Signing Class Highlight Video

ANTONIO ALLEN – SAFETY – 6-2,190 – OCALA, FLA. (TRINITY CATHOLIC/FORK UNION MILITARY)

PREP SCHOOL: Enrolled at Carolina in January after spending the 2007 season at Fork Union Military Academy in Chatham, Va… given a four-star rating and considered the 23rd-best prep school prospect in the country by Rivals.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: As a high school senior in 2006, earned first-team all-state honors after logging 126 tackles and four interceptions… helped Trinity Catholic High School to a 13-1 season… as a junior, he logged 114 tackles and two interceptions, helping his team win the Florida Class 2B title… a high school teammate of current Gamecock wide receiver Dion Lecorn, Allen was coached by former Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell… coming out of high school, the consensus three-star prospect was considered the nation’s 42nd-best safety prospect and the 80th-best player in the state of Florida by Rivals.com… was the 75th-best safety prospect in the nation according to Scout.com and was rated the 91st-best player in the state of Florida by SuperPrep… originally signed with South Carolina in the Class of 2007.

AKEEM AUGUSTE – CORNERBACK – 5-11, 180 – HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (CHAMINADE-MADONNA/FORK UNION MILITARY)

PREP SCHOOL: Enrolled at Carolina in January after spending the 2007 season at Fork Union Military Academy… after his season at Fork Union, Auguste was given a four-star rating and considered the 14th-best prep school prospect in the country by Rivals.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: Credited with 114 tackles and 10 interceptions in his final two seasons at Chaminade-Madonna High School playing for coach Mark Guandolo… as a senior, he logged 54 tackles and three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns on his way to first-team All-State accolades… was credited with 60 tackles and seven picks along with four touchdowns in the return game as a junior… Auguste was ranked as the 28th-best player in the state of Florida and the 14th-best cornerback in the country by Rivals.com while earning a four-star rating out of high school… was considered a four-star recruit and the 31st-best cornerback in the nation by Scout.com and was rated as the 41st-best player in Florida by SuperPrep… originally signed with South Carolina in the Class of 2007.

ERIC BAKER – RUNNING BACK – 5-11, 190 – JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (EDWARD H. WHITE/FORK UNION MILITARY)

PREP SCHOOL: Enrolled at Carolina in January after spending the 2007 season at Fork Union Military Academy… played on both sides of the ball at Fork Union… rushed for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns despite battling a nagging ankle injury… earned a four-star rating and was considered the eighth-best prep school prospect in the country by Rivals.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: Led the state of Florida in rushing during his senior campaign of 2006 for coach Terry Gilliam… had 1,703 yards rushing and 16 TDs as a senior… earned second-team All-State honors… rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his final two seasons at Edward H. White High School, helping his team to a pair of state playoff appearances… received a three-star rating, was considered the 41st-best running back in the nation and listed as the No. 70 player in the state of Florida by Rivals.com… ranked as the 67th-best player in the state of Florida by SuperPrep and was a three-star prospect and the nation’s 49th-best running back by Scout.com… also competed on the track & field team… turned down offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Clemson, West Virginia, Louisville and Nebraska to sign with South Carolina in the Class of 2007.

REGGIE BOWENS – LINEBACKER – 6-2, 210 – HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (GARNER)

HIGH SCHOOL: A first-team All-State selection at Garner (N.C.) High School… tallied more than 100 tackles during his senior season… played in the Shrine Bowl… considered a three-star prospect… Rivals.com ranked him the No. 37 outside linebacker in the 2008 signing class and the 16th-best player in the state of North Carolina… has been timed at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash… was a high school teammate of current Gamecock Chris Culliver… chose South Carolina over North Carolina, Clemson and East Carolina among others.

