Cory Helms plans to have instant impact at USC
Cory Helms won’t see the field until the 2016 season, but the offensive lineman transfer promises to have an immediate impact on the Gamecocks.
“I can help the team whether it’s mastering the offense, getting the defense ready on scout team or pushing the starting offensive line every day in practice,” Helms said.
Helms, from Alpharetta, Ga., comes to South Carolina after two seasons at Wake Forest. He will sit out the 2015 season, per NCAA rules.
He is expected to be a center for the Gamecocks. Not being eligible this year doesn’t lessen the importance of what he can accomplish, Helms said.
“This year is huge for me,” he said. “I can get even stronger and faster, get 100 percent healthy while I can, be a great teammate and work my tail off and put in extra work every day.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 315 pounds
Stats: Played 23 games, including 22 starts, over the past two years for Wake Forest; played in all 12 games with 11 starts at center as a true freshman in 2013
Rating: A three-star prospect out of Milton High in the Class of 2013
THREE THINGS
▪ Earned Freshman All-America accolades in 2013
▪ Started the first seven games of the 2014 season at left guard, then moved to center for the final five contests
▪ Selected the Gamecocks over offers from Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Penn State after electing to leave Wake Forest
THREE QUOTES
▪ “I have a really good relationship with the players I was around and the recruits who were there. And it’s the closest school to my home.”
▪ “I definitely feel like I’m the center in this group. There are some big dudes,” Helms said of USC’s incoming linemen.
▪ “I really like coach (Shawn) Elliott, because he’s a real fiery guy. Every player I have come in contact with absolutely loves him. They say he’s a great coach. He’s really fired up and energetic but will also love you, too.”
COACH’S TAKE
Offensive line coach Shawn Elliott: “He’s going to add depth here in a couple years. Something we couldn’t pass up because he didn’t have a redshirt year. We can redshirt him, let him learn the system and be ready to go.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 9:03 PM.