Recruiting Report 2.14.12

OL Josh Cardiello (6-2 270) of Buford, GA was offered Monday by USC. Gamecock recruiter GA Mangus made the offer to Cardiello who also has an offer from Florida. He is also drawing interest from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Georgia. He visited Auburn in January and plans to go to Florida’s junior day this Saturday.

DB Brian Walker (5-11 180) of Charlotte had favored USC early in his junior season but the North Carolina schools have taken the lead for his services. “I would have to say that my two favorites are (North) Carolina and NC State,” Walker said. “I’m really focusing on the in-state schools right now.” Walker was in Columbia visiting the Gamecocks two weeks ago. “It went pretty good,” he said. “They want me to come back for a spring practice and I’m sure I’ll go down there.” He is heading to Chapel Hill this weekend for his second visit to UNC. “I was up there for the Duke basketball game last week,” he said. His offers are from USC, UNC, NC State, Virginia, Auburn and Minnesota. Walker has no timetable for a commitment.

DE Dane Rogers (6-3 245) of Shelby, NC has offers from NC State and Tennessee with interest from Clemson, North Carolina, Florida, Duke and Wake Forest among others. He is the cousin of Carlos Watkins and recently visited Clemson. “The campus was beautiful,” Rogers said. “It’s a great school and I am very familiar with the coaches there. I spoke with coach (Dan) Brooks and coach (Marion) Hobby and they want me to come back during the spring for a practice.” It is a school of interest for Rogers who looks forward to seeing his cousin perform for the Tigers this upcoming season. He will visit Florida this weekend and would like to visit several other SEC and ACC schools. “I’m going to take more visits this summer but I’ll probably start focusing on the schools that offer me,” he said. “I want to look at the schools that are looking at me.” Rogers does not have any favorites. As for attending a camp at Clemson over the summer, he is undecided.

USC and Clemson recruiters are interested in a pair of prospects from McDonough, GA in TE Bill Teknipp (6-6 235) and LB Shawayne Lawrence (6-3 250). The pair attends Eagles Landing High School. New USC assistant Joe Robinson and Clemson recruiter Marion Hobby have checked on both players who are waiting on their first offer. Both have been to games at Clemson. NC State, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Troy are others showing interest in both players. Teknipp caught 45 passes for 676 yards and 3 touchdowns last season, and his coach said he did not drop a pass. Lawrence had 109 tackles and 11 sacks. He has been invited to numerous junior days but has not made any due to wrestling.

RB TJ Logan of Greensboro, NC visited West Virginia over the weekend for a junior day. And last Wednesday he was at North Carolina along with many of the other top juniors in his state. But USC remains in strong shape with Logan. The Gamecocks were the first to offer him in the 10th grade. Logan also has offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Virginia, West Virginia, Cal, NC State and Tennessee.