RB ZaQuandre White of Iowa Western JC has talked twice with USC coach Will Muschamp, and regularly with running backs coach Thomas Brown, since he announced a commitment to the Gamecocks December 12th. The commitment has not yet been publicly acknowledged by Muschamp with his “Spurs Up” tweet because White is finishing up some academic work, but he said he, Muschamp and Brown all are on the same page.
“Everything has been good,” White said. “I talked to coach Brown and coach Muschamp. I’m just finishing up my online classes for Iowa Western right now. He (Muschamp) didn’t want to pressure me too much. He told me just to focus on the work that I’m doing right now. I feel good, just the team sticking by my side, coming from JUCO, and giving me an opportunity, so I feel great.”
White has returned to his home in Ft. Myers, FL to complete three online classes. He is expecting to sign with the Gamecocks in February and report for school at the start of Summer 1 classes.
“They are are getting all that academic stuff squared up with their side,” White said. “I’m not really sure, but I know they are getting that situated with their academic team.”
White began his college career as a linebacker at Florida State. He redshirted in 2017 and played in 10 games for the Seminoles in 2018. But he wanted to play running back and transferred to Iowa Western where this past season he rushed for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He is rated by the 247Sports composite as a 4-star prospect and the #1 junior college running back in the country. He also considered Tennessee and Arkansas before committing to the Gamecocks. He said Florida recently reached out to him but he feels strongly about his commitment to the Gamecocks.
“I’ve pretty much shut everything down right now, I’m just trying to focus,” White said. “I’ve got my school that’s been with me since the beginning, so I’ll probably just stick with them.”
When he gets to USC, White will be joined by 5-star running back Marshawn Lloyd, 3-star Rashad Amos and holdovers Kevin Harris and Deshaun Fenwick. Plus, the Gamecocks continue to recruit 4-star running back Henry Parrish of MIami. He said he and coach Brown have discussed what’s ahead for him in the competition.
“We’re just ready to get in there, I’ll be an older guy, so ready just to get in there and work,” he said. “Competition is going to make us better. At the end of the day, we’re all part of one, so I don’t there will be any animosity among us.”
