Clemson football was famously “cycling out” just a couple of years ago according to former South Carolina quarterback Todd Ellis.
If you are Clemson football fan on twitter, at some point you have reminded the South Carolina career interceptions leader about his ridiculous statement. Since that statement, Clemson has played for two more national titles and won another.
From a recruiting standpoint, Clemson football has signed the top quarterback in three of four classes – Hunter Johnson, Trevor Lawrence, and D.J. Uiagalelei and has had five straight Top 10, signing classes.
Meanwhile, the situation in Columbia is dicey at best.
When you get a second, take a look at the 2021 recruiting class rankings according to 247Sports. You will see Clemson in the Top 3 and will find South Carolina at number 58. Of course, Clemson football fans know that our little brothers just down I-26 don’t have much to offer other than conference affiliation – and they love to remind everyone of that.
South Carolina talks about the SEC more than cross-fitters talk about Crossfit and more than vegetarians talk about being vegetarians. (Nothing wrong with CrossFit or being vegetarian, but you all know the jokes)
Recruiting issues Clemson football does not have
Currently, there are only two teams in the SEC with a worse 2021 signing class ranking than South Carolina – Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Even worse for the Gamecocks, every single ACC team has a class ranked higher than the Gamecocks.
You read that correctly, every single ACC team has a higher ranking for the 2021 recruiting class. Currently, the Gamecocks have just six commits for the 2021 class – 4-star linebacker Trenilyas Tatum and five other three-star prospects. They are losing in-state battles to ACC teams like UNC and Virginia Tech.
South Carolina has offered nearly 300 high school players for the 2021 class and all they have to show for it is six commitments and one of the worst rankings they have ever had. For a little perspective, their 2019 class was ranked 18th and their 2018 class was 21st.
If Clemson football is cycling out, then who knows what is happening in Columbia. What we do know is no one would trade “cycling out” for the “SEC” and never will.