Gamecocks, Muschamp not letting up on top in-state recruit despite Florida pledge

Sumter defensive end Justus Boone (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) has been committed to Florida since late February. And he is still committed. “I’m still strong,” Boone said of his pledge. But he didn’t shut down his recruiting with that commitment, and he hasn’t done so yet.

“I’m still open with my recruiting,” Boone said. “I’m talking to Clemson, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Arizona State.”

USC has been a constant with Boone. The Gamecocks were the first to offer and despite the Florida pledge, Will Muschamp and his staff have not let up.

“I’ve really been talking to a lot of different coaches,” Boone said. “Mainly Coach Muschamp and the D-line coach. They are telling me they want me there, just really recruiting me.”

Clemson has been on and off with Boone. The Tigers have not offered but recently resumed communications thru defensive tackles coach Todd Bates.

“Just asking where I was academically and stuff like that, and he was still recruiting me,” Boone said. “This is not the first time they’ve reached out to me, so I don’t feel much different than when they talked to me before. They just recently reacquainted themselves with me.”

Boone said once he can, he will take his five official visits before finalizing his plans. He’s basically set on where he wants to visit.

“I’m going to take all my official visits this year,” Boone said. “Florida, Tennessee and Arizona State, and I’ve got to think about the other ones. If Clemson opens up the recruiting, then it’s possible that I’ll take one of my official visits there. And South Carolina is possible for an official, I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Boone has taken unofficial visits to South Carolina, Clemson, Florida and Appalachian State. Some of his other offers are Georgia, Penn State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Louisville.

Boone is rated a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite and is the No. 1 ranked prospect in South Carolina.

Notes:

▪ Leesburg, Georgia wide receiver Chauncey Magwood is set to announce his commitment Wednesday at 3:00 PM. USC is in his final six along with Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas and Nebraska. From the six, Florida State has been his only visit. Bryan McClendon had been recruiting Magwood for the Gamecocks, but he’s now heading to Oregon.

▪ The Gamecocks offered 2022 St. Louis cornerback Isaac Thompson (6-foot-1, 190 pounds). Some of his other offers are Auburn, LSU, Michigan State, Baylor, Miami, Arkansas, Southern Cal and Missouri.

▪ USC offered 2023 Tampa offensive lineman Clay Wedin (6-foot-6, 275 pounds). His other offers include Florida State, Florida, USF, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Kentucky, Arizona State, Nebraska, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. He’s at least the 4th prospect in the 2023 class to claim a Gamecock offer.

▪ South Carolina offered 2022 6-foot-3 shooting guard Quant’e Berry of Cleveland, Tennessee.

▪ One-time 7-foot USC target Josh Gray of St. James, New York committed to LSU.

This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 10:51 AM.