Some early holiday fireworks for USC in recruiting Tuesday with a commitment from CB Joey Hunter (6-1 185) of Tyrone, GA. Hunter chose the Gamecocks over Texas A&M. He also considered offers from Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Boston College and Pitt. He’s the third corner to commit to the Gamecocks for the 2020 class and their 17th overall commitment.
USC was Hunter’s lone official visit and he took that in early June. He saw enough from that trip to determine that was the right fit for him.
“The facilities and campus are beautiful,” Hunter said. “I was surprised with where it was. I thought it was going to be more like the country, but it wasn’t really rural, and I really like that. And with the coaching staff, I like that it’s a defended minded coaching staff. Coach Muschamp is a very defensive minded guy. Coach T-Rob is a great defensive back coach, one of the best in the country. It’s a lot to look forward to, the coaching staff over there.”
Hunter built a strong relationship with Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator/secondary coach Travaris Robinson thru the recruiting process, and that weighed heavily on his decision as well.
“I’m real close with Coach T-Rob, Coach Muschamp, I talk to both of them every day, so I’ve got a real good relationship with South Carolina,” Hunter said. “I like the coaching staff and I like the environment around the players, too. That’s a lot to look forward to at the University of South Carolina.”
Hunter is a bigger corner and he likes to play press-man coverage. He feels that will fit in perfectly with what Muschamp and Robinson want to do.
“Coach Muschamp and Coach T-Rob both told me that my physicality and my ball skills, that’s what they really like,” he said. “And my ability to play different positions all over the field. I appreciated that, getting to go out there and showcase my different abilities at different positions.”
Last season Hunter had 49 tackles and 3 interceptions.
Hunter gives the Gamecocks 15 high school commitments in the class to go along with two transfers who are counting with the 2020 class.
