Why South Carolina made the top five for highly productive NC defender

Kernersville, North Carolina linebacker Raneiria Dillworth (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) on Monday named a top five of South Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State, Georgia and Alabama. Dillworth left off a number of prominent programs that had offered him, like Oklahoma, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Including the Gamecocks was an easy decision for Dillworth.

“They came by the school a lot, showing big time love, showing that they want me there,” Dillworth said. “They told me I could fit in and would have a chance to play early, and that’s played a big role in my recruiting. They’ve shown love since I was a sophomore. They pulled the trigger (on an offer) at the beginning of my recruiting process, so that really put them in the top five and put them in good position.”

Dillworth also is attracted to USC by the type of defense the Gamecocks run, and also by the fact head coach Will Muschamp will coach the linebackers.

“I like their defense. I run a similar defense in high school, so I’m going to have more experience,” Dillworth said. “And now that coach Muschamp is also working with the linebackers, that’s even a bigger role too. That’s great because I see that he has more experience in getting the best of the best at my position.”

Dillworth is not the only big-time target USC is pursuing at Glenn High School. His defensive end teammate Jahvaree Ritzie has the Gamecocks in his final 12. Could they be future teammates as well?

“We’ve definitely talked about that,” he said. “It’s like a 50-50 chance that we end up at the same school.”

Dillworth visited North Carolina in January but did not get to USC. He will visit all five of his finalists in March and he plans to make his commitment by the end of March or the end of April. There is no favorite.

Dillworth is rated a 3-star prospect at this point by the 247Sports composite, the 24th-best outside linebacker nationally and the No. 22 player in North Carolina. Last season he recorded 203 tackles and 5 sacks in 14 games.

Notes:

▪ South Carolina offered 3-star defensive end Mattheus Carroll (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) of Baltimore. Boston College, Cincinnati Duke, Louisville, Pitt, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Syracuse are among his other offers.

▪ The Gamecocks sent out offers Monday to 4-star tight end Jeremaine Terry (6-4 235) of Richmond, Califrornia and linebacker Navonteque Strong (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

▪ USC defensive back commitment Demarko Williams of Atlanta was offered by Kentucky.

▪ South Carolina quarterback target Colten Gauthier of Dacula, Georgia visited Ole Miss last weekend.