Why Jordan Burch didn’t sign yet with South Carolina, and what’s next
Jordan Burch didn’t sign with South Carolina yet because he wants to take part in his school’s National Signing Day ceremony in February, he told reporters Saturday as he checked in for this year’s Under Armour All-America Game.
The five-star defensive lineman from Hammond School also said he’s heard from other colleges since his Dec. 18 commitment to the Gamecocks. He chose USC over LSU, Clemson, Georgia and Alabama. Burch told media members in Orlando that coaches from the other schools are still in contact with him but he hasn’t responded.
Burch said LSU finished second and Clemson came in third.
“I feel like it was neck and neck until it came down to the commitment day,” Burch said Saturday.
Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp — who cannot speak directly about Burch since he didn’t sign a National Letter of Intent — was asked on the early signing day about concern that a committed, but unsigned, player might change his mind.
“Absolutely not,” Muschamp said. “I’m excited about them.”
Burch told reporters Saturday he chose South Carolina because he felt like a “big priority” for the Gamecocks and would have a chance to be a key contributor.
“They have seniors leaving and I feel like I can go in and play that (defensive end) position,” Burch said.
He didn’t rule out taking visits to other colleges in January but also said he hadn’t thought it yet.
Burch and fellow Hammond defensive lineman Alex Huntley are both committed to the Gamecocks. The traditional National Signing Day is Feb. 5.
It was already known that Burch wasn’t going to enroll at his school of choice in January. Huntley also had publicly stated that he would sign with USC in February. Hammond teammates Jackson Muschamp and Saul Diaz also are expected to sign at the school ceremony. Another Skyhawk, Fabian Goodman, is walking on to South Carolina.
The Under Armour game is Thursday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. It will be televised on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
“I really want to wait till February to sign with my teammates,” Burch said. “That was a big goal. I think the coaches understand because we do have two other commits that go to my school.”
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Burch is considered the No. 5 recruit in the country by 247Sports Composite (factoring in all rankings), No. 5 overall by ESPN and No. 8 by Rivals. He is the highest ranked prospect from the state of South Carolina since Clowney was No. 1 in the country in the Class of 2011.
Many recruiting experts think he has a good shot of playing in the NFL.
247Sports’ Charles Power compares Burch to San Diego defensive end Joey Bosa, while 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong compares him to Jeffrey Simmons, who played at Mississippi State and is now with the Tennessee Titans.
“He is a guy who is a multiple and could have played all 22 positions at Hammond,” Wiltfong said. “He is a top-10 guy. And those guys, they have the whole bag. They have the flexibility, body control, power and stout at the point of attack. You hope he blossoms to the first-round pick we think he was. We think he is that good.”
This season, Burch led Hammond in sacks and accounted for more than 20 touchdowns this season. He had two touchdown runs in the championship game.
Burch also plays basketball for Hammond and will rejoin the Skyhawks after the Under Armour game.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 1:09 PM.
