Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
South Carolina quarterback commitment Landon Duckworth of Jackson, Ala., is not going to back out on the Gamecocks as a result of the firing of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula. “I feel like this is where I belong,” Duckworth told Hayes Fawcett of On3 on Nov. 5. That’s big for the Gamecocks because Duckworth could be the heir apparent to LaNorris Sellers. This season, he has thrown for 1,583 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 267 yards and six touchdowns. Duckworth originally committed to the Gamecocks in August of 2023. He decommitted in June of 2024 and committed for a second time on July 18. Auburn was among his finalists the second time around and was his only other official visit besides USC. The Tigers will still be worth watching as they no doubt will make a run at Duckworth once their new staff is in place. The news with committed running back Amari Thomas of Blountstown, Fla., is still good for the Gamecocks, but they are still going to have to sweat this one out until the December signing day. “I’m committed,” Thomas said Nov. 5, adding that he has talked with USC coach Shane Beamer this week about the firing of Shula. “He told me they had like a roadblock. Just have some trust. It’s a process. It’s a business, so things like that are going to happen.” Thomas said he wasn’t happy about the decision by Beamer to move on from Shula. ”I saw the news when they first released it. I didn’t believe that that was going to be him,” Thomas said. “There’s been a lot going on up there. I’m not in shambles, but he was one of the main reasons I was going to South Carolina because he had come to my practice and spoken with my mom. It’s kind of different.” Thomas has only been to games this season at USC and Florida State. His original commitment, made in late January, was to the Seminoles. He decommitted in July and committed to the Gamecocks less than a month later. Nonetheless, the Seminoles have remained an option. “Them being only an hour away from home, it’s what you expect,” he said. “I know everybody inside that building is good people. I know them like I grew up with them. Like I said in the beginning, I’m never going to turn anybody about that’s recruiting me. Everybody deserves a chance. That’s really what it is.” Georgia Tech can also be added to the mix now. Thomas said the Yellow Jackets have been recruiting him, and he might work in a visit there if he can. Right now, he plans to attend the Clemson at USC game, and he might get back to Florida State for another game. But, at this point, the battle is between USC and Florida State, with Thomas saying his commitment level sits at a seven. “It really all just depends on what really happens with both of the teams,” Thomas said. “They are both having tough times. Both programs are good, they are just having some shoes to fill in. I know I can go in either rooms of both teams and make a difference, being a good player or a player that’s going to impact the team with a lot of motivation.” USC running backs coach Marquel Blackwell, whom Thomas is fond of, visited him for his Homecoming game during the Gamecocks’ first open week. He said he’s not aware of any coaches planning to visit this week because his team has a bye for the first round of the playoffs. Thomas said he will sign in December and enroll in January. This season, Thomas has rushed for 1,406 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is averaging 18 yards per carry. • South Carolina is doing good work on the recruiting side of things with 2027 DT Jesiah Fields (6-4, 245) of Charlotte. “They are definitely in my top 10, for sure,” Fields said. “I haven’t made it just yet, but they’ll definitely be up there, for sure.” Fields said he will make junior day visits and official visits to USC next year before making a decision in the summer. He has been to a pair of home games this season, with the most recent visit coming for the Alabama game. “They definitely made me feel welcomed, as always,” Fields said. “I got to see the people who are committed there, and the other guys that they are recruiting. I got to talk to them, so that was good. I definitely loved seeing them play again. They really played well. Very well coached. They played hard, physical, and fast the whole game.” Interim defensive line coach Jordan Dove has been recruiting Fields while Travian Robertson recovers from his injuries in a car accident. However, Robertson has also made calls to him. In fact, Fields said he talked with the Gamecocks on Thursday night. “They called and checked in on me to see how the season was going and see if we had a game tomorrow (Friday). Told them we had a first-round bye,” Fields said. “They called to check in on me and my parents. They definitely want me down there. They said I would fit in very well if I came down there. They are definitely recruiting me very hard, I’d say.” Fields has also been to games this season at Georgia, Auburn, and N.C. State. He was in Raleigh last weekend for the upset of Georgia Tech. He might go to Georgia for the Texas game on Nov. 15 and to Georgia Tech for the Pitt game on Nov. 22. And there’s a chance he could return to Columbia for the USC-Clemson game. In eight games reported to MaxPreps stats, Fields has had 25 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Clemson/USC The stock is climbing for 2027 CB Aamaury Fountain (6-1, 186) of Warner