JUCO D-lineman is coming home, commits to Gamecocks
Former Silver Bluff defensive lineman Devontae Davis (6-foot-4, 250) enrolled at Georgia Military College last fall with the hope of improving his grades and his recruiting stock.
He accomplished both goals. Wednesday afternoon he announced a commitment to USC, his reward for his hard work and the Gamecocks’ reward for staying with him through the process.
“It felt like home and I love the coaching staff,” he said.
He announced his commitment via Twitter on Wednesday.
“South Carolina was coming in to see Jabari Ellis to get him on board in this class and they noticed Devontae,” said GMC coach Bert Williams. “He’s long and has great measurables, and he plays hard, has a great motor. He’s got a lot of upside potential as he continues to develop as a defensive lineman.”
Davis was not one being talked about as a possible early addition to the Gamecocks’ 2019 class, and his head coach admits the announcement caught him by surprise.
“I know South Carolina was always a program he was very interested in, he was a fan of, but there were several others in (SEC) conference that had some significant interest in him,” Williams said. “I can’t argue with the logic. He’s from South Carolina, it’s a great program, Coach Muschamp is doing a heck of a job, there are some guys that he knows that came thru our program here and it’s 45 minutes from his house. It did surprise me he was ready to make that decision but not that that was the decision he made.”
Davis just finished his freshman season at GMC. He had 15 tackles and five sacks in nine games at the defensive end position. He had three sacks in a win over Middle Georgia State College.
Williams said Davis has a “solid chance to be a mid-year guy. He doesn’t have any room for error but he does pretty good in school. He had some academic things he had to do but I think he’s a great young man, great worker and has his head on straight. I expect big things from him.”
Davis is the second commitment of the day. Class of 2019 offensive lineman Mark Fox of Miami (Northwestern) announced his pledge to the Gamecocks earlier Wednesday.
South Carolina has five commitments for the 2019 class.
First and foremost I like to thank God who is the head of my life and for making this possible.... I’m proud to say that I am committed to the University of South Carolina #SPURSUP
— Devontae Davis#⃣6⃣ (@BallinDavis) January 24, 2018
South Carolina 2019 class
The prospects committed for the Gamecocks in the next recruiting cycle.
▪ OL: Mark Fox (6-4, 290; Miami)
▪ OL: Jaylen Nichols (6-5, 300; Charlotte, NC)
▪ LB: Ahdarrious Gee (6-1, 190; Cordele, Ga.)
▪ DL: Rodricus Fitten (6-3, 220; Atlanta)
▪ DL: Devontae Davis (6-4, 250; Aiken/GMC)
This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 1:07 PM with the headline "JUCO D-lineman is coming home, commits to Gamecocks."