Gamecocks think highly of Alabama tailback prospect, and vice versa

Running back Jaylin White of Dothan, Alabama picked up an offer from South Carolina in December, and the Gamecocks have stayed hot on his trail since then.

The Class of 2021 prospect visited for a junior day in January and was to return this spring until the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to all visits. He currently has the Gamecocks in his top five with Tennessee, Florida State, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Alabama and Auburn are showing interest in White but have not yet offered, and USC coach Will Muschamp perhaps sees a chance to steal a talented prospect out of Alabama.

“I talk to South Carolina about every day,” White said. “They want me to get back (for a visit). Coach Muschamp says he wants me bad. He likes the way I carry myself on the field and what I can do. And Coach (Mike) Bobo, he’s a cool guy. He’s laid back a little bit.”

White said academics will be an important part of his decision. He wants to major in engineering. He feels the Gamecocks check both boxes for football and education.

“They’ve got a good coaching staff and they care a lot about school up there,” White said.

White also has visited Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn and Alabama, and he plans to visit Penn State and Texas A&M. He said USC and Tennessee are the two working him the hardest at this point.

White plans to make a decision after his season and sign in December. He is working on graduating early.

Last season White rushed for 900 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has a four-star rating in the 247Sports Composite and is ranked the No. 18 running back nationally and the No. 9 prospect in Alabama.

News and notes

▪ USC offered 2022 safety Tre Donaldson (6-2 185) of Tallahassee. Some of his other offers are Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Nebraska and Georgia Tech. He’s also a major basketball prospect and was offered by Ole Miss in hoops.

▪ USC also offered 2023 OL Payton Kirkland (6-7 285) of Orlando. He also has an offer from Arizona State.

▪ Ole Miss offered Myrtle Beach WR JJ Jones, a top USC target.

▪ Greer OL Jaydon Collins was offered by Pitt and Maryland.

▪ Abbeville LB Cruz Temple has picked up recent offers from Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Georgia State and Navy.

▪ The USC women offered 5-foot-8 PG Destiney McPhaul of Philadelphia.