Robins, Ga. The month of October saw the big-time offers flow in for the one-time quarterback turned cornerback. Georgia Tech and Duke opened the month with offers. South Carolina followed on Oct. 2. Then came offers from Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, Georgia, Vanderbilt, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State, Nebraska, Texas, Alabama and Kansas. If his November is as fruitful, Fountain will be among the most hotly recruited corners in the country for his class. South Carolina secondary coach Torrian Gray is leading the Gamecocks’ recruiting effort with Fountain. He’s yet to get to Columbia for a visit, but he hopes to for one of the remaining home games in November. In the meantime, Gray has been in touch by phone, text and FaceTime. “He said he likes how I’m long and I can cover ground,” Fountain said. “I think I’m an excellent cover guy. I like shutting down their best receiver. That’s just the type of person I am. I like best on best matchups. I’m always on the other team’s sideline, because their best receiver tends to always stay to their side, so I’m always over there.” Apparently, Gray has done a good job of convincing Fountain to give the Gamecocks a hard look after getting that offer earlier in the month. “As of right now, they are definitely one of the top,” Fountain said. “I can’t put a number on it, but it meant a lot to me. I like the history. I like how, no matter what, they get better every year. South Carolina is definitely one of the ones higher up on the list.” Clemson is also showing interest, and he’d like to visit there in November if he can work it out. He had planned to visit a couple of weeks ago, but his transportation didn’t work out. Clemson staff member Tajh Boyd has been in contact with Fountain, and the conversation has touched on a possible offer. “He wants me to come and get my measurables in person to receive it, which is fine with me,” Fountain said. “It would feel great. They’ve got my ex-teammate, Ricardo Jones.” Fountain has been to games this season at Auburn, Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Clemson It can’t hurt to get a little help from time to time in the recruiting game. And that’s exactly what Clemson had in its early pursuit of 2028 defensive lineman Prince Che (6-4, 275) of Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Ga. Che has picked up some notable offers as of late, scoring attention from Brent Venables and Oklahoma before his trip to Clemson for the SMU game. Early in October, he visited Florida State, receiving an offer to kick off the month, and followed that up with another one from Mississippi State. But Clemson may have a leg up when it comes to Che’s recruitment. Scott Pagano played for the Tigers from 2014 to 2017, winning a national championship during his time, and now is coaching high school football, working as the defensive line coach for Thomas County Central. In his first year with the Jackets, he’s had the opportunity to tutor Che and was instrumental in getting his prized defensive lineman to Clemson in October. “Coach Pagano was a big help in setting up the visit,” Che said. “He reached out to the Clemson staff and made sure everything was organized so we could make the trip.” Che had nothing but great things to say about the visit, praising Clemson’s atmosphere and noting how locked in the fan base was from beginning to end. “It was an amazing experience,” he explained. “The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. The fans, the energy, and the way the team plays with so much passion ’til the end really stood out. You can tell Clemson has a special culture.” While he was on campus, Che had the opportunity to visit with Nick Eason, who spoke with the young defender about his game and what they try to identify within their recruitment. “I had the chance to talk with Coach Eason, the defensive tackles coach,” Che pointed out. “He was very genuine and easy to talk to. We discussed my game, what they look for in defensive linemen and how they develop players on and off the field. It was a great conversation, and I learned a lot from him.” Clemson made a positive impression on Che and joins an impressive list of programs looking to jump in early on his recruitment. Right now, though, he’s focused on his high school season and continuing to build relationships with the schools that have made an early impression. “I’m staying focused on finishing my season strong and continuing to improve every week,” he detailed. “I plan to take a few more visits and keep building relationships with college coaches. I’m just taking my time and making sure I find the best fit both on the field and in the classroom.” • Prospects who planned visits to Clemson on Saturday included: 2027 PK McCarty Harrelson of LaGrange, GA 2027 RB Tre Segarra of Byrnes 2027 WR DJ Huggins of Kennesaw, GA 2028 RB Michael Martin of Christ Church 2028 DT Prince Che of Thomasville, GA 2029 QB Khayel Sam Fong-Talia of Dillon • 2026 DE Michael Foster (6-3, 230) of Indian Land was offered by Clemson. West Virginia offered on Wednesday. He has been committed to East Carolina since July. Foster has been a destructive force this season, totaling 103 tackles in 10 games. He has 24 tackles for loss along with 10 sacks. As a junior, Foster had 87 tackles and 12 sacks, according to MaxPreps stats. Notes Score one victory for Florida State in the Palmetto State last week. The Seminoles lost at Clemson on