South Carolina grabbed a huge pickup yesterday with the announcement of Mike Davis coming to Columbia to play for the Gamecocks. This 5'10", 200-pound back is ranked as the sixth-best running back in the class according to Rivals, and is a four-star prospect.  As a senior, he rushed for 1,923 yards with 21 touchdowns.  He picked South Carolina over Georgia.He is the brother of ex-Clemson tailback James Davis, who was a star player for the Tigers. Mike Davis has sub 4.5 speed.  He has a cutting ability that is rare for a player his age.  The Gamecocks now have five running backs on the roster that are starter quality in the SEC.  Kenny Miles, Brandon Wilds, Shon Carson, Davis, and of course, Marcus Lattimore show an embarrassment of riches at the position.Davis could be in the rotation in year one.  He is a skilled runner with incredibly vision. I wouldn't be surprised if the team red-shirted him to make room for all the good young runners, but I am doubting it. South Carolina still has one big offensive star on the radar.  Quinshad Davis is still out there, and possibly favoring the Gamecocks. This class is shaping up to be an incredibly talented crop.  South Carolina may finally be reloading instead of building. It's a great time to be a Gamecock, and these kids know it.  Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

ESPN is reporting that Alshon Jeffery and Stephon Gilmore will go pro. Alshon Jeffery's parting words fit with his attitude for so many years: "I would like to thank the fans, my teammates , coach spurrier and everyone involved for all the opportunities south Carolina has provided me, I am proud to say I will always be a gamecock."He truly will always be a Gamecock—and a well-loved one at that. No one is surprised he is leaving.  He has always wanted to take care of his family, and he has given all he can to the university.  He is projected as a first- or second-round pick, and will make great money. He has the work ethic and skills to be a great wide receiver. Stephon Gilmore's decision is questionable. A super talented player with a high ceiling, Gilmore has suffered from bouts of chronic underachievement in certain games.  He will be no higher than a low second-round pick in my opinion.  Someone could take him higher if he shows out at the combine, but he could have been a slam dunk top-10 pick in 2013.So, now that two of the most dynamic players on the team are gone, what is next?At wide receiver, Alshon will be next to impossible to replace.  However, they won't have to replace him.  They have a stable of great wide receivers ready to play. K.J. Brent, a redshirt freshman, has been amazing at practice.  Ace Sanders is a bona fide gamer, as noted during the Nebraska game. Damiere Byrd, the freshman speedster, will likely get more looks.  They also have Shaq Roland coming in, who could make an impact similar to Clemson's Sammy Watkins. Buster Anderson will also get a look.  The 6'6", 207-pound freshman tight end could be the next great wide receiver for the team. Connor Shaw will distribute the ball evenly among these guys.  The team will be fine. Now, Stephon Gilmore's loss may be a bit more difficult to overcome. Vic Hampton looked good this year.  If he can stay out of trouble, he will be a great starter.  The Gamecocks also have a stable of very young and talented players in the fold, but they are all unproven.  Akeem Aguste will be back from injury, and that should help. Either way, Gamecock nation and myself wish both Gilmore and Jeffery great success in the NFL. You will always be Gamecocks!Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

ESPN is reporting that Alshon Jeffery and Stephon Gilmore will go pro. Alshon Jeffery's parting words fit with his attitude for so many years: "I would like to thank the fans, my teammates , coach spurrier and everyone involved for all the opportunities south Carolina has provided me, I am proud to say I will always be a gamecock."He truly will always be a Gamecock—and a well-loved one at that. No one is surprised he is leaving.  He has always wanted to take care of his family, and he has given all he can to the university.  He is projected as a first- or second-round pick, and will make great money. He has the work ethic and skills to be a great wide receiver. Stephon Gilmore's decision is questionable. A super talented player with a high ceiling, Gilmore has suffered from bouts of chronic underachievement in certain games.  He will be no higher than a low second-round pick in my opinion.  Someone could take him higher if he shows out at the combine, but he could have been a slam dunk top-10 pick in 2013.So, now that two of the most dynamic players on the team are gone, what is next?At wide receiver, Alshon will be next to impossible to replace.  However, they won't have to replace him.  They have a stable of great wide receivers ready to play. K.J. Brent, a redshirt freshman, has been amazing at practice.  Ace Sanders is a bona fide gamer, as noted during the Nebraska game. Damiere Byrd, the freshman speedster, will likely get more looks.  They also have Shaq Roland coming in, who could make an impact similar to Clemson's Sammy Watkins. Buster Anderson will also get a look.  The 6'6", 207-pound freshman tight end could be the next great wide receiver for the team. Connor Shaw will distribute the ball evenly among these guys.  The team will be fine. Now, Stephon Gilmore's loss may be a bit more difficult to overcome. Vic Hampton looked good this year.  If he can stay out of trouble, he will be a great starter.  The Gamecocks also have a stable of very young and talented players in the fold, but they are all unproven.  Akeem Aguste will be back from injury, and that should help. Either way, Gamecock nation and myself wish both Gilmore and Jeffery great success in the NFL. You will always be Gamecocks!Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

