USC Thursday made the first big cut with three-star RB Jaylon Glover (5-9 195) of Lakeland, FL. The #34 ranked running back nationally in the class in the 247Sports Composite named his top 10 and the Gamecocks are one of the contenders. In fact, they are more than that with Glover. They are strong enough with him to have secured an official visit for June 11th.
“South Carolina has done a great job recruiting me,” Glover said. “Coach (Shane) Beamer and the staff, just showing the love throughout the process. He’s doing a really good job. I just like what they are doing.”
Beamer and his new running backs coach Montario Hardesty had to re-establish the momentum for the Gamecocks with Glover that had been generated by former running backs coach Des Kitchings. He had put USC in good shape and Hardesty has improved thing even more.
“Me and coach Des Kitchings, we were really tight. That was my guy,” Glover said. “Coach Hardesty filled in and it doesn’t feel like he’s missed a beat. Definitely a fire guy. He’s really down to earth and he can relate to a lot of things I’ve done because he’s been thru the process. I really like him. He’s a good dude. We don’t always talk ball. We talk about other stuff and we laugh and stuff like that. He’s a cool dude.”
Glover said one thing that’s caught his attention with USC is the early work Beamer has done to change the perception of the program. He, for one, has taken notice.
“Definitely just the turn around,” Glover said. “They just want to be able to be one of the competitive teams. Not to say they weren’t, but more in the mix than they have in the past. The biggest thing for me that they’ve been saying is I have a great opportunity to come compete early. Just to be able to help the team, that’s a big thing for me if I have the opportunity to do so. So, I would definitely like that.”
The Gamecock staff arranged a virtual visit with Glover about a month ago. That went over very well, he said, and added t the relationship building on both sides.
“It was really good,” he said. “I had like the whole staff in there. And the thing that popped out is essentially the whole offensive actually staff stayed on the Zoom the whole time just for me. I was like, whoa, that’s pretty dope because a lot of times some of them say hey and good bye. But they interacted thru the whole visit.”
Glover also has on his short list Michigan State, USF, Purdue, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida State, Louisville, Utah, Georgia Tech, UCF and Iowa State. There’s no Florida, Georgia or Clemson on the list, three teams that seem to own the Lakeland recruiting turf. Just like when he’s running with the football, Glover said he’s not afraid to go against the grain.
“I understand the pipeline, but me personally, I’m not that guy that’s going to be influenced by what we’ve done in in the past,” Glover said. “I mean, there’s always talk in the city where they would like us to go. South Carolina just needs to continue doing what they are doing. They offer things that other schools do or other schools don’t have. I just really like that. They keep doing what they’re doing, it looks good for them.”
Glover said he also plans to take official visits to Georgia Tech and Utah. He said Florida State, Tennessee and Louisville are also being considered for officials. He took personal visits to Florida State and Georgia Tech in the latter part of March.
Last season Glover rushed for 1588 yards and 31 touchdowns and was named the county’s Offensive Player of the Year. In his three year career he’s rushed for 4023 yards and 54 touchdowns.
Other Notes:
- USC made the top 10 with DT Felix Hixon (6-4 280) of Jackson, GA. The others are Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia, Louisville and Georgia Tech.
- USC target DE Justice Finkley (6-2 255) tweeted Thursday he was going to make a commitment announcement later in the day, but that didn’t happen. He has, however, scheduled three official visits…Colorado June 11th, Michigan June 18th and Texas June 25th.
- USC target OT Leyton Nelson of Orlando has set an official visit with Miami for June 10th. He is set for Pitt the previous week.
- USC target DT Eli Hall of Shelby, NC was offered by Florida.
- USC offered DE DJ Wesolak of Boonville, MO, also a #Clemson target. He also picked up offers from Florida, Southern Cal and Northwestern.
- Ridge View DT Antonio Gaines committed to Charlotte, where his former coach is now an assistant.
- Dutch Fork WR Antonio Williams was offered by Maryland.
- LB Omar Graham, who had an offer from USC, did not include them in his top 7 of Auburn, Florida State, Oregon, Michigan, Southern Cal, Miami and Penn State.
- Clemson made the top 5 with RB Branson Robinson of Madison, MS. The others are Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee.
- Myrtle Beach QB Ryan Burger committed to Appalachian State.
- USC did not make top 6 with TE target Tyrus Washington of Leesburg, GA. His 6 are UCF, Cincinnati, TCU, USF, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
- Clemson did do not make the cut to 8 schools with DT Walter Nolen of IMG Academy. Those who did are LSU, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Oregon, Ohio State and Southern Cal.
- CB Jordan Allen of Lafayette, LA, who had USC in his top 15, does not have them in his top 6 of Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State, Louisville, Georgia and Miami.
