Bringing elite classes into the Palmetto State isn't easy, but the Gamecocks' archrival shows it can be done.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier resigned Monday after the Gamecocks' 2-4 start. The Gamecocks were not expected to contend for the SEC East this season, but South Carolina looks to be headed for a zero- or one-win SEC campaign.
The 70-year-old told The State Thursday that the Gamecocks' talent is "obviously" not what he thought it was.
"We need a hustler, a guy with fire and passion, a guy that is going to out-recruit (Clemson coach) Dabo (Swinney) and (Georgia coach) Mark Richt and (North Carolina coach) Larry Fedora," he said. "I think it's obvious our talent is not quite as good as it was, and that's my fault. We haven't recruited, maybe, quite as well. We thought we had, but it hasn't played out."
Over the last four classes, 51 percent of Georgia's signees had been rated four- or five-stars by the 247Sports Composite. The state of South Carolina doesn't produce a ton of top talent, but the Tigers have showed excellent recruiting is still possible there. Clemson signed a 47 percent blue chip-ratio by often dipping into the Sunshine State, while division rivals Florida and Tennessee brought in 47 and 42 percent, respectively. South Carolina? 34 percent.
Despite coming off its best stretch in program history, which included three 11-win seasons and an East title while Florida and Tennessee were below historical standards, South Carolina could not turn success into recruiting success.
The Gamecocks out-recruited North Carolina over the last four years, but Spurrier's age and lack of filter in proclaiming that he might coach just "one or two more years" were hurting South Carolina on the trail. Spurrier's repeated attempts to claim he was in it for the long haul were futile.
In the immediate term, going without a true head coach can't be good for recruiting, though there are newly encouraging signs for this class.
South Carolina can recruit better with a younger coach who puts more effort into recruiting. But the Gamecocks have never recruited as good as or better than Tennessee, Florida, Georgia or Clemson for any extended period of time. To do so would be a monumental achievement.