South Carolina receivers coach Mike Furrey recently locked down a commitment from WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray of Oceanside Collegiate, and has now turned his attention to another of the state’s top wideouts, Amare Patterson (6-2 197) of Ridgeland and Bluffton High School. Patterson visited the Gamecocks for a spring practice earlier in the week and got the offer from Furrey and head coach Shane Beamer.
“After a long time waiting, it was definitely a good feeling when Coach Beamer told me I had the offer. It was a great feeling for me and my father,” Patterson said. “He told me that with the new OC coming in, he said the receivers are going to have a big year. He was telling me by the time I get there, the OC will be one year ahead, and he things I can do something big in their offense.”
Patterson had picked up a number of big-time offers before the Gamecocks officially got into the game with him with their offer. He admitted to having some doubts about it ever happening.
“I thought I wasn’t going to the get the offer, I’m not going to lie,” Patterson said. “Then Coach Furrey called me up and told me he wanted me there to sit down with me and my dad. When I got the offer, it was a great feeling. I still had love for them, I was just waiting on the offer. Now that I’ve got the offer, it definitely boosts my thoughts about them.”
As for what Furrey has told him he likes about him as a receiver, Patterson said, “My twitchiness, my ball skills and the way I move with how big I am.”
Last season, Patterson had 48 catches for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had 1000 all-purpose yards while playing at Beaufort High.
Before the visit earlier this week, Patterson’s last visit to USC was for the Clemson game. This spring he has also been to Florida and Georgia. He’s going to Nebraska this weekend, and will also take spring visits to LSU, Florida State and USF.
Patterson has scheduled official visits Georgia May 15th, LSU May 29th and and Florida June 12th. He plans to take just four or five official visits, and is undecided on the other two, with USC under consideration. He plans to announce a commitment on June 20th.