Gamecocks ‘in a good position’ with defensive end who just decommitted from Georgia
Class of 2019 defensive end Rashad Cheney of Atlanta announced a decommitment Thursday from Georgia and is now open as he restarts the process.
One team that is in good shape with him is South Carolina.
“I felt like I made that decision (to commit to Georgia) at a young age. I was only in the 10th grade, and I was new to the recruiting process,” Cheney said in explaining why he decommitted. “I didn’t know how important it was to make the college decision and I couldn’t make that decision because I was a fan and all that, so I want to take my time and make the right decision.”
Cheney (6-3 275) said he’s made five visits to USC over the years, so he’s already got a strong relationship with the coaching staff and knows the program well.
“I’m in a good position with them and they are in a good position with me,” he said. “They have been coming at me hard. They treat me like family when I go down there. Coach [Bryan] McClendon and I are from the same area and he kind of knows what I like. They like my pass rushing ability. They are always saying they need pass rushers. And they are telling me I can play early.”
He plays for Cedar Grove High, the same school that produced USC senior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams. Cheney has seen a lot of Gamecock football since Will Muschamp took over both in person and on television, so he’s got an informed take on what is happening in Columbia.
“One thing I like is this year is their record improved by a lot, so that shows you what Coach Muschamp is doing down there in Columbia,” Cheney said. “He shows me a great personality. Everyone knows you’re going to see every side of him because he’s going to push you. Every time I go he shows me a great personality.”
Cheney does not have another visit planned for USC at this point but he plans to return soon. He has been to Auburn recently and plans to visit Tennessee next weekend.
Cheney said he does not have a favorites list at this point and won’t make his decision until close to the early signing period. He does hope to graduate early.
Last season Cheney estimated he had around 55 tackles and five sacks.
Notes
▪ USC’s recruiting weekend got off to an early start with the Thursday night arrival of defensive lineman John Mincey of Homerville, Ga. He came in early so that he can leave early Saturday and return home for a basketball game.
Mincey also has visited Tennessee and is scheduled to visit Florida State next weekend. Auburn and Arkansas also are making a late push for him. He’s a former Arkansas commitment.
▪ Also scheduled for official visits this weekend at USC are DL Rick Sandidge, OL Dylan Wonnum and WR Warren Thompson.
Sandidge has the Gamecocks and Georgia as his top two.
Wonnum is deciding between the Gamecocks, Tennessee and Auburn and has visited the other two.
And Thompson has visited Florida State, Tennessee and North Carolina. He’s a former Oregon commitment.
▪ Scheduled official visits this weekend for other USC targets include DL Jordan Miller to Virginia and DE Dennis Briggs to Florida State. The entire Florida State defensive staff was in to see Briggs at his school Thursday.
▪ USC offered 2020 DB Keshawn Lawrence of Nashville.
▪ 2020 RB Deondre Jackson of Stone Mountain, Ga., was offered by USC. He’s a former Auburn commitment.
▪ USC offered 2020 DE Myles Murphy (6-5 240) of Marietta, Ga.
▪ USC offered 2021 OL Eli Sutton of Nashville.
▪ Michigan is one of the favorites of RB Quavaris Crouch of Charlotte and Jim Harbaugh was by his school Thursday. USC and Clemson also are heavily involved.
▪ Arkansas offered USC target DB Jalyn Phillips of Lawrenceville, Ga.
This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 9:02 AM.