Gamecocks land their QB for 2017 recruiting class

South Carolina landed a commitment from Wren quarterback Jay Urich Friday afternoon during a ceremony at his high school.

“I will be continuing my academic and football career at the University of South Carolina,” he announced, revealing a USC hat from beneath a table.

The 2017 prospect said he made his final decision Friday and chose the Gamecocks over Duke, Furman, Southern Miss and Coastal Carolina.

“All those schools I couldn’t have gone wrong with any of them,” Urich said. “I felt in the end I was the best fit for Carolina.”

Urich (6-4, 192) is rated as a three-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite ranking and is ranked the No. 28 dual-threat quarterback in the country. He is also viewed as the No. 19 player in South Carolina for the 2017 class.

He consulted closely with his parents and coaches about his future.

“I talked with people that believe in me and what’s best for me,” he said. “That was really what I wanted to do, talk with those people that really had my best interests in mind.”

Urich is USC’s 10th commitment and the first quarterback. He has played QB for two seasons in high school after previously being a wide receiver.

“They’re getting a guy that’s a great worker, great leader, great competitor. He’s going to be a great teammate. He’s one of those guys that’s very reliable, trustworthy,” Wren head coach Jeff Tate said. “ In time he’s going to give them a guy that’s going to go out on the field and make a bunch of big plays for them... Jay’s a winner and he’s going to help South Carolina win football games.”

Urich threw for 2,758 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games last season, and Tate is confident Urich will have an even better 2016 year with another offseason under his belt.

Highly-touted quarterback Jake Bentley was committed for the class of 2017 before opting to reclassify and play for the Gamecocks this fall.

Urich will join the QB competition with Bentley and Brandon McIlwain ahead of the 2017 season.

“They’re great guys,” Urich said of USC’s freshman signal-callers. “I’m looking forward to it. Everybody makes everybody better and I’m looking forward to the competition.”

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Gamecocks land their QB for 2017 recruiting class."