Four-star LB Trenilyas Tatum (6-2 208) of Jonesboro, GA said last week he was closing in on a commitment with USC, Louisville and Georgia Tech the top three. Thursday morning Tatum announced USC stood alone with him and he became the Gamecocks sixth commitment for the 2021 class and the second linebacker.
Tatum visited USC for a junior day in February and from the start Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp took a hands on approach with his recruiting.
“Not many head coaches reached out like Coach Muschamp,” Tatum said. “It’s a school for defensive players. I know there are a lot of defensive players every year going to the (NFL) Draft and I know Coach Muschamp will help make that happen for me. Coach Muschamp is a good coach. He actually communicates with the players. You know how head coaches be all laid back and stuff, if he really wants you, he’s going to go get you. He’s very dedicated to his guys.”
And it wasn’t just the communication with Muschamp that moved Tatum towards the Gamecocks.
“Just the communications skills with the coaches. I know the coaches like me. All the coaches text every day. You don’t get no better love than that from a staff. I thought, they love me and I love them, so why not?”
Tatum said Muschamp likes his versatility and said he could play the Will or Mike linebacker. He is ranked the #23 outside linebacker in the country in the 247Sports Composite and the #28 prospect in Georgia. Last season he had 91 tackles with 31 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
“Muschamp likes my athleticism. I can rush, I can cover. He said he says I fit the defense that he’s running, and I trust him a lot,” Tatum said. “And I got a better opportunity to play early. I see us winning. We’re’ going to be winning a lot when we get there. A championship. We’re going big.”
Some of his other offers were Arkansas, Louisville, Maryland, Oklahoma, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Michigan State and Minnesota. And Tatum said he feels good about his commitment to the Gamecocks.
“Feel great, feels like I’m already on the team,” he said. But, he’s not ready to cut off communication with the outside recruiting world. “I’m not going to shut it down,” Tatum said. “I’m going to go visit some other schools. A couple of schools, Mississippi State and Louisville, a couple of schools I want to get around to.”
