Link: WR Shaq Roland commits to South Carolina

[Tide Warrior]

Apparantly we are in his top 4 and he looks to be the number 1 recruit in SC next year. Have not heard much about him. I know of at least tow WR that seem to be above him on our boards but does anyone have any other info on him besides this article and where we stand or how hard we are recruiting him. USCe looks to be the leader for his services.


Wildcats coach Scott Earley said the only schools Roland is still considering are, in order of preference, USC, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Clemson was among Roland's many offers but did not make the final cut. "Before football season starts, he will commit in the summer," Earley said. "He's going to enjoy his senior year."

Roland has a final four

Scout.com: Shaq Roland Profile

Shaq Roland - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Roland has made no secret that his overall favorite is South Carolina. They have offered him in both basketball and football. Bama is in the running and according to Roland in list of top favorites just behind SC. Proximity from home may be a factor in his decision. I am sure he is one of Bama's top WR prospects and we should know more about him after he camps at Bama this summer.

Video: Shaq Roland Talks Recruitng, Names Top 3

 

[carolinacoast]

Roland has had a verbal offer from South Carolina for quite awhile, at least since the summer of 2009. Normally, Spurrier doesn't offer early. In fact, as I recall, one of the South Carolina assistants stopped the team bus from leaving to talk to Roland after he saw him perform. He comes from a heavily Gamecock school in Lexington, which is a bedroom community of Columbia. Lexington HS is in a very good school district, so he should have the resources to qualify. His school is more known for the baseball players they sent to South Carolina rather than football players. However, they did produce a five star rb in Demetris Summers who Rivals had as the #21 player in the top 100 and the 2nd ranked rb behind Reggie Bush. Summers was expelled from USC after Spurrier took over. Roland was coached by Coach Earley this past year, who coached 2011 qb Everett Golson when he was at Myrtle beach. The Gamecock fans couldn't believe Lexington hired him, because Earley is supposed to be a big Danny Ford fan.

 

[EveryThingGreen]

Roland is a D1 player in hoops and on the football field. Could play WR or DB in college. He is clearly #1 player in the state for 2012 class and should be a high 4* kid.

film:

Athlete Vault - Shaq Roland - ATH - Lexington 3

 

[rolltide2213]

he looks pretty good.

 

[DurdenTider]

I was surprised that rivals didn't have him in the 250 watch list b/c he's a very good prospect. It's still early though and I don't see UA getting him. UA is already targeting quite a few WRs and we seem to be heavy on at least two. I'm sure as the year continues a few other WRs will show up as well.

 

[bama61]

Roland has had a verbal offer from South Carolina for quite awhile, at least since the summer of 2009. Normally, Spurrier doesn't offer early. In fact, as I recall, one of the South Carolina assistants stopped the team bus from leaving to talk to Roland after he saw him perform. He comes from a heavily Gamecock school in Lexington, which is a bedroom community of Columbia. Lexington HS is in a very good school district, so he should have the resources to qualify. His school is more known for the baseball players they sent to South Carolina rather than football players. However, they did produce a five star rb in Demetris Summers who Rivals had as the #21 player in the top 100 and the 2nd ranked rb behind Reggie Bush. Summers was expelled from USC after Spurrier took over. Roland was coached by Coach Earley this past year, who coached 2011 qb Everett Golson when he was at Myrtle beach. The Gamecock fans couldn't believe Lexington hired him, because Earley is supposed to be a big Danny Ford fan.

Not meaning to sound like I'm smarting off, but care to enlighten us about the significance of the Earley - Ford comment? After all, it has been over 20 years since Ford coached at Clemson and nearly 15 since he coached at all. In addition, if memory serves, he didn't exactly leave Clemson under his own free will, being forced out on the heels of a NCAA investigation. Admittedly he was still very much in the good graces of IPTAY. All that being the case, I'm just not sure why Gamecock fans would care much either way since there doesn't seem to be any advantage to Clemson coming out such a hire.

