USC Thursday landed a commitment from WR Rodarius Thomas (6-3 194) of Eufaula, AL the second receiver from Alabama to commit to the Gamecocks for the 2021 class and the fifth receiver in a class that now numbers 17 newcomers. Thomas was offered last month by the Gamecocks, the first Power 5 program to do so, and they immediately moved to the front in his recruiting competition.
“After having a good talk with my (receivers) coach Jerrell (Jernigan), he was telling me that he thinks I would be a good fit there with the Gamecocks,” Thomas said. “I agreed with him. And after talking Tuesday night with Coach (Joe) Cox (USC receivers coach), he was telling me that they need me and stuff like that, and that I would be a great fit and great to have me there. And then I just went ahead and took the offer.”
Thomas said Cox started contacting him in the summer and the interest from him just grew from there.
“He said I had great film and keep it up,” Thomas said. “He was watching my last year film, and then he started watching this year’s film, and they gave me an offer. That’s what I was waiting on, and finally I got it. It was like they really need me and stuff like that. I can make plays and I’m a big time player and stuff like that.”
Thomas watched the Gamecocks in their first two games with a close eye on the receivers. And what he saw was immediate opportunities.
“The only good receiver that I’ve seen is #13 (Shi Smith), he is a dog,” Thomas said. “The other positions, I would be great. I can see myself there right now. I wish I could play with #13.”
Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp confirmed the commitment Thursday afternoon with his “Spurs Up” tweet and a retween of Thomas’s own announcement tweet. The two talked earlier.
“He said he was very excited to have me be a Gamecock and he can’t wait until I come,” Thomas said.
Thomas also has offers from Coastal Carolina, Austin Peay, Missouri State, North Alabama, South Alabama, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Western Kentucky. And now he will get the chance to play in the SEC thanks to the Gamecocks’ offer.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Every day I go to practice I work hard and I was thinking whichever SEC team offers me first I’m going to take it because that makes me feel like they needed me and they are giving me a chance.”
Last season, his first playing football, Thomas had 45 catches for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns. This season he has 48 catches for about 600 yards and 10 touchdowns.
