Jan. 18, 2007

Clifton Geathers and Jonathan Williams have enrolled at the University of South Carolina for the spring semester, Gamecock head football coach Steve Spurrier announced today. Geathers and Williams are two of seven newcomers who will join the Carolina football squad this spring, along with freshmen Ladi Ajiboye, Ryan Broadhead, Stephen Garcia and Travian Robertson and junior college transfer Larry Freeman.

“We’re excited to have Clifton,” said Coach Spurrier. “He is a player who can play on either the offensive or defensive line. We think he will develop into an outstanding player for us. Jonathan Williams is a junior college transfer who should be able to help us immediately on the defensive line this season,” added Coach Spurrier.

Geathers is a 6-7, 290-pounder who attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham (Va.) last fall where he was coached by Robert Prunty and was a teammate of Ajiboye. The four-star prospect originally committed to Georgia before casting his lot with the Gamecocks. He also received offers from Clemson, Florida and Florida State. A native of Georgetown, S.C., Geathers played his prep ball at Carvers Bay High School where he was one of the nation’s top prospect. He participated in the Army All-American game in January of 2006. He is the younger brother of former University of Georgia and current Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Robert Geathers, Jr. and is the nephew of former All-Pro defensive lineman Jumpy Geathers.

Williams is a 6-4, 275-pounder defensive tackle who played at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Miss. for coach Jay Miller. He was a two-year starter for the Trojans after initially enrolling at Butler (Kan.) J.C. He was a first team all-state selection in the Mississippi junior college ranks this season. He prepped at Glenn Hills High School in Augusta, Ga. where he earned all-state honors as a senior and all-area honors during both his junior and senior seasons. He was named his school’s Best Defensive Lineman for three straight years. Williams, who previously committed to Mississippi State, received a four-star ranking from Scout.com and a three-star ranking from Rivals.com. As a high school senior, he received offers from Alabama and Auburn among others. He will have two years to play two at South Carolina.

South Carolina’s spring drills are scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 20, with the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game slated for Saturday, April 14. The game time will be announced at a later date.