Whitlock settling in with Gamecocks

COLUMBIA -- Charles "C.C." Whitlock, who is the gem of the University of South Carolina's 2008 recruiting class, didn't pack an alarm clock when he came to school.

And while Whitlock isn't a fan of early morning conditioning workouts, he can still get up at 5:30 a.m. without any assistance -- mechanical or otherwise.

"I wake myself up every day," Whitlock said. "I've been doing it for a long (time). I got my body used to it. Whenever my body feels like it's time for me to get up, it wakes me up."

No pun intended, but Whitlock said that was the biggest eye-opener for him since enrolling at USC in January after graduating early from Chester High School.

A four-star recruit, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound Whitlock is listed as "ATH" on USC's roster of signees, meaning athlete -- as in he has the talent to play several positions.

"He is a playmaker in every sense of the word," ESPN wrote evaluating Whitlock as USC's top-rated recruit. "Overall, Whitlock is a unique, exciting athlete. ... • Once he settles in at one position, he could be special."

Jamie Newberg, national recruiting analyst for www.scout.com, agreed.

"He's probably the gem of their class," Newberg said. "A little bit small but this kid is scary good with the ball in his hands. He can help you out in all three phases of the game, at receiver, corner and special teams."

So where will Whitlock play when spring practice begins March 19? Cornerback, where he is considered among the nation's best recruits? Wide receiver, where USC has an abundance of bodies, many off last year's top-rated wide receiver recruiting class?

Or will it be special teams?

"To me, it doesn't matter," he said, "wherever the team needs me."

Whitlock, who was born on April's Fool Day in 1989, insisted he didn't have a favorite position. Asked what his best position is, he replied: "I can't say."

Where then does he think he could get on the field the fastes?

"At receiver or DB," he said. But then he added that cornerback might offer him a better chance of early playing time because the Gamecocks use so many players in the secondary in nickel and dime coverage schemes.

"Right now, I think we have him a wide receiver," coach Steve Spurrier said on signing day, "but he is capable of playing any position."

Wherever he plays, Whitlock said he expects to busy in the spring, likely playing on both sides of the ball while also returning punts and kickoffs.

"Coach likes to see me with the ball in my hands," Whitlock said. "He thinks I'm a Kenny McKinley type at receiver. So I told him I'd play some defense and I'd play some offense and I'll just let him (decide) what suits him."

Whitlock was one of seven recruits to enroll in January -- one, Summerville quarterback Reid McCollum, later left but plans on re-enrolling in the fall.

Whitlock grew up a Gamecock fan and one of his cousins, cornerback Jonathan Joseph, played at USC. He said he talked to Joseph about playing for the Gamecocks as well as his family and decided "this was the best place for me."

And while he took official visits to Alabama and North Carolina -- and an unofficial visit to Clemson University two years ago -- he said he was always headed to USC.

But it was only after his high school coach, Victor Floyd, said to graduate early and get away from the gang activity that Whitlock saw in his neighborhood before his mother moved the family to a more stable area about two years ago.

"I was around like a bad environment, and he didn't want me to get caught up in none of that," said Whitlock, the second youngest of seven children. "So he was like the best thing for me was to get on out of here in January."

Whitlock rooms with two other early enrollees -- Shaq Wilson and Jay Spearman. McCollum was also a roommate before he left.

"We look out for each other," Whitlock said. "We make sure everybody's at the place on time and make sure we don't miss no running."

Or any early morning conditioning workout -- with or without an alarm clock.