The Gamecocks' small December , six offensive and two defensive, was 鈥渂y design," according to South Carolina football head coach Shane Beamer.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to ... talk to them about your vision, what you want your program to look like, what it is going to be about on the field, how I see them fitting in,鈥� Beamer said regarding the recruiting process in a Wednesday press conference. 鈥淚t takes a lot of trust.鈥�
The first player to sign with South Carolina was quarterback Colten Gauthier of Bethlehem, Georgia, who plays for Hebron Christian Academy.
Gauthier is a 鈥渞eally productive football player," Beamer said, and has thrown for 2,000 yards in each of his three years as a starting quarterback. Beamer said Gauthier is 鈥渢he kind of guy that is a leader that you can build a program around.鈥�
Beamer also said Gauthier did 鈥渁n amazing job of recruiting other players.鈥�
South Carolina signed two wide receivers in its class: Sam Reynolds from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, and O鈥橫ega Blake from South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
鈥淎ny time you get a player from South Pointe High School, you know you鈥檝e done something well," Beamer said.
Reynolds recently led his high school team to a state championship.
鈥淗e's a guy that鈥檚 just a playmaker; can do a lot of different things,鈥� Beamer said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 used to winning.鈥�
At defensive back, South Carolina signed Marcellas Dial from Georgia Military College, though he is originally from Woodruff, South Carolina.
Beamer said 鈥渄efensive back is certainly an area we have got to improve our depth,鈥� and he 鈥渞eally enjoyed visiting鈥� with Dial.
The class is rounded out by offensive lineman Jordan Davis from Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia; Nicolas Barrett, a defensive lineman from Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina; and Caleb "Juju" McDowell, a running back from Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia.
Wednesday night, JonDarius Morgan, offensive lineman from Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama, signed with the Gamecocks.
Beamer said this early signing day is just the beginning of the recruiting process for South Carolina, and he said he wants to 鈥渋mprove the depth ... at every single position,鈥� but went on to specifically address the wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back positions as areas he is focused on.
Beamer said he appreciates the excitement and energy he鈥檚 seen from Gamecock fans through announcing the signing class.
鈥淚 want to thank our fanbase. These young men that we鈥檙e recruiting and are signing today and that we鈥檙e still recruiting, they feel the energy from the South Carolina fanbase,鈥� Beamer said. 鈥淭hey feel the excitement in Columbia right now.鈥