USC coaches visit Rick Sandidge on heels of strong Georgia visit

Defensive lineman Rick Sandidge of Concord, N.C., made his official visit to Georgia over the weekend. The visit further established the Bulldogs as a major contender along with South Carolina and North Carolina.

Several Gamecock coaches had dinner Monday with Sandidge, his family and coach to re-establish their position in the competition. USC coaches Travaris Robinson, Lance Thompson and Bobby Bentley were present.

“They were telling me what they can provide for me and what I can do for them, stuff like that,” Sandidge said. “I had a good time, had a fun time eating with them.”

Sandidge got some one-on-one time with Georgia coach Kirby Smart on his official visit there and said he enjoyed meeting several of the players.

“I can say I got a better relationship with Georgia after the visit,” he said, adding that the visit opened his eyes to Georgia and moved the Bulldogs up with him. “I got more of a relationship with the players. And Coach Smart was talking about I’m not a want, I’m a need, too. They impressed me a lot and their defense is really good. Something that I see is good competition there in practice.”

North Carolina will have coaches in to see Sandidge on Tuesday, and he will take his official visit there this weekend. He visits USC officially on Jan. 26. He won’t make his announcement until signing day (Feb. 7), but he will decide before then and notify the schools.

And Sandidge knows what he wants to see from the school he chooses.

“Can I live there? Can I get playing time? And can I build my brand while I’m there?” he said.

Notes

▪  DB DJ Brown of Washington, DC, a Virginia commitment and a USC target, was offered by Ohio State. He plans to visit Cal this weekend and Northwestern on Jan. 26, per 247Sports. He’s also considering USC and Ohio State for visits.

▪  Per TheBigSpur, three uncommitted USC targets are scheduled for official visits this weekend: DE Dennis Briggs, OL Dylan Wonnum and DB DJ Brown. Briggs named Miami his favorite after taking his official visit there this past weekend.

▪  WR Tayvion Robinson of Virginia Beach, Va., was offered by USC.

▪  QB Ty Evans of Monument, Colo., who held a USC offer, committed to Colorado where former USC offensive coordinator Kurt Roper is the new quarterbacks coach. Evans had planned to visit USC this month.

▪  USC RB target Quavaris Crouch of Charlotte was offered by LSU.