Spurrier, Gamecocks reap rewards of a lot to offer

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s has more to offer prospects than ever before – and top high-school players are listening.

Spurrier and the Gamecocks signed a group of 25 that features four Parade All-Americans, including receiver Shaq Roland of nearby Lexington High, the state’s reigning “Mr. Football.”

“We’ve certainly more to offer than we ever have at South Carolina,” Spurrier said. “We’ve got a track record for winning, a track record for graduating our players, we’re playing in the SEC and so forth.”

The past few seasons sure didn’t hurt either. Roland, a fast, rangy, 6-foot-1, 173 pound wideout, is the fourth straight winner of the state award given South Carolina’s best player to sign with the Gamecocks.

All-SEC cornerback Stephon Gilmore got the ball rolling in 2009. He was followed by star tailback Marcus Lattimore in 2010 and standout freshman defensive end Jadeveon Clowney a year ago.

Those three helped the Gamecocks achieve milestones the past two seasons, including a Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title in 2010 and an 11-win season this past fall, surpassing the previous program high for victories in one year.

“So we got a good football program,” Spurrier said. “Now we’ve got to keep going, keep pushing to get better.”

Spurrier expects his newest recruits to chip in, particularly in a couple of key spots. Offensive lineman Brock Stadnik of Greensboro, N.C., could shore up a front that loses starters in Kyle Nunn, Terrence Campbell and Rokevious Watkins. Roland will be expected to compete at receiver where star Alshon Jeffery gave up his senior year for the NFL. And cornerback Chaz Elder of Union City, Ga., who picked the Gamecocks over offers from Arkansas and Georgia, could get a serious look to fill Gilmore’s spot after the junior also chose to turn pro.

Spurrier was also hopeful that tight end signees in 6-6 Jerrell Adams of Pinewood and 6-3 Kelvin Rainey of Yulee, Fla., would bolster the Gamecocks offense next season.

“They’ll certainly have a chance,” he said.

Along with Roland, the other Parade All-Americans were Stadnik, quarterback Brendan Nosovitch of Allentown, Pa., and defensive end Darius English of Powder Springs, Ga.

Plus, said recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr., it was a class that mostly came together after last summer and held firm through the frantic few weeks of recruiting once the regular season ended.

“It was a peaceful signing day,” the younger Spurrier said, “which is kind of nice.”

Especially after last year when Clowney, the 6-6 defensive end considered the country’s top college prospect, waited nearly two weeks after National Signing Day to pick the Gamecocks over Alabama and Clemson. For Spurrier and the Gamecock coaches, that just meant hanging in there a little longer for the major pay off.

There was no drama this time, just a solid class ranked in most recruiting analysts top 20 in the country. Scout.com rated South Carolina 12th overall and fourth in the SEC behind Alabama, Florida and LSU. The Gamecocks were 16th on ESPN’s list and 18th by Rivals.com.

“The perception of our program really has gone up,” Spurrier Jr. said.

The recruits hope to take that perception even higher.

Elder said on his Twitter feed soon after faxing in his letter of intent, “Today we win the SEC… Gaaaaaammmmme….. Cooooooocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Roland was more low-key, grateful for the opportunity and ready to do what he can to help. “I’m going to go in and work hard, do what I need to do and let my play decide if I can play early or not,” he said.