LB Jordan Poole (6-1 205) of Oakboro, NC has set June 19th, his father’s birthday, for his commitment announcement. It remains to be seen who will get that commitment. USC, which offered last June and is his lone SEC offer at this point, is a major player.
“South Carolina, I’ve been talking to them a lot lately,” Poole said. “We’re building a relationship. I mean, the relationship is definitely there, starting to get a better relationship when I’m told by the coaches, we are making you a priority. That’s always good. South Carolina is definitely a school I like. I talk to Coach (Kyle) Krantz the most. I talked to Coach T-Rob (Travaris Robinson), and other coaches hit me up. And Coach (Dez) Kitchings, the running backs coach who is my area recruiter. And a little bit from Coach (Will Muschamp).”
Kitchings is just getting warmed up as a Gamecock recruiter since he didn’t officially start the job until Friday. The fact one of his first calls Monday was to Poole says something about his and the Gamecocks’ interest.
“I think I talked to him once or twice at NC State. I think I meant him at NC State while he was there. He wasn’t really the one recruiting me,” Poole said. “It (Monday’s call) was kind of a get to know you thing. I know good things about him. He seems like a straight up guy, and if you’re a straight up guy, you’re might type of guy. He seems like a pretty good coach.”
The Gamecocks have offered several linebackers in the 2021 class, including a few junior college players, as that’s a position of need. They stand to lose four linebackers over the next two seasons. They have one linebacker committed in Bryce Steele, also from North Carolina, and Poole has a sense the Gamecocks him to jump into their pool.
“They say I’m definitely, probably at the top of their board,” Poole said. “I’m like a big target that they want to play for them. Coach Kitchings even said today that in the meetings that they were talking about my place, and I was like the first name on the board.”
Poole visited USC last season for the Vanderbilt game. He’s also taken visits to Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, NC State, Louisville, Appalachian State, Duke and Virginia. Those are all offers along with Charlotte, Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina. Along with USC, Poole said he’s hearing a lot from NC State, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Appalachian State and Louisville.
Last season Poole registered 36 tackles with 1 interception. He also is a talented running back who rushed for over 1500 yards last season. He’s rated a three-star in the 247Sports Composite, and ranked the #68 athlete nationally and the #44 prospect in North Carolina.
