Welcome to The Crootletter (sign up to get this in your inbox every morning!). I'm Bud Elliott, SB Nation's National Recruiting Analyst, and in this space I'll be sharing news, rumors and musings on the world of college football recruiting.
On Wednesday, SB Nation's Bill Connelly dropped his preview of South Carolina's 2016 season. And, wow, Steve Spurrier's recruiting over the past few years has left a mess for Will Muschamp.
Between missing out on top targets and having multiple players fail to qualify, there simply isn't much talent on the Gamecocks roster compared to top schools in the SEC. Linebacker Skai Moore, the best player on the team, is out for the year with a neck injury, and this is a tough talent situation in general.
Attrition was stark and swift. South Carolina still boasts plenty of former four-star recruits but almost no proven entities. The Gamecocks' only proven runner is a quarterback who might play receiver. The leading returning receiver had 12 catches in 2015. An underachieving line has to replace three two-year starters. And a defense that was only decent at big-play prevention must replace its top two safeties and four of its top six tacklers on the line.
I'm not willing to rule out Muschamp having success in Columbia, if success is defined as making a bowl game more often than not.
But it's going to take a couple years of upgraded recruiting if the Gamecocks are to be SEC East contenders, because Tennessee, Florida and Georgia all seem to be moving in the right direction in the division. The trio has averaged bringing in nearly 50 percent four- and five-star players over the last four cycles. South Carolina sits at about 30 percent, and that's before removing players who failed to qualify. Recruiting fans can look forward to full data in an upcoming piece this August.
South Carolina currently has 19 commitments, but only two are from four-star players. Several top targets like Georgian cornerback Jamyest Williams and receiver OrTre Smith are still on the board, and maybe the Gamecocks can add some elite talent between them. But it'll take a lot more than that to contend in the SEC. That will take time if it happens at all.
Spurrier, by the way, is back with previous employer Florida in a front-office role.
Quickly
UCLA went into Texas and landed three-star safety Chris Wilson.
Oregon was able to flip three-star JUCO defensive tackle Ratu Mafileo from Texas A&M.
Florida State picked up a linebacker commitment one day after losing one, landing former UCF commit DeMarco Artis.
NC State landed three-star wide receiver Max Fisher.
Big visit news for Michigan this week, as they'll be hosting top 2017 recruit (and Alabama commit) Najee Harris on Aug. 6 for the BBQ at the Big House. The Wolverines will be hosting five-star cornerback (and Ohio State commit) Shaun Wade on Oct. 1. Jim Harbaugh is clearly looking to do some flipping.
This might be Maryland's best recruiting class ever. Ever.
What is Oklahoma State doing on the recruiting trail? Cowboys Ride For Free has the scoop.