Gamecock Recruiting Tidbits

I know most of gamecocks news has involved the recent hiring of a new OL/Run Game Coordinator Shawn Elliott, a "sad sad" bowl showing for the gamecocks and/or USC Forward Mike Holmes getting the boot from the basketball team recently. 
But there has been some recent developments on some key Gamecock Football Recruiting Targets and here is the rundown ---

• USC's DL target Sharrif Floyd of Philadelphia has taken the Gamecocks out of his final list. Floyd talked to reporters in San Antonio after arriving for the US Army All American Game and said he is down to North Carolina, Florida and Ohio State.
• Gamecocks #1 RB target Byrnes RB Marcus Lattimore told reporters at the US Army All Amercian Game that he has dropped Georgia from his list and is down to USC, Penn State, Auburn and Oregon. He will visit USC January 15th and Oregon on the 22nd. He will announce a decision at his church February 2nd. I feel good that Marcus will be wearing garnet & black....
• Manning DE Dexter Morant (6-7 235) has been a Georgia commitment since July, but Morant said Thursday he's now planning to take official visits to USC and Clemson in January.  USC needs to do all it can to land this guy.  He is a big boy that is the type of DE that can cause havoc of a O linemen.
• Manning DB John Fulton announced a commitment to Alabama this past Saturday during the Under Armour All American Game in St. Petersburg, FL. Fulton picked the Crimson Tide over USC.  Hated to see this but I guess the appeal of 'Bama and depth chart factors caused him to pledge this direction.
• Another USC target, wide receiver Kenny Shaw of Orlando, committed to Florida State during the same game.
• DL Jeffery Whitaker (6-3 293) of Warner Robins, GA was down for an official visit to USC for January 15th. But in an interview with Scout.com, Whitaker named a final five that did not include the Gamecocks. Whitaker said he's down to Cal, North Carolina, Georgia, Auburn and Miami.  Again hate to see this as this guy could be a great run stuffer.
• Beaufort LB Justin Parker, who was a lean to USC, is now favoring LSU.  Hoping he will change his mind once again as he could be good like a Norwood/Jasper type.
• Byrnes DE Brandon Willis told Rivals.com he will choose either North Carolina or UCLA and will announce the winner during the US Army All American Game. He said he contacted Tennessee this past Saturday and formally de-committed.  Something tells me the UT scandal played into this a bit.

more to watch this offseason now that coaches have time and a big "visit" day is set for 1/15/10......