Under-the-radar, massive Alabama lineman commits to South Carolina football
South Carolina’s football team added its first offensive line commit for 2021 last week.
Now line coach Eric Wolford and the Gamecocks have doubled that number with Birmingham, Alabama lineman JonDarius Morgan committing on Monday.
The 6-foot-4, 305 pounder from Huffman High School mentioned both Wolford and defensive line coach Tracy Rocker in his announcement on Twitter.
Morgan also held offers from Arizona State, Syracuse, Tennessee State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, South Florida and Troy. He took unofficial visits to Tennessee and South Alabama prior to the dead period being imposed due to Covid-19.
Morgan was an unknown in recruiting circles until the spring. His new coach, Bill Smith, didn’t know about him until watching film soon after taking the job.
“Started watching film and JonDarius was the first film I watched, and I thought our left tackle was SEC good,” Smith said. “About a week later, Coach (Bobby) Bentley called about my kids at Fayette County and asked if I had any guys he should take a look at. I sent him the spreadsheet and about a week later he called me back and said he really liked JonDarius. Coach (Eric) Wolford called and asked me about him.
“I knew they were very interested but they wanted him on campus. Troy and South Florida offered, and then South Carolina called back and offered. Georgia Tech offered later that day. Syracuse offered the next day and then Louisville after that. He’s just exploded. His film is outstanding.”
Smith said Morgan can play tackle and guard and has the potential for a big SEC and NFL career.
“He has a big frame, quick feet, and I feel like he can play guard, and his feet are good enough he could play tackle,” Smith said. “I told Coach Wolford he’s getting a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem. He said, ‘We know.’ I feel like he’ll be a 10-year NFL lineman. He’s shown a lot of improvement from three weeks ago until today.”
He does not yet have a ranking from 247 Sports. Rivals rates him as a three-star prospect.
On film, he showed the ability to move defenders in the running game and the athleticism to get downfield to the second and third levels.
Morgan is the 10th member of the Gamecocks class and joins Jordan Davis as the second offensive lineman. Morgan picked up his offer in late May, and per 247Sports, USC was his first Power 5 offer.
South Carolina is in line to lose only one offensive lineman to graduation next year in projected starting guard Sadarius Hutcherson. Six other linemen who have started at least one game are draft-eligible, including three projected starters, and the position often sees some attrition.
The commitment, which came in a conference call with Wolford, came as a surprise to even Morgan’s coach.
“It was a shock to me,” Smith said. “I knew he was excited when they offered. He wanted to play in the SEC. I kind of figured South Carolina and Georgia Tech were his two favorites. He called with his dad and his dad said we’re going to commit. They made a decision and wanted to get the pressure off of his senior season and let him focus on Huffman football and feel good about having a home after his senior season.”
South Carolina’s 2021 class:
▪ QB Colten Gauthier
▪ RB Caleb McDowell
▪ LB Trenilyas Tatum
▪ DB Marcellas Dial
▪ OT Jordan Davis
▪ OL JonDarius Morgan
▪ DB Jayden Johnson
▪ DT Nick Barrett
▪ WR Sam Reynolds
▪ LB Bryce Steele
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 2:04 PM.