The draft news keeps on coming, as South Carolina Gamecocks top wide receiver will enter the 2012 NFL draft. ESPN's Joe Schad broke the news on Twitter, and it's sure to create a ton of buzz. Jeffery had a down year compared to his breakout sophomore season, but he is still projected as a first-round pick.Some believe he will be the second wide receiver taken behind Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, and others see him as the third best wideout behind Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. Listed at 6'4" and 229 pounds, Jeffery has the tools to thrive in the NFL. His measurements alone entice scouts, but his superb skills and ability to catch most anything thrown his way is what really has people talking. This announcement shouldn't be a surprise, though, given the inconsistencies at quarterback for the Gamecocks. After a stellar performance in the Capital One Bowl (excluding his ejection), Jeffery is taking advantage of the moment and leaving for the NFL while his ceiling is high. With a legitimate quarterback, Jeffery should grow into one of the leagues biggest threats. It all depends on where he is drafted. Plenty of the teams in the Top 15 need a play-making wide receiver, which means Jeffery could land with an inexperienced quarterback. Then again, a team could trade up to get him, you never really know with the draft these days. Jeffery told Schad that he's ready for the next step but knows he still has work to do. Those are the three best wide receivers in the NFL, so it's nice to hear Jeffery aspires to be like them. Of course, it won't be easy, as all three are still in their prime, but Jeffery can quickly rise to the top if put in the right place. The 2012 NFL draft will be here before you know it, and many other underclassmen will soon decide whether or not to go pro. Jeffery is just another example of skilled players that feel college football no longer as something to offer.  Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

With bowl season coming to a close, college football stars are making big decisions about their future, and the latest junior enter the 2012 NFL draft is South Carolina Gamecocks top wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery.  ESPN's Joe Schad broke the news on Twitter, and it's sure to create a ton of buzz. Jeffery had a down year compared to his breakout sophomore season, but he is still projected as a first-round pick.Some believe he will be the second wide receiver taken behind Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, and others see him as the third best wideout behind Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. Listed at 6'4" and 229 pounds, Jeffery has the tools to thrive in the NFL. His measurements alone entice scouts, but his superb skills and ability to catch most anything thrown his way is what really has people talking. This announcement shouldn't be a surprise, though, given the inconsistencies at quarterback for the Gamecocks. After a stellar performance in the Capital One Bowl (excluding his ejection), Jeffery is taking advantage of the moment and leaving for the NFL while his ceiling is high. With a legitimate quarterback, Jeffery should grow into one of the leagues biggest threats. It all depends on where he is drafted. Plenty of the teams in the Top 15 need a play-making wide receiver, which means Jeffery could land with an inexperienced quarterback. Then again, a team could trade up to get him, you never really know with the draft these days. Jeffery told Schad that he's ready for the next step but knows he still has work to do. Those are the three best wide receivers in the NFL, so it's nice to hear Jeffery aspires to be like them. Of course, it won't be easy, as all three are still in their prime, but Jeffery can quickly rise to the top if put in the right place. The 2012 NFL draft will be here before you know it, and many other underclassmen will soon decide whether or not to go pro. Jeffery is just another example of skilled players that feel college football no longer as something to offer.  Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team, fresh off their 2012 Capital One Bowl victory over Nebraska, hit the recruiting trail and landed a much-needed piece for the 2012 season in kicker Nick St. Germain. This recruitment fills a major need for the 2012 roster, as USC loses its starting kicker and punter in the upcoming season. With a strong leg, St. Germain should compete for the starting field goal and kickoff specialist jobs right away. St. Germain (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) is rated three stars by 247Sports, which also ranks him as the nation's fourth-best kicking prospect for 2012. As soon as the Gamecocks offered, St. Germain chose them over offers from Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Southern and South Alabama. He was also receiving interest from Georgia Tech, Auburn and Florida. St. Germain is the 21st verbal commitment of the 2012 class and the ninth pledge from the state of Georgia for the Gamecocks. He is a high school teammate of current USC commitment Darius English and a former teammate of current Gamecocks Rory Anderson and Marcquis Roberts. This past season, St. Germain was 11-of-17 on field goals and converted all 52 PAT attempts. He also kicked 59-of-74 kickoffs into the end zone. St. Germain has the potential to be the next great South Carolina kicker like former Gamecocks Ryan Succop and Spencer Lanning.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

