South Carolina’s first-ever recruiting pool party over the weekend made a splash with some of the Gamecocks’ major targets, with four players committing and a fifth expected to do so this week.
Defensive back Chris Smith of South Pointe was the first of the four to go public Friday afternoon. On Saturday, offensive lineman Akeem Cooperwood of Georgia Military got things rolling after visiting campus. He was followed in the pledge line by linebacker PJ Blue of Montgomery, Ala., and defensive back Marlon Character of Atlanta.
The Gamecocks offered Smith early in the process and remain his only offer from a Power 5 Conference program.