USC got the jump on everyone else in recognizing the talents of LB Desmond Tisdol of Rochelle, GA. The Gamecocks were the first to offer and have been a strong player for him ever since. But the competitions is stiff with Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Alabama also in the hunt. The intensity of the hunt will pick up Thursday when Tisdol goes to Georgia to work out for Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and defensive coordinator Dan Lanning in hopes of landing an offer.

“He’s looking forward to that,” Wilcox County coach Robert Stowe said. “I’m not saying Georgia would all of a sudden vault to the top, but I know he definitely wants to be able to say he’s got an offer from Georgia.”

That offer no doubt would shake things up. USC and Auburn coaches will be watching with great interest. Right now, according to Stowe, they are the teams to beat for his talented backer.

“He’s very high on South Carolina and Auburn, they are clearly out in front, but he’s not ready to commit to anybody just yet,” Stowe said. “Probably the biggest thing South Carolina has going for them in their recruitment of Desmond is they were the first to offer a scholarship.  Being the first to do that of course will always be high on his radar. Being recruited hard by Coach Hutzler and and Coach T-Rob came thru school last week.  I know Desmond and him talk on the phone all the time.  If today was Signing Day, I’d give them at least, at bare minimum, a 50-50 shot with Auburn, if it were today.”

Auburn will get its chance to further impress Tisdol Saturday when he makes an unofficial visit for Big Cat Weekend. Tuesday he’ll be at a camp at Mercer and then June 8th he plans to take an unofficial visit to USC. Stowe said Alabama and Tennessee also are very interested but like Georgia, they want him to visit for a workout before making an offer. Stowe added that he expects Tisdol to hold off on his official visits until the fall.