Greenville High has developed into one of the top programs in the state under coach Greg Porter, and for the next two seasons, junior WR Mazeo Bennett (6-0 165) figures to attract a lot of recruiters to the school. USC has already offered along with Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Liberty and Appalachian State.
Clemson is showing interest but has not offered. Bennett will get the chance to talk more with receivers coach Tyler Grisham and head coach Dabo Swinney when he visits there March 12th.
“I hear from Coach Grisham every few weeks, if not sooner than that,” Bennett said. “They (the Clemson coaches) talk through my teammates and coaches about me, but we try to hop on the phone every now and then. He tells me to keep doing what I am doing. He also says that I am one of only two wide receivers on his board for the Class of 2024.”
When he visits Clemson in March, Bennett said he wants to leave there with a feeling for what it would be like to play for Grisham.
“I want to see Coach Grisham’s coaching style,” Bennett said. “I want to see if he is somebody I would want coaching me for the next 3-4 years in college. I really like the deep conversations that me and Coach Grisham have. I also like the connection to God that Clemson stands on. That and the family atmosphere are probably the biggest things that stand out to me about Clemson.”
USC jumped on Bennett early in the recruiting process. Shane Beamer and receivers coach Justin Stepp saw enough from him this season to make him a primary target for their ’24 class. The Gamecocks became his first Power Five offer when he visited for the Troy game last September.
“South Carolina is recruiting me the hardest, hands down,” Bennett said. “They know how to recruit. Coach Stepp makes you feel a part of his family. Everything he says is genuine and true.”
Bennett said it’s too early in the process for him to name a short list. He wants to take more visits in the months ahead, including trips to North Carolina and Penn State. He’d like to make his decision after his junior season.
Bennett caught 25 passes for 661 yards last season, an average of 26.4 yards per catch. He also caught six touchdown passes and accumulated 1,024 all-purpose yards. On defense, he tallied two interceptions and forced a fumble.