JARRETT BURNS – SAFETY – 6-3, 185 – HUNTSVILLE, ALA. (LEE)

HIGH SCHOOL: All-city and all-region selection during his prep career at Lee High School in Hunstville, Ala… played quarterback in high school but is projected as a collegiate safety… three-star athlete… has been time at 4.51 in the 40-yard dash… high school teammate of current Gamecock Darian Stewart… played at same high school as Carolina assistant coach Ron Cooper… also a standout on the basketball court.

RONALD BYRD – DEFENSIVE END – 6-6, 258 – LAGRANGE, GA. (CALLAWAY)

HIGH SCHOOL: All-area selection as a high school offensive lineman at Callaway High School in Hogansville, Ga… tallied 45 tackles, including seven sacks during his senior year… runs a 4.8 40-yard dash… considered a three-star prospect… chose South Carolina over Arkansas, Auburn, Indiana, Louisville and Purdue among others.

KENNY DAVIS – DEFENSIVE TACKLE – 6-4, 295 – NEWBERRY, S.C.(NEWBERRY)

HIGH SCHOOL: First-team All-state honoree by The State during his senior season at Newberry (S.C.) High School… played for Coach Sam Baird… played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl… helped his team to the Class 2A state championship game as a junior… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 38 defensive tackle in the 2008 signing class and the 14th-best prospect in the state of South Carolina… Scout.com ranked him as the 40th-best defensive tackle in the land… given a three-star rating… runs the 40-yard dash in 4.90 seconds and can bench press better than 400 pounds… chose South Carolina over Stanford, Virginia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina.

RYAN DOERR – PUNTER/PLACEKICKER – 6-3, 185 – KATY, TEXAS (KATY)

HIGH SCHOOL: Helped Katy (Texas) High School to a 16-0 record and the Class 5A Division II state title as a senior… tabbed second-team All-American according to MaxPreps.com… tallied 57 touchbacks in 108 kickoff attempts… averaged 42.7 yards per punt during his senior season… Selected to the THSCA’s All-Academic team… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 18 kicker in the 2008 signing class… considered a two-star prospect… chose USC over Rice, Air Force, Houston, Northwestern and Kansas State.

ARAMIS HILLARY – QUARTERBACK – 6-2, 205 – NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (STROM THURMOND)

HIGH SCHOOL: Logged 2,400 yards and 16 touchdowns passing and another 980 yards and 18 scores rushing as a senior at Strom Thurmond High School… led his team to the third round of Class 3A playoffs… was a North-South All-Star selection… was an honorable mention All-State selection by The State… was the first recipient of the inaugural Deon Grant Award, given to the Overall Player of the Year in the Augusta area… also named the All-Area South Carolina Player of the Year by the Augusta Chronicle… passed for 1,762 yards and ran for 752 more as a junior, producing 21 TDs… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback in the nation and the 19th-best player in the Palmetto State… considered a three-star prospect… chose Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, East Carolina, Middle Tennessee St. and Mississippi State.

T.J. JOHNSON – OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – 6-4, 285 – AYNOR, S.C. (AYNOR)

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned first-team all-state honors as selected by the Associated Press at Aynor (S.C.) High School as a senior… was a second-team All-State pick by The State… played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… Rivals.com ranked him as the 13th-best offensive center in the nation and the 17th-best player in the state of South Carolina… considered a three-star prospect… chose USC over offers from Vanderbilt, Duke, Wake Forest, East Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, and NC State.

JARRIEL KING – DEFENSIVE END – 6-7, 285 – HANAHAN, S.C. (NORTH CHARLESTON/GEORGIA MILITARY)

PREP SCHOOL: Attended Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, Ga. where he was considered a four-star prospect… played for Coach Bert Williams… ranked as the 40th-best junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from North Charleston (S.C.) High School in 2005 and signed with the Gamecocks… played in the 2004 North-South All-Star game… named to the Class AAA All-Defensive Team and rated the 11th-best player in the state by High School Sports Report… rated the 22nd-best player in the state of South Carolina by PrepStar… named first team All-Low Country and first team All-State… was the Charleston Post & Courier Lineman of the Year… one of 50 players nationwide to be named to the “Old Spice Red Zone Team,” listed in USA Today… team captain… region champion in the shot put and MVP on the track team… did not play organized football until his freshman season at North Charleston High… recorded 86 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and three blocked kicks in 2004… as an offensive lineman in 2004, he was credited with 29 pancake blocks.

