Bios: Meet South Carolina’s 2020 football signees
Wednesday marked the first day of college football’s early signing period.
Note: All star ratings are based off the 247Sports Composite, which factors in all major networks’ rankings.
Rashad Amos, RB
Three stars | 6-0, 213 | Tyrone, Georgia
A Sandy Creek High School teammate of Hunter’s, Amos ran for over 1,300 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. The November pledge had offers from Tennessee, N.C. State and Boise State, among others.
Jaheim Bell, ATH
Three stars | 6-2, 207 | Valdosta, Georgia
Bell played several offensive spots, including wide receiver, tight end, H-back and even direct-snap tailback, in high school. He has the skills of a wideout but the size of a potential matchup problem as a tight end. In fives games as a senior, he caught 10 passes for 210 yards but missed most of the season with a torn ACL.
Luke Doty, QB
Four stars | 6-1, 185 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
USC’s second consecutive Elite 11 passer, Doty was named South Carolina’s Mr. Football in 2019 after completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,876 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 408 yards and four touchdowns, despite missing most of the playoffs with a hand injury. He’s the No. 2 dual threat quarterback in his class.
O’Donnell Fortune, CB
Three stars | 6-1, 172 | Sumter, South Carolina
Another physical cornerback, Fortune recorded eight interceptions over his final two seasons at Sumter High and earned a Shrine Bowl invite. He has recorded a 32.5-inch vertical jump.
Tonka Hemingway, DL
Four stars | 6-2, 259 | Conway, South Carolina
A blue-chip defensive line recruit joining the likes of Zacch Pickens and Joseph Anderson at a well-stocked position group, Hemingway had 92 tackles, 24 for loss, and four sacks this season. He and quarterback commit Luke Doty played on either end of a high school rivalry.
Dominick Hill, CB
Three stars | 6-0, 188 | Orlando, Florida
The No. 2-ranked player in Central Florida, according to Orlando Sentinel, Hill gives the Gamecocks another tall cornerback. Hill recorded six interceptions as a senior at Jones High School.
Joey Hunter, CB
Three stars | 6-0, 197 | Tyrone, Georgia
South Carolina beat out its annual SEC cross-division rival Texas A&M for this cornerback. The long, physical Hunter likes to play press-man coverage, a preference that aligns well with Will Muschamp’s coaching style.
Trai Jones, OL
Three stars | 6-2, 276 | Abbeville, South Carolina
ACC programs Miami and Virginia Tech called late, but Jones remained solid in his pledge to the Gamecocks. The in-state offensive lineman runs a 4.6 40-yard dash, according to his high school position coach.
Mohamed Kaba, LB
Four stars | 6-2, 212 | Clinton, North Carolina
Kaba shocked recruiting insiders when he picked Carolina over N.C. State, widely presumed to be the favorite for his services. One of the top 15 inside linebackers in his class, Kaba missed his senior season with a torn ACL but earned an All-American Bowl invite.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB
Four stars | 5-9, 211 | Middletown, Delaware
The crown jewel of the recruiting class, Lloyd is a borderline five-star recruit and the best running back commit South Carolina’s had since Marcus Lattimore. As a senior, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a career-high 326-yard game.
Vershon Lee, OL
Three stars | 6-3, 300 | Woodbridge, Virginia
The No. 19-ranked prospect out of Virginia projects as an offensive guard or center for USC. Lee was part of a Freedom High School offense that averaged 52.6 points per game this season.
Rico Powers Jr., WR
Four stars | 6-1, 183 | Savannah, Georgia
Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee and Nebraska all offered Powers, who recorded a 4.60 40-yard dash at The Opening regional. He attends the same school as current Gamecock Kingsley Enagbare and could contribute right away at a spot where USC is losing a lot of depth. As a senior, he recorded 28 catches for 596 yards and six touchdowns.
Makius Scott, DL
Three stars | 6-3, 306 | Gainesville, Georgia
A November visit to Oregon created some speculation here, but Scott stayed firm to USC, the school he committed to in June. The defensive lineman played basketball and threw shot put and discus for the Gainesville High School track team. As a senior, he had 46 tackles, eight for loss, four sacks, one interception and two blocked kicks.
Eric Shaw, ATH
Three stars | 6-4, 205 | Notasulga, Alabama
An impressive athlete with a long offer sheet, including Notre Dame, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn and Florida, Shaw played wide receiver, tight end and linebacker with 26 receptions, 445 yards and four touchdowns on offense and 128 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions on defense.
Jazston Turnetine, OL
Three stars | 6-6, 337 | Stockbridge, Georgia
Turnetine is coming to South Carolina after a stint at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he earned JUCO All-American honors. Turnetine is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 83 JUCO recruit in the country.
Tyshawn Wannamaker, OL
Three stars | 6-3, 347 | Saint Matthews, South Carolina
The in-state big man was one of the first commits in this class for the Gamecocks, and he remains the top-rated offensive lineman in the class. A two-time All-State honoree, Wannamaker is also ranked in the top 10 of players in South Carolina. He had 26 tackles on defense this season.
Mike Wyman, WR
Four stars | 6-2, 188 | Greensboro, North Carolina
Offered by most of the SEC and ACC, Wyman is a big, fast pass-catcher comparable in size to the departing Bryan Edwards. He is the sixth four-star wide receiver signee of the Will Muschamp era. Caught 26 passes for 465 yards and a touchdown as a senior.
This list will be updated throughout the day.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 7:52 AM with the headline "Bios: Meet South Carolina’s 2020 football signees."
