STRecruiting: South Carolina continues to lead the way, in a big way, with 2028 DT Christian McGowan of Jacksonville

South Carolina defensive line coach Travian Robertson has won over DT Christian McGowan (6-5 270) of Jacksonville. Robertson had McGowan in camp in June and offered him soon after seeing him in action. Keep in mind that McGowan was not being heavily recruited by other major programs at that point, so Robertson saw something in him that led him to believe he can play at the SEC level.

McGowan agrees with that assessment, and he’s grateful to Robertson for stepping up with other recruiters were hesitant to offer.

“I’m hearing good things. Like Coach T-Rob, he called me the other day and we were catching it up and we were talking about commitment and everything,” McGowan said. “It’s a really high chance I’m going to be committing to South Carolina at the end of the season.”

It’s that relationship that McGowan has developed with Robertson that has him thinking strongly about being a Gamecock in the future.

“Just how I’m being treated in the coaching there, and the culture there is really good,” McGowan said. “The way they started off some recruits would take them losing as a way to not want to go there, but that doesn’t affect me. It’s a good culture. They have good coaching, good players, good facility and everything. I’ve been there multiple times.”

McGowan is already acting like a diehard Gamecock. He was in for the first two games of the season. Last weekend, he went to the Swamp as a guest of Florida, but he was actually cheering for USC.

“I watched South Carolina beat up on them. I was kind of happy about that. I’m not going to lie,” McGowan said. “I wanted South Carolina win that game really badly. The D-line played so good. I went there on behalf of Florida, but I was watching South Carolina the whole time. I was watching like the D-linemen like 65 or 97 and number 6. They were all doing their thing. They’re all starting to put it together now.”

McGowan has also been to games this season at Georgia, USF and FAU, and he is going to Syracuse this weekend. He is also going to Georgia (Atlanta) for the Florida game, and possibly to Miami and Alabama. He plans to return to USC for the Texas A&M game.

Meantime, he continues to communicate regularly with Robertson who must feel he’s unconvered the proverbial diamond in the rough.

“He tells me about how he can see my potential and how he knows he can coach me up to be something great,” McGowan said. “He talks to me as if when I go there, I’m going to be a true freshman (player). When we were on the phone last night, we were talking about 65 (Noah Clark) because 65 is a true freshman in the D-line. Little things like that stand out to me. He believes in me.”

So far this season, McGowan estimated he has had over 20 tackles with eight tackles for loss and four sacks. This despite drawing constant double teams.

“I’m double teamed. That’s why my sacks are like, it’s not an excuse, but it’s hard to be double teamed on pass pro. When I’m trying to like rush the passer and somebody’s waiting for me, that’s the most annoying thing ever. If someone tries to hold me in the game, if you’re holding me, I’m going do something about it. I’m not gonna say what I would do, but if they’re holding me, I’m going do something about it.  They’re not going to call it, and I’m going do it on my own.”