REID McCOLLUM – QUARTERBACK – 6-4, 195 – SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (SUMMERVILLE)

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Summerville (S.C.) High School in December of 2007… under the direction of legendary coach John McKissick, he led Summerville to Class AAAA Division I state championship game as a senior… passed for 3,644 yards and 44 touchdowns in his final prep season… threw for 518 yards and nine touchdowns in one game… earned third-team All-State honors as selected by The State… played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… as a junior, he passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 TDs… rated a three-star prospect, was considered the 23rd-best player in the Palmetto State and the 28th-best pro-style quarterback in the country by Rivals.com… is a three-star prospect and the 52nd-best quarterback prospect in the nation according to Scout.com… was also recruited by Wake Forest, Duke and NC State among others, but cast his verbal lot with the Gamecocks in June.

KENNETH MILES – RUNNING BACK – 5-10, 200 – LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. (BROOKWOOD)

HIGH SCHOOL: Rushed for more than 2,400 yards during senior season at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga… garnered first-team all-state and first-team all-area honors during senior season… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 33 running back in the nation in the 2008 signing class and the 38th-best player in the state of Georgia… considered a three-star prospect… chose South Carolina over and offer from Central Florida.

D.L. MOORE – WIDE RECEIVER – 6-4, 178 – BOWLING GREEN, KY. (BOWLING GREEN)

HIGH SCHOOL: Caught 60 passes for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season at Bowling Green (Ky.) High School… helped lead his team to the state championship game… tallied 468 receiving yards on 28 catches with three scores as a junior… played for Coach Kevin Wallace… considered a three-star prospect… also plays high school basketball… Rivals.com ranks him as the eighth-best player in the Commonwealth… chose South Carolina over offers from Cincinnati, Colorado, Nebraska and Purdue.

DARRELL SIMMONS – SAFETY – 6-1, 185 – COLLEGE PARK, GA. (BANNEKER)

HIGH SCHOOL: An All-City selection at Banneker High School by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution his senior season after accumulating 94 total tackles, including 16 for loss… considered a three-star prospect… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 41 safety in the nation in the 2008 signing class and the 39th-best player in the state of Georgia… is a former high school teammate of current Gamecocks Carlos Thomas, Ladi Ajiboye and Addison Williams… chose South Carolina over offers from Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

JAY SPEARMAN – DEFENSIVE BACK – 6-0, 187 – GREENWOOD, S.C. (GREENWOOD)

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated in December of 2007 from Greenwood (S.C.) High School where he played for coach Shell Dula… enrolled at Carolina in January… after playing quarterback in high school, he is expected to compete at defensive back for the Gamecocks, but could also be used at wide receiver… racked up 1,300 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns while leading his Greenwood team to an 11-2 record as a senior… earned first-team All-State honors by The State… played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas following the season… as a junior, he rushed for 1,111 yards and 17 touchdowns and threw for 1,108 yards and seven scores, helping Greenwood to the AAAA Division II state title… a three-star prospect, Rivals.com considers him the 59th best “athlete” in the country and the 18th-best player in the state of South Carolina… also considered Clemson, Maryland and Nebraska before selecting the Gamecocks… his uncle is former Gamecock Andray Spearman.

