Three-star LB Mason Thomas (6-3 225) of Fort Lauderdale made a stop at USC last week as part of a school tour with some teammates. During his time in Columbia, he got a private workout for head coach Shane Beamer and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Clayton White who had offered him earlier this year. And not Thomas will spend more time with the Gamecocks as he’s returning with his parents for an official visit this weekend.
“I’m really looking at them in my recruiting with me making my decision,” Thomas said. “They’re coaching staff, I saw their culture and their history and my role in their defense. That really kind of interested me in taking an official. And they play in the SEC.”
Thomas can be a linebacker, and he can be an edge rusher. Last season he had 45 tackles with 15 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Thomas said one thing White likes about him is the ability to move around on the defense.
“My versatility, kind of like with the linebacker, pass-rusher position, what I can do,” Thomas said. “They said I really showed it during the private workout.”
Thomas said he also got the chance to talk one-on-one with Beamer while in Columbia last week.
“He was talking about his coaching history and really wanted me to get back for the OV,” Thomas said. “He said he would love to have me and I really fired up the whole staff.”
Thomas and his group also made a stop in Clemson last week. While there, he spent some time with defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
“He took us on a tour. They seemed interested in me when I was on the unofficial visit,” Thomas said. “They left it that they offer people down the road, kind of later in the recruiting process. It’s a great program. It was a great experience.”
Among the other stops on the trip were Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, East Carolina, Elon, Charlotte, Florida, Florida State and Florida A&M. He also has taken an official visit to Iowa State.
Other Notes:
Greer TE Jaleel Skinner is on a visit to Texas that started Monday night. He has also taken official visits to Florida, Arizona State and Alabama, and he’s scheduled to visit Miami this weekend.
DE Jihaad Campbell of IMG Academy has Clemson in his top 5 along with Texas A&M, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State. He cut Penn State, Oklahoma and Rutgers from his previous short list.
DE Nyjalik Kelly of Fort Lauderdale plans to visit Clemson Tuesday. He has taken official visits to Indiana and LSU and has Oregon this weekend. He has Clemson set for an official visit November 11th. He was at Georgia Sunday and has also been to Miami and Florida State unofficially.
Clemson target WR Andre Greene visited Oklahoma over the weekend.
Clemson target DT Travis Shaw of Greensboro, NC took a visit to Georgia Monday.
CB Trevell Mullen, brother of former Clemson CB Trayvon Mullen, committed to Indiana.
Gray Collegiate ATH KZ Adams plans to announce June 30th. He is down to Furman, Georgia State, Howard and Army.
2023 QB Grayson Loftis of Gaffney was offered by Kentucky and Appalachian State.
2023 6-8 Brandon Gardner of Gray Collegiate took an unofficial visit to Georgetown Monday.
2024 6-5 Cam Scott of Lexington was offered by Ole Miss.
Missouri 1B/OF Brandt Belk is transferring to USC. He hit .273 with 2 homers and 22 RBIs this season. Against the Gamecocks in Columbia this season he went 5-12 with 2 RBIs while playing LF. He’s from Houston and started his career at Pepperdine.
