Catch him if you can: Rock Hill’s Malik Clark in a hurry to join Gamecocks’ roster

In the end, it almost had to be the University of South Carolina for Malik Clark.

Yes, the four-star Rock Hill High School wide receiver committed to Florida State over the summer. But there were factors that kept pulling him toward the home-state school.

The Gamecocks’ recruiting and program mantra invokes a simple reality: Home is home. That is what drove him to pick and sign with the Gamecocks.

“Just to be closer to home and closer to my mom,” Clark said of his logic. “Allow her to come see me play and have that support system.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound pass catcher brings a nice diverse skillset to the USC roster. That helped earn him a spot as the No. 125 player in the country in 247Sports’ national rankings.

Giving a scouting report on his own game, he started where most people would — his speed.

“Running past people,” Clark said. “Taking the top off the defense. I feel like my speed is one of my best abilities. It could really help me at the next level.”

His head coach, Randy Birch, guessed Clark was one of the two or three fastest players in the state, possibly the fastest once the pads come on.

But his game also offers some other elements.

“Just explosiveness in general,” Birch said. “The jump ball. He can go over people and get it. He’s close to 6-foot-3, he’s got a long wingspan. So not only can he run by you, but if you give him a 50-50 ball, he’s got an exceptional chance of getting that.”

He’s also a good weight room presence for a receiver, not always the case at that position, and a willing blocker.

Clark has been a terror for high school defenses for much of the past two years. He posted 800 yards as a junior and then 976 this past year, with 10 touchdowns on 68 catches. That came despite some quarterback changes and injuries.

And even when he wasn’t putting up big numbers (he had five games with more than 100 yards, two with 70 or more), his presence opened things up for others. On some plays you could see a second defender step his way, leaving someone else wide open.

And he was also valuable off the field for his high school team.

“Malik has meant everything,” Birch said. “I stepped in, Day 1, and he was already a leader when I arrived. And I felt like he took on more and more of a leadership role as things went on. Set the tone as far as how we were going to work in the offseason. He was the kid always doing the extra things to do with motivating his teammates.”

Now he’ll join a team with a set of rotation receivers returning, plus five incoming freshmen, including two others who are four-stars. And USC is still recruiting Irmo receiver Donovan Murph.

He’ll learn under the tutelage of Gamecocks receiver coach Mike Furrey, who helped develop several transfers, plus second-year player Nyck Harbor and freshman Mazeo Bennett. Furrey joined the Gamecocks staff later in Clark’s recruitment, but the one-time NFL receiver was a key part of getting Clark in garnet.

“He’s a great coach and even better person,” Clark said. “He’s a great leader. You can tell by the way he carries himself that he knows what he’s talking about. I feel like he gives me a great opportunity to develop and become an even better receiver.”

Clark, a Shrine Bowl selection, won’t compete in the all-star game but instead is expected to join South Carolina for its Citrus Bowl practices.

And the Rock Hill product is joining a program in a much different spot than the one he spurned last summer.

When Clark picked Florida State, South Carolina was coming off a 5-7 season, set to break in a new quarterback in a very important four year for Shane Beamer. At this point, that quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, looks like one of the sport’s bright young stars. And the team went 9-3 and got to the fringe of the College Football Playoff conversation.

Clark was able to watch a lot of that rise, attending five or so games this season. He said the ones that stood out most were Texas A&M, when the Gamecocks pulled together in the second half and ran over the Top 10 Aggies. And against Missouri, the Gamecocks showed their mettle in a tight win.

“It’s really exciting to see a team you’re going to be a part of on such a great track,” Clark said. “I feel like it’s nothing but up from where they are right now.”

— Photographer Sam Wolfe contributed to this story

South Carolina’s signing class: the offense

• Quarterback (1): Cutter Woods
• Wide receiver (5): Malik Clark, Lex Cyrus, Jordon Gidron, Brian Rowe, Jayden Sellers
• Tight end (1): Mike Tyler
• Offensive line (2): Damola Ajidahun, Shedrick Surratt Jr.