Long and powerful defensive ends always catch the eye of USC defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas. Last Saturday, he had one of the apples of his eye in for a visit in 2027 DE Success Nwabude (6-7 245). It was the first visit to Columbia for the heavily recruited Nwabude, whose brother, Godslove Nwabude, is a basketball player at Eastern Michigan.
“The visit was great. The staff was amazing. Got to see the players prepare for the game,” Nwabude said. “My main takeaway from the whole thing was most of the edge rushers were above 6-4, 6-5. That kind of speaks to me in some kind of way because I’m a tall end myself.”
USC head coach Shane Beamer had a quick word with Nwabude before the game. He talked more with Lucas.
“They just gave me a couple of words of encouragement to keep on improving and working on my game,” Nwabude said. “Coach Lucas, we kind of have a little relationship. He communicates with me most times through my father, so it’s a family type thing. I’m cool with him. I love what they’re doing.”
And what does Lucas say he likes about Nwabude’s attributes as a defensive end?
“Obviously, my height and length. He just sees a whole lot of potential in me,” Nwabude said. “I really like it because I think what he sees is kind of different from what other people see. He just has something special he sees in me. I really can’t wait till the time I make my decision. Maybe I might work with him. South Carolina is definitely going to be up there when it’s all done.”
Nwabude has also been to nearby Georgia for a couple of games this season, along with Florida State twice, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Alabama. All but Alabama have offered. He also has offers from Maryland and UNLV.
Nwabude said there’s no favorites list for him yet. He plans to take more visits in January and official visits in the spring and summer. He confirmed that South Carolina would get one of his official visits. He said he’s going to take a break for the time being and stay off the road since he’s been traveling so much.