Battle for the Palmetto State

Clemson faces South Carolina on the football field Saturday in their much-anticipated once-a-season matchup.

Donell Stanley visited Clemson last weekend.

In recruiting, the programs fight each other 365 days a year -- particularly within the borders of South Carolina.

For the class of 2014, the Palmetto State is especially loaded with top-end talent. And as you might expect, the Tigers and Gamecocks will be after many of the same prospects.

With that in mind, here is a look at five intriguing in-state battles involving uncommitted juniors.

Donell Stanley
Position: Offensive tackle
Ranking: 247Composite -- 36th overall, 5th at position, 1st in South Carolina; 247Sports -- 66th overall, 9th at position, 2nd in South Carolina
School: Latta
The Skinny: The 6-feet-4, 327-pounder is believed by some to be a South Carolina lean at this point, but he has continued to deny he is favoring anyone in recent interviews and it's our understanding the Tigers believe they are firmly in the mix. One stat that might lead people to think the Gamecocks are doing well: 4-1. That's the edge in games Stanley has been to this fall at South Carolina compared to Clemson. Asked about that, Stanley said it has more to do with logistics than anything else. Stanley is tight with his primary recruiter at each school -- Shawn Elliott of South Carolina and Robbie Caldwell of Clemson. This figures to be an in-state duel, but not to be discounted are out-of-state programs such as Alabama, which he visits Saturday.

Dexter Wideman
Position: Defensive tackle
Ranking: 247Composite -- 88th overall, 6th at position, 3rd in South Carolina; 247Sports --103rd overall, 7th at position, 4th in South Carolina
School: Saluda
The Skinny: This one is shaping up to be a major fight between the Gamecocks and Tigers, and each has reasons for optimism. Already, one gets the feeling this recruitment could swing back and forth between the two programs until the very end. Both have made the 6-feet-4, 269-pounder a high priority for 2014. Wideman has visited each school more than once this fall, and seemed to enjoy every gameday experience. Wideman isn't a fan of phone interviews and doesn't appear to like the limelight. That might make it more difficult to get a read on his recruitment. At this time, we think things are relatively even -- or close to it.

Kevin Crosby
Position: Tight end
Ranking: 247Composite -- 171st overall, 7th at position, 6th in South Carolina; 247Sports -- 181st overall, 5th at position, 7th in South Carolina
School: Bamberg Ehrhardt
The Skinny: Early on in the process, many pegged Crosby as a Clemson lock, largely because former BE stars Da'Quan Bowers and Ricky Sapp [both now in the NFL] were Tigers, and each is close to Crosby and his father. But we like South Carolina's odds here, even though Crosby says the Gamecocks, Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide are all at the top. During two summer stops in Columbia, things appeared to sway in the Gamecocks' favor, and Crosby has made multiple visits to South Carolina for games. There's a long way to go, but the Gameocks have to feel good about their chances.

Christian Miller
Position: Outside linebacker
Ranking: 247Composite -- 90th overall, 4th at position, 4th in South Carolina; 247Sports -- 94th overall, 5th at position, 3rd in South Carolina
School: Columbia Spring Valley
The Skinny: This figures to be one of the state's most intriguing recruiting battles. Miller's father, former NFL standout Corey Miller, played at South Carolina and that certainly is something that works in the Gamecocks' favor. Miller also has made it known he likes the style of play in the Southeastern Conference. On the surface, it looks like Clemson might not have a shot. But keep in mind, the Tigers were the first to offer Miller and that made a big impression on him. Additionally, the Tigers want Miller at outside linebacker, his position of choice. South Carolina offered Miller at defensive end, but has told him he could end up at linebacker. The odds favor South Carolina here, but Miller genuinely seems open-minded right now.

Naquez Pringle
Position: Defensive tackle
Ranking: 247Composite -- 184th overall, 12th at position, 7th in South Carolina; 247Sports --144th overall, 11th at position, 6th in South Carolina
School: Hemingway Carvers Bay
The Skinny: The 6-2, 270-pound Pringle might be the least-talked about of the elite 2014 prospects in the Palmetto State, but he's a talented player at an important position. At this stage, South Carolina seems to be in good shape. In a perfect Gamecock world, the program would land both Pringle and Wideman, and that is not out of the realm of possibility. Pringle is not a guy that has taken a bunch of visits, but he did attend South Carolina's big home win in October over Georgia. At this stage, this is not a true South Carolina-Clemson battle … yet. While Pringle does claim a Tigers offer, he's best classified right now as an "on-the-radar" guy for Clemson. A primary reason for that may be that the Tigers could end up only taking one defensive tackle in 2014.