Byrnes receiver Chavis Dawkins commits to Gamecocks

Shrine Bowl wide receiver Chavis Dawkins of Byrnes High announced a commitment Saturday to South Carolina during a gathering at his home in Moore.

The Gamecocks had just offered Dawkins (6-2, 195) on Friday. He also had offers from NC State, Wake Forest, Louisville and Appalachian State.

“It is my dream school,” Dawkins said. “I’ve always wanted to go to South Carolina.”

Aiding his cause with the Gamecocks was the presence of new running backs coach Bobby Bentley, who, of course, had a legendary coaching career at Byrnes.

“When Coach Bentley first got the job, he came to see me. He was the first to come see me,” Dawkins said. “I call him and we talk a lot. It meant a lot to me (that I was one of Bentley’s first stops) because I knew they were really serious about me.”

This season Dawkins was among the leading receivers in the state with 73 catches for 1,319 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also was the Sandlappers’ leading receiver in the Shrine Bowl with six catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Dawkins becomes the fourth receiver to commit to USC for the 2016 class and 20th pledge for the class.

He’s the second Shrine Bowler to commit to the Gamecocks in the past two days. Running back Rico Dowdle of Asheville committed to USC on Friday.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 4:05 PM.