2024 tailback recruit from Mississippi considers South Carolina among lead group
Running back Daniel Hill of Meridian, Mississippi is one of the top running back prospects on the board in the 2024 class for South Carolina running backs coach Montario Hardesty, and the two have become very tight, according to Hill.
“We pretty much talk every day,” Hill said. “He continues to tell me how he loves my game and how they want me up there and want me to come visit. We’ve had a good relationship ever since they offered. It’s a place I could see myself playing at.”
Hill (6-1, 215) visited USC for the Tennessee game last season. This year his only visit has been to Alabama for a junior day in January. This spring, Hill has been caught up in track and hasn’t gotten out for any visits. On the track, he just set a personal record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.91 seconds.
Once his track season is over, Hill plans to see some places. In fact, he’s headed back to USC on April 15 for their spring game, further evidence he holds the Gamecocks high on his list.
“Right now, they are pushing pretty hard, so I’d put them in the top three,” Hill said. “They’ve been on me ever since they offered me. That’s a good thing. They made a big jump last year and that’s something you look for.”
Hill said Tennessee and Auburn are the other two currently in a lead spot with him along with USC. He plans to take official visits to all three, with the USC visit most likely taking place the weekend of June 22.
Hill also has on his short list Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Penn State, Arkansas and Alabama. He said he’ll make his decision later this summer after his official visits.
Hill last season rushed for 1,371 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he had 623 receiving yards with four touchdowns.
Transfer portal update
USC continues to work the transfer portal for defensive help, and the Gamecocks this week have had a couple of prospects in for official visits:
▪ Utah State linebacker transfer AJ Vongphachanh (6-2, 230) was in Columbia Tuesday and Wednesday and got the chance to watch the Gamecocks practice while in town. He’s a native of Pasco, Washington and visited Washington State last week. In 37 career games with the Aggies, he made 222 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Last season he led the team with 101 tackles and 2 sacks He’s also getting interest from Minnesota, Miami, BYU and Texas A&M.
▪ Florida State defensive end transfer Derrick McLendon (6-4 245) arrived at USC Tuesday to start his official visit. The native of Tucker, Georgia played in 29 games with the Seminoles and totaled 60 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Last season he had 37 tackles with 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Ironically, the Gamecocks are seeking to fill a defensive end position vacated by Gilber Edmond, who transferred to Florida State.
Recruiting news and notes
▪ Defensive end Dylan Stewart of Washington, DC has set an official visit to USC for June 23. He is also set with Georgia June 2 and Ohio State June 16. Stewart was at the USC spring game last year and later camped with the Gamecocks. He also attended a junior day there in January. He also went to junior days at Georgia and Alabama. In March he visited Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Georgia. He is scheduled to visit Penn State April 7, USC April 14 for the spring game weekend, Colorado April 21, Oregon April 28 and Tennessee May 29.
▪ USC on Wednesday offered 2025 DT Myron Charles (6-5 270) of Port Charlotte, Florida. Some of his other offers include Tennessee, Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, LSU and Colorado. He visited Florida State last Saturday.
▪ 2025 RB Amauri Anderson of Alpharetta, Georgia visited USC Wednesday. The Gamecocks offered him in December. He also has offers from Colorado, Indiana and Texas A&M. He visited Georgia last week.
▪ 2025 CB Shamari Earls (6-2 180) of Chester, Virginia visited USC Wednesday.
▪ LB Jamonta Waller of Picayune, Mississippi made a visit to USC Tuesday. He also visited USC for a junior day in January. He was at Tennessee Monday. He also has visited Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Florida.
▪ 2025 WR Dillon Alfred of Gautier, Mississippi visited USC Tuesday and picked up an offer. He visited Florida State Wednesday.
▪ 2025 OT David Sanders of Charlotte planned to visit USC Thursday.
▪ 2026 OL/DL Miles Funderburk of Charlotte planned to visit USC Thursday.
Basketball news
▪ USC is in the final five with 6-foot-10 Temple transfer Jamille Reynolds. The others are Cincinnati, Kansas, Mississippi State and UCF. Reynolds told 247Sports he will visit Cincinnati Thursday, Mississippi State April 14 and USC on April 16. He’s still working on a date with Kansas. Reynolds is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida who played his first two seasons in college at UCF. He transferred to Temple for this past season, thus as a non-graduate, two-time transfer, he will need a waiver from the NCAA to be able to play this season. He also considered USC last spring before deciding on Temple. Last season was by far his best season as he averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
▪ USC is one of final four with 6-foot-7 UNC transfer Dontrez Styles, he said in an interview with his hometown radio station in Kinston, North Carolina. The others are NC State, ECU and Georgetown. He visited NC State last weekend and is visiting Georgetown Thursday. Styles said he hoped to make a decision soon, possibly by Sunday.
▪ 6-foot-8 Wofford transfer BJ Mack Tuesday named a final five of USC, Arkansas, Iowa, LSU and Alabama.