Saturday but landed a commitment from Greenville High DE Franklin Whitley (6-7, 270). That decision had to come as a shock to both Clemson and USC coaches, who had been recruiting Whitley with a lot of effort. “I took an official visit up there, and it really felt like home,” Whitley said. “From me landing at the airport in Tallahassee and some of the coaches waiting for me, to me leaving, they treated me well the whole time. I really felt a connection with the players. Coach (Terrance) Knighton, coming all the way from Tallahassee to Greenville to visit me at my school on a random Thursday, that spoke volumes to me. Just stuff like that, I felt like it was the right decision.” Whitley was a full-time basketball player until this school year, when he decided to give football a chance. Smart move. He’s developed into one of the top players in the state, and the offers from major programs began to roll in. And while looking over his options, he found the Florida State defensive alignment very appealing. “They rotate D-linemen throughout the game to keep the D-linemen fresh,” Whitley said. “We kind of do the same thing at Greenville. I feel like it will be almost natural to me in terms of how they play. They run four men down, three men down. We do that at Greenville as well. I feel like I’ll be most comfortable at Florida State.” Whitley made official visits to Florida State and USC in October. He posted late last week that he has shut down his commitment and won’t take any more visits. Whitley also had offers from Georgia, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, West Virginia and Tennessee. Heading into the postseason, Whitley has 31 tackles with 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. • Clemson 2026 target CB Julian Peterson of Atco, NJ, a former Penn State commitment, had planned for an official visit with the Tigers for this past weekend. However, his games are now on Saturdays for the rest of the season. So, he visited Wisconsin instead, arriving Saturday night, and he plans to visit Clemson starting on Nov. 16 after the Tigers return from their game at Louisville on Friday. He has taken an official visit to North Carolina. • 2026 DT Tico Crittendon (6-4 300) of Lithonia, Ga., has South Carolina among his favorites after decommitting from Florida State. He just picked up offers from Colorado and Nebraska. He does not yet have the Gamecocks down for a visit. In nine games this season, Crittendon has 51 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and two sacks. • Members of the Michigan staff were to at Dutch Fork on Thursday to watch their committed DE Julian Walker practice. South Carolina continues to make a strong push for him. • According to a Rivals report, RB Messiah Mickens has replaced an official visit to South Carolina with one to Ole Miss. He is committed to Penn State but still shopping. He also plans official visits to Oklahoma and Indiana. • South Carolina target 2027 SS AJ Randle was offered by Florida State and Virginia Tech. • South Carolina and Clemson target OT 2027 OT Maxwell Hiller was offered by Colorado. • South Carolina target 2027 DE Chaz Gray of Union, NJ was offered by Maryland. • South Carolina target 2027 RB Brayden Tyson of Snellville, GA was offered by Florida State. • Clemson target 2027 WR DJ Huggins of Kennesaw, GA was offered by Boise State. • South Carolina and Clemson target 2027 DT Karlos May of Birmingham was offered by Missouri. • SAF Zeke Marshall-Curry of Rabun Gap, GA, committed to Coastal Carolina. He was once committed to Toledo. He played at Westside before transferring to Rabun Gap, and he drew some interest from Clemson. • Son of Florence native and former Florida State and Steelers star LB Lawrence Timmons, 2026 CB Jay Timmons, flipped his commitment from Florida State to Ohio State. • 2027 CB Kaiden Watkins of South Pointe was offered by NC State. Basketball Clemson on Tuesday night gained a commitment from 6-6 Amare James of Marietta, Ga., giving coach Brad Brownell two guards of length from Atlanta for his 2026 class. Last month, 6-5 Harris Reynolds committed to the Tigers. James took an official visit to Clemson last week and had a pretty good feeling afterwards that he had found the right place. “Their play style fits me as a player, how they use their guard/wings. It fits me a lot,” James said. “I very much enjoyed Clemson. I like what they stand for and how they develop kids.” Clemson assistant coach Sean Dixon started watching James a couple of years ago, and his interest grew as James developed his game. That led to an offer in early October, and ultimately to the commitment. “Coach Sean Dixon told me back when I was like a sophomore or a junior, he was like, I see your game, just keep working. I like your game,” James said. “When they came back and saw me with more improvements before the beginning of my senior year, I guess that’s just what sealed it. I’m a competitive, high-intensity player. I’m 6-6, so I can stretch the floor. I like to guard, and I’m just really competitive at the end of the day. I get after it.” James, who averaged about 13 points per game last season, also made an official visit to Evansville and was scheduled for a visit to Southern Indiana this coming weekend. He also received offers from College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, Alcorn State and Eastern Illinois. He is the third commitment for Clemson’s 2026 class, which can be signed starting this week.
