South Carolina Football: 10 times that star ratings didn’t matter for the Gamecocks
By Kevin Miller
The most rankings-busting recruits in South Carolina Football history:
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph
Johnathan Joseph (2004-2005) was not highly recruited out of Northwestern High School in Rock Hill and ended up at Coffeyville Community College. His stint at Coffeyville was good but not great as ESPN and Rivals had Joseph unranked, while Scout.com had him pegged as a low 3-star and the 39th-best junior college prospect.
It was enough for Lou Holtz and the Gamecock coaching staff who welcomed Joseph with open arms. Unfortunately, a broken foot ended his first year in Columbia almost as soon as it started. His 2005 season was one of the finest cornerback seasons in Gamecock history, however, and Joseph became a 1st-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Joseph’s biggest moment as a Gamecock came in the Gamecocks’ first-ever victory in Knoxville, Tennessee over the Volunteers. Joseph jumped a Rick Clausen pass in the 1st quarter for an interception in Tennessee territory that set up the Gamecocks’ first touchdown in the 16-15 victory in Neyland Stadium.
The former 3-star junior college prospect had an excellent NFL career in which he became the all-time leader in passes defended (the stat has been kept since 1999). Joseph is a borderline Hall of Fame player who will probably never get in, but being so close to that level is much more than anyone could have expected based on what recruiting outlets thought of him.