Gamecocks keep in-state defender a priority as his recruitment picks up steam

Marion High School defensive end T.J. Sanders has landed more offers in the last week.

Wake Forest came in on Thursday with an offer, and that followed Akron and West Virginia. He also holds offers from South Carolina, Syracuse and Coastal Carolina. The Gamecocks offered on the first day of the month after he visited for a junior day. Since then, the Gamecocks have kept up their push.

“They’ve been showing me love, either Coach (Tracy) Rocker or Coach (Will) Muschamp hitting me up,” Sanders said. “Coach Muschamp texts me every day, just getting to know them and all that. Coach Rocker talks to me like every day, too. They are all just showing love at this point. Everybody is texting me about how I’m doing and asking me all that.”

Sanders is one of those hidden in-state gems Muschamp likes to recruit and develop. He is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ranked the No. 15 prospect in the in-state class for 2021. His ranking is no relevance to Muschamp and company as they make it clear to Sanders their feelings for him.

“How they want me really bad and all that,” Sanders said. “They’ve told me that they really want me. I feel good (about them) and all, but I’m going to let the process play out and I’m not going to rush anything.”

Sanders had planned his next visit to USC for the spring game in April, but that’s not happening with the coronavirus outbreak that’s shut down sports and slowed the recruiting process. He did make it to Coastal Carolina for that spring game.

Now, he’ll well for the reopening of the recruiting process and take visits to his schools of interest. He’s hoping to make his decision just before or just after the start of the season.