The tight end position at USC went thru a coaching change last month after the departure of Bryan McClendon and the arrival of Des Kitchings. Bobby Bentley, who had taken over the running backs, was moved back to tight ends. And Joe Cox, who was at tight ends, was shifted to wide receivers. None of this has mattered to one of the Gamecocks’ top tight end targets, Michael Trigg of Lake Wales, FL.
“We talk pretty much every day, we text a lot,” Trigg said. “Coach Bentley is the new tight ends coach now, and he and Coach Cox are pretty close. There’s really nothing changed in my opinion. Since Coach Bentley is the new tight ends coach, he had to rearrange his 2021 tight ends, and he said I’m still at the top of his list. That’s good to know. I guess they are showing they have good interest in me.”
Hayden Hurst is the model against which all future Gamecock tight ends will be measured. He was largely successful due to his versatility. Trigg, who last season caught 82 passes for 1232 yards and 16 touchdowns, said the Gamecocks see a lot of the same in him.
“They like the fact that I’m versatile,” Trigg said. “I can flex out and also put my hand in the dirt. I guess they are saying there’s not too many people like that.”
Trigg and his father visited USC for a junior day in January and they got a chance for a sit down meeting with Will Muschamp.
“I’ve got a good feel for them,” Trigg said. “I had a good feel for them ever since I left their campus. It was nice. I’ve got to talk to my family and pray about it, but I think they’ll be in it (to the end).”
Trigg hasn’t shortened his list. Some of his other offers are Nebraska, Ohio State, Maryland, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, TCU, Ole Miss, LSU, Miami, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Florida State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan. Along with USC, he’s also visited Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Auburn. And he knows what he’s looking for in a school.
“Really a school that’s going to use my mind, use my skill set the best,” he said. “I want to be in college for three years. I need to take advantage of that.”
Trigg said he’s also hearing a lot from Auburn, Ohio State, Southern Cal and North Carolina to name a few. He will not be in a hurry to make a decision and is looking at making his announcement at one of the post-season all star games.
Trigg is now rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked the #6 tight end in the country and the #20 prospect in Florida.
