While USC awaits the Friday night announcement of QB Braden Davis of Middletown, DE, the Gamecocks’ defensive coaching staff Wednesday went all-in with his teammate DE Tomiwa Durojaiye (6-5 255), just two days after Durojaiye made a personal visit to watch the spring game and check out the campus and city. Durojaiye participated in a virtual visit which he said included all the defensive staff members and many from the support staff.
“I got to meet the whole staff from nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches, the football coaches, academic support,” Durojaiye said. “This was one of my favorite virtual visits. This virtual visit actually really stood out to me. I really enjoyed it. I feel comfortable with the staff. South Carolina was one of the few schools where I felt comfortable with the staff, I felt the love. It was just a great vibe.”
Durojaiye continued that the virtual visit gave him a much better feel for all the defensive coaches.
“I’ve been on the phone with coach (Jimmy) Lindsey a few times, coach (Pete) Lembo, coach Taylor Edwards, but this was my first one with pretty much the whole staff, like coach (Clayton) White, coach (Mike) Peterson and coach (Torrian) Gray. Coach (Shane) Beamer wasn’t in the meeting, but he recorded a video. He knew that I came for a virtual visit, and he knew some of the things that I want to study. He was glad that I was able to come to the game, and he had some business books, because he knows I’m interested in studying business.”
From everything he has seen and heard from the Gamecocks, Durojaiye said the message from them to him is clear.
“They want me. I’m one of the top guys on the board, that’s what it seems like,” Durojaiye said. “From what I feel with this new staff, I feel the love. It feels genuine. It feels like they want me to be a part of the team. What I like the most is the way the guys feel about him, it just felt contagious. It’s not like they are working for him, they are working with him. And for me that stood out.”
Durojaiye made USC one of his stops on a trip that also included visits to Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia. And it was the only one where he was able to watch the team in action, and he got the best view he could.
“I end up moving closer to the field and saw some of the staff,” he said. “Some of the staff saw me and we made eye contact. I just got a sideline feel. After the game I actually met up with Marshawn and Deebo, not for too long, for maybe about 20 minutes. I actually went to the back where the players come out, and I got a chance to look at some of the D-linemen, like Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens.”
Durojaiye has set official visits to Georgia Tech for June 18th and Arkansas for June 25th. He said he will make another visit to USC but isn’t sure when or if it will be official or unofficial. Outside of that, he’s undecided on other visits from his other offers of Northwestern, Iowa, Maryland, West Virginia and Michigan.
“I’m still trying to figure out how my summer is going to be,” Durojaiye said. “The biggest thing is the season starts in August-September, so I want to make sure I’m still working out. I would like to commit before my senior year starts, so I’ve been trying to figure out which places I really see myself at. That’s what I’ve been trying to do the most.”
Durojaiye is rated a three-star by 247Sports and is ranked the #4 prospect in Delaware.
Other Notes:
- Clemson offered 4-star CB Terrance Brooks (5-11 190) of Plano, TX. He’s ranked the #10 CB nationally and the #16 prospect in Texas in the 247Sports Composite. Alabama, Florida, Texas, Texas A&M are some of his other offers.
- USC offered SAF Kye Stokes (6-2 185) of Seffner, FL. He’s a 3-star by 247Sports and ranked #77 in Florida. Some other offers are Coastal Carolina, Alabama, Auburn and Indiana. He had 34 tackles and 5 interceptions this past season.
- 2023 5-star OT Payton Kirkland of Orlando plans to visit Clemson June 2nd.
- USC target 2023 QB Dylan Lonergan was offered by Alabama
- Hilton Head LB Jaylen Sneed was offered by Ole Miss.
- Latta native SAF Deonte’ Stanley of Hutchinson JC, KS was offered by UT-Martin. He’s the brother of former USC OL Donell Stanley. He originally committed to UCF out of high school.
