to coming up with a favorite. 

#30. Noor Davis, OLB, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: None Listed

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): North Carolina, Alabama, Ohio State, UCLA, Florida State

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

Generally, not having a lead recruiter listed is not a good sign, even if you are on the list as a college choice.   

#36. Jonathan Taylor, DT, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Shawn Elliot

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Clemson, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Auburn

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

Once again, Taylor's top-two teams aren't even listed in Rivals' top five. Georgia Tech and Georgia seem to be the actual leaders for Taylor's services. 

#37. Devin Fuller, Athlete, New Jersey

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: None Listed

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Illinois, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Virginia

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

At this point, Fuller has not trimmed his list at all. South Carolina still has a moderate chance to pick up this talented athlete. 

#38. Avery Young, OT, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Jeep Hunter

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Auburn, NC State, South Carolina, West Virginia, Michigan

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

It is unclear who Young is favoring at this time. 

#39. Josh Harvey-Clemons, OLB, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: John Butler

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

Harvey-Clemons likes the SEC and wants to play close to home. It looks as though it could be down to Florida, South Carolina or Georgia. 

#41. Yuri Wright, CB, New Jersey

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Georgia, South Carolina, California, Michigan, Colorado

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

Colorado is making a strong push for Wright, but the Gamecocks are high on his list, and South Carolina has established some New Jersey connections the past two years. 

#47. Geno Smith, CB, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Lorenzo Ward

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Illinois, LSU, Oregon

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

At this point, Smith has said Auburn is his favorite choice. Rivals really needs to update the top-five standings.  

#52. Jameis Winston, QB, Alabama

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Lorenzo Ward

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Mississippi State, Baylor, Alabama, Miami, LSU

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately Low

Winston is high on LSU at this point, but South Carolina does have a wild card. Winston is a baseball player as well and would like to play collegiate baseball. South Carolina has one of the hottest baseball recruitment programs in the country, so why wouldn't he want to play for a national champion?

#55. Keith Marshall, RB, North Carolina

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter:

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Wake Forest, North Carolina, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, California

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

Marshall has narrowed his choices down to 12, and South Carolina is on the list. He hasn't gotten any deeper than his top 12 though, and the Gamecocks' crowded backfield may keep him from coming aboard. 

#56. Jordan Jenkins, DE, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Lorenzo Ward

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Florida, South Carolina

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: High

Georgia and South Carolina look like No. 1 and 2 for the services of this highly sought after defensive end. Alabama and Tennessee look to be high on his list as well.

#57. Chris Black, WR, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Steve Spurrier Jr.

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Auburn, Alabama

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderate

South Carolina has made Chris Black's top 8. He currently holds Florida, Florida State and Alabama as his top schools, but South Carolina is not far back. There is still plenty of time for Black to be swayed!

#60. Tyriq McCord, DE, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Georgia, Southern Cal, Michigan, Texas A&M, South Carolina

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

According to the latest news (May 9), McCord has had South Carolina at or near the top of his list this entire time. He plans on visiting Columbia again over the summer.

#63. Shaq Roland, Athlete, South Carolina

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Brad Lawing

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida State

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: VERY High

Roland has always favored South Carolina. Barring some shocking development, he will commit to the Gamecocks over the summer. It will be shocking if he goes elsewhere. 

#65. Deon Bush, S, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Jeep Hunter

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Georgia Tech, Florida International, Notre Dame, South Carolina

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

Bush has many offers, but he doesn't seem set on any one school at this point. 

#69. Chris Muller, OT, Pennsylvania

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Rutgers, Purdue, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Penn State

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

South Carolina has made the cut to the top 12 as one of only two (Florida) southern schools to do so.

#71. Leonard Williams, DE, Florda

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Steve Spurrier Jr.

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida, Georgia, Miami, Southern Cal, Florida State

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

South Carolina has been gaining steam with this prospect. They are now in the top five. 

#75. Brian Poole, CB, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: G.A. Mangus

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Notre Dame, South Florida, Florida, Auburn, South Carolina

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Moderately High

South Carolina has a great shot at this aggressive, ball-hawking corner. 

#76. Carlos Watkins, DT, North Carolina

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: None

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida, NC State, Miami, Wake Forest, Duke

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

His dream is to play for Miami, and they just gave him an offer. Expect the recruiting book to close soon on Watkins without South Carolina even getting a sniff. 

#79. Jelani Hamilton, DE, Florida

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: None Listed

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Auburn, South Carolina, Florida State, Texas Tech, Florida

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: High

South Carolina and Auburn are the likely two players to duke it out for Hamilton.

#92. Ricky Parks, TE, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Lorenzo Ward

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): Florida, Auburn, Southern California, Clemson, South Carolina

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Not Likely

Even though the Gamecocks are listed at No. 5 on Rivals, he has narrowed his list down to three.  Georgia, Alabama or Auburn will get to pick up this talented, pass-catching tight end. 

#94. Jaquay Williams, WR, Georgia

Star Rating: 4

Current Recruiter: Not Listed

Interest Meter: Medium

Current Top 5 (According to Rivals): South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, Ohio State, Alabama

Likelihood of Signing with South Carolina: Low

Even though South Carolina is listed No. 1 on Rivals, recent rumblings have him ending up at Ohio State. 

Significant Players on South Carolina's Radar Not in the Top 100

There are some significant players not in the top 100 who have South Carolina high on their list. Some of these players are:

Jordan Diggs, Four-Star Safety from Florida (Pictured)

Elijah Shumate, Four-Star Safety from New Jersey

Jody Fuller, Four-Star Receiver from North Carolina

Quinshad Davis, Four-Star Receiver from South Carolina

Kelvin Rainey Four-Star Tight End from Florida (According to Rivals, South Carolina is already his choice. He just hasn't committed yet)

Earl Moore, Three-Star Defensive Tackle from Florida

Paul Griggs, Unrated Kicker from North Carolina