One-time USC commitment signs with App State. Why not the Gamecocks?
Jamel Howse decommitted from the South Carolina football program in the fall. He recently shed some light on his decision.
Howse, the Newberry High standout, had been committed to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks for more than a year before breaking that pledge on Oct. 19. A month later, he committed to Appalachian State and then signed Dec. 3 to play for former USC assistant now Mountaineers head coach Dowell Loggains.
Howse will enroll at Appalachian State in January, which had school-record 29 signees in the early period and the highest-ranked class in school history.
“I felt like I committed too early, and I didn’t get to see my options out,” Howse told The State at Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas practice. “I talked to my mother, and then we went up to Appalachian State. She liked it, and I really like Coach Loggains.
“He recruited me when he was at South Carolina. They (Appalachian State) were always in the mix. Coach Loggains tried to get me for the longest time. I tried to ignore them for the longest. When I went for my visit and then when I went for my game, I brought my mother and siblings. They liked it, so I knew it was the place.”
Loggains referenced his pursuit of Howse during an interview after signing day.
“When you have a chance to flip a tight end that was committed to South Carolina, when we were there, you do it,” Loggains said on the ”Nothin’ But An App State Podcast.”
The visit to App State in November was the sealing factor, Howse said. His relationship with Loggains, the former USC offensive coordinator, also didn’t hurt.
At the time of his decommitment, Howse said he wanted to go to a place that would get him the ball. He watched how Loggains used the tight end at USC and how Joshua Simon excelled during his senior year, catching 40 passes for 519 yards and seven touchdowns during his 2024 season.
“I know Coach Loggains is going to get me the ball, so that is really why I am going up there,” Howse said. “He will get me the ball like he did with Joshua Simon.”
There was no animosity with the USC coaching staff over his switch, Howse said. The Gamecocks ended up signing Cross High tight end Caden Ramsey in its recruiting class.
“No bad blood between me and USC coaches. I always liked USC and still like them,” Howse said.
Howse, 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, was ranked the No. 6 prospect in South Carolina by 247Sports Composite, which factors various recruiting service rankings. He put on 30 pounds going into his senior season.
Howse had 52 catches for 686 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 for the Bulldogs and was an all-state and Shrine Bowl selection. Now, he is ready to begin his next chapter.
“I just need to go in there, get faster and stronger so I can play my freshman year,” Howse said.
