You can find the notebook on Gilmore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery declaring for the 2012 NFL Draft here.

“I still have some things I’d like to accomplish at Carolina before I go on to the next level,” Taylor said in a release.

Taylor started all 13 games for the Gamecocks in 2011, finishing the season with 42 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2010, tallying 13 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks.

With Taylor’s decision made, the defense has no uncertainty left, as safety D.J. Swearinger and spur DeVonte Holloman have both said that they will return next season. Cornerback Akeem Auguste will likely start opposite of Victor Hampton.

Auguste is expecting to be granted a medical redshirt after he missed the season with a foot injury. He started 10 games as a free safety in 2010, but played cornerback in the nine games he started in 2009.

With Lorenzo Ward as the defensive coordinator, it’s fair to expect USC to have a strong defense again next season, considering the recruits coming in and the players returning. Ward has said that he plans to keep the defense similar to what it was under Ellis Johnson, in regards to philosophy and scheme. If that’s the case, there will be little transition even with the coaching change.

One thing to be wary of for next year is who will be calling the plays on defense. Ward has said that he wants to be on the field, so he would like to hire a new linebackers coach who would be able to call plays from the booth, so that could be interesting in the future.

There are still two decisions left to be made on offense, but neither deal with entering the draft. Tailback Kenny Miles is considering a transfer to another program for his final year of eligibility, while wide receiver Bruce Ellington is still undecided on if he’ll play both football and basketball next semester, or just one sport.

Clowney named FWAA Freshman All-American:

The accolades for freshman Jadeveon Clowney haven’t stopped yet. He was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-American team today.

Before the Capital One Bowl, Clowney was named the Freshman of the Year by the SEC coaches and was also the FoxSportsNext.com National Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

Clowney finished his inaugural season at USC with 36 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. He was also credited with five forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries.

Game of the Century, Part II Prediction:

Here’s my prediction for the BCS National Championship just minutes before kickoff: Alabama will score first and its defense will hold the Tigers scoreless in the first half; however, LSU’s superior special teams will limit the Tide to just the touchdown in the first half. From there, the Tigers will have 10-straight points. Alabama will get a field goal to tie, but LSU wins it on the last scoring-drive with a 42-yard field goal. LSU 13 BAMA 10.