South Carolina Defensive Coordinator Ellis Johnson has accepted the head coaching job at Southern Mississippi. Johnson's appointment comes on the heals of Golden Eagle's coach Larry Fedora leaving to take over as head coach at North Carolina.Johnson was an assistant coach at Southern Miss in 1988 and 1989 and is headed back after spending the last four seasons as the Gamecocks defensive coordinator under Steve Spurrier. The Gamecocks defense finished the season ranked 13th in the country in points allowed at just under 19 points per game.Southern Mississippi is coming off an impressive season of their own, finishing 11-2 and ranked 21st in the country.After building a solid defensive unit at South Carolina, Johnson had been thought to be looking into returning to a head coaching position. He was the head coach at the Citadel between 2001 and 2003.Although Johnson's contract contained a hefty buyout if he had left for another coordinator position, there's no buyout for taking a head coaching job. His current contract paid $700,000 annually and ran through the 2013 season.South Carolina's defensive cupboard is well-stocked with solid players around the field and impact players like freshman Jadeveon Clowney. There's no word on whether Johnson's departure will have any effect on 2012 defensive recruits already committed or those still considering the Gamecocks.Coach Spurrier commented that he expected Johnson to remain with the team through the Capital One Bowl on January 2nd.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

South Carolina Defensive Coordinator Ellis Johnson has accepted the head coaching job at Southern Mississippi, according to The Clarion-Ledger. Johnson's appointment comes on the heels of Golden Eagle's coach Larry Fedora leaving to take over as head coach at North Carolina.Johnson was an assistant coach at Southern Miss in 1988 and 1989 and is headed back after spending the last four seasons as the Gamecocks defensive coordinator under Steve Spurrier. The Gamecocks defense finished the season ranked 13th in the country in points allowed at just under 19 points per game.Southern Mississippi is coming off an impressive season of its own, finishing 11-2 and ranked 21st in the country.After building a solid defensive unit at South Carolina, Johnson had been thought to be looking into returning to a head coaching position. He was the head coach at the Citadel between 2001 and 2003.Although Johnson's contract contained a hefty buyout if he had left for another coordinator position, there's no buyout for taking a head coaching job. His current contract paid $700,000 annually and ran through the 2013 season.South Carolina's defensive cupboard is well-stocked with solid players around the field and impact players like freshman Jadeveon Clowney. There's no word on whether Johnson's departure will have any effect on 2012 defensive recruits already committed or those still considering the Gamecocks.Coach Spurrier said prior to the hire that he expected Johnson to remain with the team through the Capital One Bowl on January 2nd.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

I'm sure with all of the scandals and coaches being fired, it's really hard to remember everything taking place in college football this season.But three months ago, it was announced that South Carolina had broken NCAA rules. The NCAA said players received up to $55,000 in improper benefits as they stayed in a hotel at a reduced rate. Due to these violations, these players should have been ruled ineligible. South Carolina is now punishing themselves to try and lessen the blow from the NCAA.They are removing six scholarships over the course of three years. They're also removing up to 30 official recruiting visits for the 2012-13 year and agree to pay a fine of $18,500 for the four players that should have been ruled ineligible. The school is also offering three years of probation.“We continue to work in full cooperation with the NCAA on this very serious matter,” school president Harris Pastides said. “As an institution, we established self-imposed penalties and implemented corrective actions.”South Carolina has also removed three boosters who played a part in these violations and has punished the former head of compliance, Jennifer Stiles, who was the one who signed off on the hotel.So, will these self-imposed penalties be enough for the NCAA?Who knows? Just a few years ago, South Carolina broke up to 10 NCAA violations under head coach Lou Holtz. That means the school are now repeat offenders, which would likely mean the punishments will be more severe.We'll find out in February just exactly what will happen with South Carolina when they have the hearing regarding these violations.  Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or Randy.Chambers7@yahoo.comRead more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Steve Spurrier has received a contract extension that will keep him around through 2015. So much for those folks thinking he was retiring this season. Steve Spurrier is doing things at South Carolina that no other coach has done.  He took them to an SEC championship.  He has kept South Carolina's Mr. Football in state for the past four years, and he has the 2011 team on the brink of an 11-win season for the first time in the school's 109 years of mostly mediocre football. He's given the Gamecocks some of the top facilities in the country.   He has taken way less money than the market value for a coach of his stature, instead allowing that money to be diverted elsewhere.  The players love him, the fans love him and he loves being at South Carolina. I expect the coach to be around for at least three more years, but if he continues to feel as good as he does, there is no reason to think he can't stay for longer. The game has not passed him by—he still has the recruiting touch, and he has become synonymous with winning at South Carolina. People may not want to admit it yet, but a 19-5 regular season record over the past two years along with the recruiting classes he continues to bring in show signs of a program that has turned a corner as opposed to a team that is just a flash in the pan. South Carolina is a legitimate SEC team now.  They havn't won a championship yet, but they are looked upon as an SEC program. It's an amazing time to be a Gamecock fan.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com