One of the offensive linemen offered by new South Carolina offensive line coach Randy Clements this month is OT Timi Aliu (6-5, 290) of Locust Grove, GA. He had been recruited some by former OL coach Lonnie Teasley, and when Clements came on board, he took the recruitment to the next level with the offer.
“It meant a lot to me,” Aliu said. “Me and the Gamecocks’ coaching staff have been talking for a while. When the season was going on, that’s when I first heard from them. I came down for the game against Oklahoma. I haven’t been back since, but I plan to get down for a spring practice. It meant a lot to me to get the offer. I’m just ready to learn more about South Carolina.”
And learn more about Clements, who obviously liked him enough off film to make the offer.
“He told me that he loves my feet and my ability to work with my hands,” Aliu said. “Independent hands. He just loves the way I play. That’s mostly what he told me.”
Aliu’s only visit to USC thus far was for that Oklahoma game last season. The Gamecocks came up on the short end of things that day, but that didn’t detract from his first exposure to a USC game day at Williams-Brice Stadium.
“Definitely energetic fans for sure,” Aliu said. “They are some of the most energetic fans I’ve ever been around. Seeing all the traditions, like everybody saying “Go Cocks.” Experiencing Sandstorm, hearing them playing the fight song, feeling the fan energy, watching the Gamecocks play, it was a fun experience.”
Aliu is still working on his spring plans. He’ll schedule school visits around his practices. He definitely will take one to USC, and to some of the other schools on his short list, which he plans to announce in a couple of weeks.
His other offers include Arkansas, South Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Tennessee, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi State, Nebraska, LSU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Pitt, Auburn, and East Carolina.