South Carolina coaches would love to have top running back target Daniel Hill of Meridian, MS on hand for Saturday night’s game against Clemson. He has not been to a game in Columbia this season. He would like to be there to watch the rivalry game, but a firm decision was yet to be made Wednesday night as he and his family prepared to travel to Atlanta for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The plan is to get down there for the game on Saturday, we’ve just got to figure everything out and plan everything out,” Hill said. “We’ll be going towards that way anyways, so that’s the plan to get down there.”
Having Hill in for the game, which Hill said would “most likely” be the final visit of his recruitment, would certainly be big for the Gamecocks. The last chance to impress a recruit often goes a long way in winning the battle. However, Hill said while he hopes to be in Columbia Saturday, if he can’t make it, that’s not going to hurt the Gamecocks’ chances.
“Honestly, it’s not a real difference maker in my decision, but I would love to get down there for another time to just enjoy honestly,” Hill said.
USC head coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Monterio Hardesty have been in regular contact with Hill. He said he talked with the Gamecocks again on Tuesday.
“We just talk regular, nothing too crazy, nothing really recruiting or anything like that, we just have normal conversations,” Hill said. “I hear from Tennessee and South Carolina the most.”
But he’s been to Alabama the most this season. He’s made three trips for games to Tuscaloosa, which is only an hour and ten minutes from Meridian. He’s been to Tennessee once. His last visit to USC was in April for the spring game. He also visited for the Tennessee game last season.
Hill has set his commitment announcement for January 6th at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio. USC, Tennessee and Alabama are his final three. Asked, on a scale of ten, where he is in making the decision, Hill said he’s at a five.
“I’ve just got to take everything step by step and just figure everything out,” he said. “Honestly I just got to pick the school that’s best for me and my family. That’s pretty much it. Whatever school I decide is best for me, that’s going to be where I go. I’d probably say it will be between an emotional feeling and a gut feeling, and what God is telling me to do and what’s best for me.”
It’s well-known that Hill’s father prefers Alabama for him. His father’s opinion will carry weight in his decision, as will the opinion of others in his famiily.
“It’s a family decision,” he said. “We’re going to sit down and talk about it a few more times and decide as a family. We’ve got to sit down and talk about it as a family.”
Hill said he does not plan to graduate early, and since he’s not announcing until January, he won’t sign until February. His season is over and he said he rushed for over 2000 yards.
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