Gamecocks lead for OL Pete Leota; decision day set

South Carolina remains the leader for offensive lineman Pete Leota of Asheville, N.C., even after his unofficial visit to Virginia Tech on Monday night for the Ohio State game.

Leota will visit USC this weekend and will announce his decision between the Gamecocks and Hokies on Sept. 17.

“The visit went great,” Leota said of the trip to Blacksburg. “I saw a lot of great players and coaches and I also saw a lot of people at the game, which was very exciting.”

USC was leading for Leota going into that visit and that’s not changed, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the Gamecocks are a lock to land his commitment.

“I would say Gamecocks (lead), but I’m gonna do a little homework on both of the teams and compare,” he said.

Leota said some family members and one of his friends will join him in Columbia, and he said the visit could be official in nature though that’s not yet been decided. As for decision day on the 17th, he said details of what time and how the announcement will be made public have not yet been worked out.

USC has three lineman already committed for the 2016 class (Akeem Cooperwood, Lloyd Cushenberry and Will Putnam).

This story was originally published September 9, 2015 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Gamecocks lead for OL Pete Leota; decision day set."