Atlanta lineman senses USC optimism on visit: ‘They are ready to turn things around’
South Carolina hits the Atlanta area hard in recruiting every cycle because players from there can make the short trip to the South Carolina capital and feel like like they’re not far from home.
That’s the case with offensive lineman Jakiah Leftwich (6-6 302), who was in with his dad for a visit Saturday. The twist here is that the Gamecocks will have to battle the hometown team Georgia Tech and others as the recruiting process plays out. The Gamecocks did well enough this weekend to earn a spot alongside the Yellow Jackets at the front of the line.
“I felt great about it. They showed me around the campus, and that was great. They are high on my list now,” Leftwich said. “They are kind of tied up right now with Georgia Tech. The graduation rate of the whole football team (stood out).”
As is the case when an offensive lineman comes to visit, Gamecock line coach Eric Wolford spent a great deal of time with Leftwich to make his pitch as to why he would be the best man to make him a better player.
“He said he would develop me into an athlete and hopefully into the NFL, because he coached over 35 linemen who are in the NFL right now,” Leftwich said. “He said he likes that I’m physical and athletic.”
The Gamecocks are looking to bounce back from their 4-8 season in 2020, and Will Muschamp made some changes on the staff he feels will help them accomplish that. Leftwich said he could feel the optimism around the program during his visit.
“I feel great about it,” he said. “They have a whole different offensive coordinator and weight room coach, and they are ready to turn things around.”
Along with USC and Georgia Tech, Leftwich holds offers from Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Kansas, Toledo and UNLV. He plans to visit Florida State this weekend and Tennessee the next weekend. He also plans to visit Georgia and to make a return trip to Georgia Tech.
Leftwich is looking at a summer decision and he will sign and graduate early.
News and notes
▪ USC running back target Henry Parrish of Miami announced a commitment to Ole Miss Sunday night. He took an official visit there over the weekend. He also took official visits to USC and Pittsburgh. He once was committed to the Panthers.
▪ WR Zavier Short and OL Chase Sweigart of Chapin visited NC State over the weekend.
▪ USC DB target Kamarro Edmonds of Havelock, North Carolina visited NC State this weekend.
▪ Here were confirmed visitors to USC over the weekend: DE Jacques Hunter of Valdosta, Georgia; WR Daejon Reynolds of Lawrenceville, Georgia; 2022 CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew of Loganville, Georgia; TE Michael Trigg of Lake Wales, Florida; WR Izaiah Guy of Ocala, Florida; OL Jakiah Leftwich of Atlanta; RB Thaddius Franklin of Miami; OL Micah Morris of Kingsland, Georgia, DL Victoine Brown of Loganville, Georgia, TE Hugh Laughlin of Athens, Georgia; RB Jaden Alexis of Coconut Creek, Florida.
▪ South Pointe DB O’Mega Blake was offered by Tennessee. He visited Saturday.
▪ Blythewood athlete Brandon Edwards was offered a preferred walk-on opportunity by USC. He said the Gamecocks like him as a safety or a slot receiver.
▪ Gaffney DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Myrtle Beach WE JJ Jones visited Tennessee Saturday. Dawkins plans to visit Virginia Tech this coming weekend.
▪ USC is in the top five with former commitment RB Lovasea Carroll of Warrenton, Georgia and IMG Academy. He released his new top five on Friday and the others on the list are Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Ohio State. Carroll was USC’s first commitment for the 2021 class last May, but he decommitted in September. He and the Gamecocks went their separate ways for awhile but the Gamecocks recently resumed the communications and have worked their way back into the picture with him.
▪ Tight end Edward Smith of Douglasville, Georgia plans to see Auburn, Tennessee and USC this weekend.
▪ 2022 QB Gunner Stockton of Tiger, Georgia also will visit USC Saturday, according to 247Sports. Stockton is coached by Jaybo Shaw, the brother of former USC quarterback and new director of player development Connor Shaw, and is close with new USC offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who offered him while he was at Colorado State.
▪ 2023 OL Cam Johnson of Seneca plans to see Auburn, Tennessee and USC this weekend.
▪ USC and Clemson made the short list with TreVeyon Henderson of Hopewell, Virginia. The Gamecocks like him as a running back and Clemson as a defensive back. The others on his short list are Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee. USC offered him after his sophomore season and Clemson offered last summer.
▪ Former Oklahoma commitment QB Brock Vandagriff, who is now drawing USC attention, planned to visit Georgia Saturday.
▪ USC offered DE Patrick Tukes (6-3 270) of McRae, Georgia. Western Kentucky and Troy also have offered him. Tukes also is a basketball player.