USC defensive end commitment looking at other options

South Carolina defensive end commit Cecil Stallings is considering his options now that there is a new coaching staff in Columbia.

Stallings would like to attend USC, but said coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson aren’t sure he’s a fit for the system the Gamecocks will run.

“I’m still committed there, but my recruitment is open,” Stallings told The State Thursday. “They came from Auburn and I went up there last year and they basically weren’t feeling me. Now they’re at South Carolina and I don’t fit their scheme, so my recruitment is open.”

Bryan Lamar, Stallings’ coach at Tucker, said USC is still evaluating Stallings and believes that he’ll end up there.

“He’s a very good player, got great length, got great size. He’s 6’6”, probably about 260 right now. He’s a high motor guy and can move well,” Lamar said. “He’s a great guy off the field, hard worker, great teammate. I think he’ll bring all of those attributes to South Carolina and be a solid contributor.”

Robinson met with Stallings this week to deliver the news that he might not fit into USC’s scheme.

Stallings is hearing from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Indiana and said he may visit all three.

Lamar said South Carolina plans to honor Stallings’ scholarship, and he believes Stallings has the potential to be a great player.

“I think he’s going to grow even bigger once he gets on a college campus. I see him as being a kid who can get up to 290 pounds or so that will still be able to move really well and play inside or outside,” Lamar said. “He played both for us, mostly outside but we would slide him inside at times. He’s very versatile.”

Stallings has no plans to make a final decision soon and said he’s unsure if he’ll end up at South Carolina.

“It’s like a 50-50. I’m just weighing my options,” he said.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:08 PM.