What QB target is hearing from South Carolina staff: ‘They said I am a priority’

Charlotte 2019 quarterback Garrett Shrader spent Saturday at South Carolina with Will Muschamp and new quarterbacks coach Dan Werner. It was another step in relationship building for Shrader who continues to hold the Gamecocks in high regard.

“It was a fun experience getting to hang around with some of the guys, talk to the coaches and just feel things out on how they are doing things there,” Shrader said. “I enjoyed talking to Coach Werner. I knew a little bit about his background, not a whole lot. The things they did at Ole Miss were impressive.”

Werner and Muschamp certainly have been impressed with Shrader to this point and made it clear to him where he stands with them.

“They said I am a priority. I can fit in with what they want to do, make the quarterback a running threat,” Shrader said. “They are high on my list. It’s hard to be a nine win SEC program 90 miles away from home. I like what they are doing. I talked to Coach Muschamp. He’s a player’s coach and a good guy first. He’ll get you right and keep you in line.”

Arkansas offered Shrader on Sunday night and he plans to visit there along with West Virginia and Mississippi State. He’s going to Starkville on Feb 17. Shrader said he will return to USC for some spring practices. He’s not ready to claim a favorite.

Notes:

▪  Jamario Holley, a 2019 wide receiver from Northwestern visited USC on Saturday and the Gamecocks appear to be in good shape with him.

"Feeling very good about them,” Holley said. “I went down there and they showed love. I was fitting in, it felt like a second home."

▪  York Prep 2019 6-foot-9 big man DJ Burns made an unofficial visit to South Carolina for the Tennessee game.

▪  Gamecocks target TJ Moss, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Findlay Prep (Nev.) was offered by hometown Memphis.

▪  Buford, Ga. offensive lineman Riley Simonds visited South Carolina on Saturday.

▪  USC offered Atlanta running back Tahj Gary.

▪  Twin Cities, Ga. defensive end Curtis Fann visited USC on Saturday.

▪  Wide receiver Jaylen McCollough of Powder Springs, Ga has USC on his short list along with Ohio State, Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee.

▪  South Carolina offered 2020 quarterback Jack Miller of Scottsdale, Ariz.

▪  Former South Aiken defensive back Tancey Richardson played last season at Fort Scott Community College (Kan.). He committed to Kansas State in December but still has another year to spend in junior college. Richardson said he's had some recent contact from USC's Travaris Robinson. He said he's also hearing from Tennessee, Florida and Toledo.

▪  Florence native defensive end Dorian Gerald took an official visit to Texas A&M over the weekend.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 8:55 AM.