The Class of 2018 recruiting operation for South Carolina’s coaching staff came and went a lot earlier than expected thanks to the early signing date. Head coach Will Muschamp says it gave he and his staff a leg up on getting ahead for the next two classes to come.

After receiving two more national letters of intent on the original National Signing Day this past Wednesday, Muschamp had positive reviews about the new recruiting calendar and how he and his assistants are attacking it.

“It was fine with me. I don’t have any issues with it," Muschamp said of the late-December signing date. "It was hard managing bowl practice and the early signing period and the volume of guys we had signed. I didn’t expect that, I didn’t anticipate that many guys signing in December, but we also had 13 guys that were mid-year (enrollees). I’m not opposed to the early signing period.”

The Gamecocks signed 19 players in December. The staff was then able to put the pedal to the metal on the final additions to the class, like four-star linemen Dylan Wonnum and Rick Sandidge, while also hosting some of their top targets for the Class of 2019 and 2020 in January.

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“It helped us get a head start on 19’s and 20’s in January,” Muschamp said. “You’re able to see more of those guys and you’re further ahead of those classes than we’ve ever been before at this time.”

The Gamecocks currently have seven commitments for the Class of 2019, highlighted by four-star wide receiver Jamario Holley (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) and four-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten (Atlanta, Ga./Washington).