Four-star had 14 sacks last season and has Gamecocks in his top three

Jonesboro, Georgia linebacker Trenilyas Tatum named a top eight of South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisville, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech and Virginia. He visited the Gamecocks the last weekend of January and he talked on the phone with Will Muschamp last week. Muschamp, Tatum said, reaches out to him practically every morning.

“He sends me inspiration quotes to get the day started and stuff,” Tatum said. “I hear from Coach (Tracy) Rocker, Coach (Travaris Robinson) T-Rob. I hear from all of them. Sending me stuff with their spring ball getting started and inspirational sayings and good morning and stuff. I’m most definitely going to try to get up their for the spring game.”

Mississippi State and Georgia, Tatum said, also are keeping up strong contact. He was supposed to visit Georgia last Wednesday but couldn’t make it. From his top eight, Tatum has settled on outright favorites, but he is strong on the Gamecocks.

“They are definitely top three,” Tatum said. “Not many head coaches reach out like coach Muschamp. It’s a school for defensive players. I know there are a lot of defensive players every year going to the (NFL) draft and I know Coach Muschamp will help make that happen for me.”

Tatum is a Mike linebacker and is ranked 15th nationally at his position in the 247Sports composite. Last season he had 91 tackles with 31 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.