 

[EveryThingGreen]

I was surprised that rivals didn't have him in the 250 watch list b/c he's a very good prospect. It's still early though and I don't see UA getting him. UA is already targeting quite a few WRs and we seem to be heavy on at least two. I'm sure as the year continues a few other WRs will show up as well.

they had him listed as an athlete on the list. a lot of people like him at safety and a lot of people want him with the ball in his hands. as of this moment, he prefers to play offense.

 

[carolinacoast]

Not meaning to sound like I'm smarting off, but care to enlighten us about the significance of the Earley - Ford comment? After all, it has been over 20 years since Ford coached at Clemson and nearly 15 since he coached at all. In addition, if memory serves, he didn't exactly leave Clemson under his own free will, being forced out on the heels of a NCAA investigation. Admittedly he was still very much in the good graces of IPTAY. All that being the case, I'm just not sure why Gamecock fans would care much either way since there doesn't seem to be any advantage to Clemson coming out such a hire.

Why would Gamecock fans care that Scott Earley was hired by Lexington HS as head football coach? It would help to understand it if you grew up, and lived in South Carolina. First, I want to say that Earley is a good football coach, but he is a very controversial one who left Myrtle Beach High School two years ago. I don't want to go into details, but most people around there were glad to see him go, not necessarily just Gamecock ones. The Lexington HS job is his third head coaching assigment in three years, having coached at another HS near Columbia during the 2009 season. When I said he was a big Danny Ford fan, I deliberately meant not to infer Clemson because there is a segment of Clemson old timers who never wanted Ford fired, because he brought them a national championship, whether he cheated or not, even though he blatantly did. The other segment of Clemson fans just chose to ignore it as if it never happened. The Danny Ford era, short as it was, sets the scenario for recruiting in South Carolina for the next couple of decades. Clemson starts to believe they are an elite football school who should be competing for national championships every year, and has the recruits believing it. Truly, that is the mindset of their fans, even as the years go by, and another one doesn't come. What does that have to do with Earley? As I said he is a big Danny Ford fan. I am implying that he is more of a Ford fan than a Clemson fan. To wrap it up, Gamecock fans hate Earley because he pushed his kids out of state, not necessarily to Clemson. When Everett Golson was an eight grader, he made sure Frank Beamer knew about him. However, he didn't care which school, only an out of state one. The Gamecocks never had a chance, because in their minds Earley pushed his kids in another direction. I don't think Earley can do that at Lexington though, there are just too many Gamecocks at that school. I think I heard he may be looking around again, if he hasn't found another job already.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Another Gamecocks-Tide battle shaping up for top South Carolina prospect

Is Jadeveon Clowney Part II brewing for Bama this year?

The player most believe to be the state of South Carolina's top 2012 prospect -- wide receiver Shaq Roland (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) -- just came out with his final four. The home-state Gamecocks lead the pack, followed in order by Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Unfortunately for the Tide, there seems to be a good bit of separation between Roland's Nos. 1 and 2.

It appears Roland is South Carolina's to lose.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

I don't believe Roland to be a priority for us, and in any event his recruitment certainly won't be on any level as close to what Clowney's was.

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

I don't believe Roland to be a priority for us, and in any event his recruitment certainly won't be on any level as close to what Clowney's was.

I think an elite WR is a priority in the 2012 class.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

I don't believe Roland to be a priority for us, and in any event his recruitment certainly won't be on any level as close to what Clowney's was.

The comparison between Roland and Clowney is not their talent level but that the proximity of his home may be the deciding factor. Even though Roland may be interested in other schools, he is likely to stay in state and pick SC.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

I think an elite WR is a priority in the 2012 class.

Nothing against Roland but I don't think he's that guy. JMHO.

 

[TheTradition]

Committed to USCe as expected.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Committed to USCe as expected.

Shaq Roland - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Tide Warrior]

Not a surprise here and USC right now should be able to lock down their own state. Also I think a great pickup for them but I am not sure he will be as good as AJ for them.

Still USC has yet to show me that they can recruit with the rest of the SEC. They have gotten lucky with instate talent being very strong, but after that they have not done that well outside of the state. A few middle of the pack players from GA and FL along with some players from some ACC and Big East states. I think this is the year if they can repeat and show these top recruits in the south last year was not a one and done deal they will start getting the looks they want, but until then it will be a middle of the pack SEC recruiting class.