CHAZ SUTTON – DEFENSIVE END – 6-4, 236 – SAVANNAH, GA. – (JENKINS)

HIGH SCHOOL: Played on both sides of the ball at Jenkins High School in Savannah, Ga… rushed 75 times for 830 yards, an 11.7 yard per carry average and logged 85 tackles including six sacks as a junior… considered a four-star prospect… ranked as the No. 6 weakside defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com for the 2008 signing class and the 17th-best player in the state of Georgia… Scout.com ranked him as the 37th-best defensive end in the nation… originally committed to Florida before casting his lot with South Carolina… also had offers from Indiana, Louisville, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and California.

DEVIN TAYLOR – DEFENSIVE END – 6-6, 225 – BEAUFORT, S.C. (BEAUFORT)

HIGH SCHOOL: Totaled 110 tackles with 10 sacks and 19 tackles for loss as a senior at Beaufort (S.C.) High School, earning first-team All-State recognition by the Associated Press and by The State… helped lead his team to state AAAA Championship game… played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… logged 80 tackles and four sacks as a junior… considered a three-star prospect… was the 21st-best player in the state of South Carolina according to Rivals.com… is the 93rd-best defensive end in the country according to Scout.com… also played basketball and competes in track & field… chose South Carolina over offers from Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Furman, Duke, and NC State… hopes to study either electrical or computer engineering.

MIKE TRIGLIA – TIGHT END – 6-4, 234 – JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (BOLLES)

HIGH SCHOOL: Caught five touchdowns during his senior season at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, helping lead the Bulldogs to second round of state playoffs… ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the state of Florida by FlaVarsity.com… considered a two-star recruit… is the 61st-best tight end in the country according to Scout.com… chose South Carolina over offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois, Memphis, Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic.

CHARLES “C.C.” WHITLOCK – ATHLETE – 5-11, 172 – CHESTER, S.C. (CHESTER)

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated in December of 2007 from Chester (S.C.) High School and enrolled at Carolina in January… athlete who is capable of playing multiple positions, including wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner… led Chester to the Class AAA State Championship game as a senior… caught 23 passes for 418 yards, an average of 18.2 yards per catch, rushed 77 times for 266 yards with five TDs and completed 58-of-91 passes for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns for coach Victor Floyd… also had 38 tackles and four interceptions… was a first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press and The State, played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and also participated in the ESPN/Under Armour All-Star Game in Orlando where he returned an interception for a touchdown… as a junior, he starred at quarterback and cornerback, receiving first-team all-state and all-region honors after accounting for 26 all-purpose touchdowns… passed for 1,500 yards, rushed for 800 yards and logged five interceptions… the four-star prospect is rated as the third-best player in the state and the No. 10 cornerback prospect in the nation by Rivals.com… Scout.com considers him the 10th-best cornerback in the nation and the third-best player in the Palmetto State… also ran the high hurdles and on the 4×100 meter relay team as a prep… a cousin of former Gamecock Jonathan Joseph, Whitlock also visited Alabama and North Carolina.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS – OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – 6-6, 275 – WOODSTOCK, GA. (ETOWAH)

HIGH SCHOOL: Played on both the offensive and defensive line as a prep standout at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Ga… Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 70 offensive tackle in the 2008 signing class…Scout.com ranks him as the 48th-best offensive tackle in the land… considered a three-star recruit… also played basketball… chose South Carolina over offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Marshall.

SHAQUILLE “SHAQ” WILSON – LINEBACKER – 6-0, 220 – JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (FIRST COAST)

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from First Coast High School in Jacksonville, Fla. in December of 2007… enrolled at Carolina in January… as a senior he totaled 116 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries while leading his team to an 11-3 record and the district title… was named the area’s Defensive Player of the Year by The Florida Times-Union and was an all-state selection… logged 132 tackles including nine sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles as a junior… a three-star prospect, Rivals.com considered Wilson the 26th-best outside linebacker prospect in the nation and the 54th-best player in the state of Florida… Scout.com considered him the 20th-best weakside linebacker in the country… was a high school teammate of current Gamecock Jamire Williams… was offered scholarships by Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Ole Miss and South Florida among others, but was the first Gamecock commitment for 2008.