New coach, same interest from four-star Gamecocks recruiting target
The tight end position at South Carolina went through a coaching change last month after the departure of Bryan McClendon and the arrival of Des Kitchings. Bobby Bentley, who had taken over the running backs, was moved back to tight ends. And Joe Cox, who was at tight ends, was shifted to wide receivers. None of this has mattered to one of the Gamecocks’ top tight end targets, Michael Trigg of Lake Wales, Florida.
“We talk pretty much every day, we text a lot,” Trigg said. “Coach Bentley is the new tight ends coach now, and he and Coach Cox are pretty close. There’s really nothing changed in my opinion. Since Coach Bentley is the new tight ends coach, he had to rearrange his 2021 tight ends, and he said I’m still at the top of his list. That’s good to know. I guess they are showing they have good interest in me.”
Hayden Hurst is the model against which all future Gamecock tight ends will be measured. He was largely successful due to his versatility. Trigg, who last season caught 82 passes for 1,232 yards and 16 touchdowns, said the Gamecocks see a lot of the same in him.
“They like the fact that I’m versatile,” Trigg said. “I can flex out and also put my hand in the dirt. I guess they are saying there’s not too many people like that.”
Trigg and his father visited USC for a junior day in January and they got a chance for a sit down meeting with Will Muschamp.
“I’ve got a good feel for them,” Trigg said. “I had a good feel for them ever since I left their campus. It was nice. I’ve got to talk to my family and pray about it, but I think they’ll be in it (to the end).”
Trigg hasn’t shortened his list. Some of his other offers are Nebraska, Ohio State, Maryland, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, TCU, Ole Miss, LSU, Miami, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Florida State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan. Along with USC, he’s also visited Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Auburn. And he knows what he’s looking for in a school.
“Really a school that’s going to use my mind, use my skill set the best,” he said. “I want to be in college for three years. I need to take advantage of that.”
Trigg said he’s also hearing a lot from Auburn, Ohio State, Southern Cal and North Carolina to name a few. He will not be in a hurry to make a decision and is looking at making his announcement at one of the post-season all star games.
Trigg is now rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked the No. 6 tight end in the country and the No. 20 prospect in Florida.
Notes:
▪ Myrtle Beach wide receiver JJ Jones named a top 5 of USC, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi State. Among those not making the short list from his offers were Louisville, Florida State, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Indiana, Duke, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, NC State, Michigan and Kansas State. Jones has taken unofficial visits to USC, North Carolina and Tennessee. He is rated a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, and is ranked 84th nationally among receivers and the No. 4 prospect in South Carolina. Last season he had 40 catches for 654 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jones also is a standout on the Myrtle Beach basketball team.
▪ Fairfield, Alabama wide receiver Malachi Bennett (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) named his top eight and South Carolina is in the group. The others are Texas A&M, Ole Miss, UAB, Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Bennett is rated a three-star in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked No. 60 nationally at receiver and the No. 12 prospect in Alabama.
▪ The Gamecocks are in the top 15 with 4-star Birmingham defensive tackle Tim Keenan (6-foot-1, 340 pounds). The others are Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Nebraska, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Texas A&M, Maryland, Florida State, Georgia Tech and UAB.
▪ USC the top 20 with 2022 defensive end Enai White of Philadelphia. The others are Alabama,, Georgia, Texas A&M,Texas, Tennessee, Washington, Michigan, Notre Dame, Kentucky, LSU, Pitt, Southern Cal, Penn State, Miami, Arizona State, Maryland, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He’s the No. 1 rated player in Pennsylvania for the 2022 class.
▪ The Gamecocks offered 2022 Tallahassee running back Chase Gillespie. Some of his other offers are Georgia Tech, Kansas, Texas Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina, Troy FAU, FIU and USF.
▪ South Carolina offered 2022 linebacker Xavier Simmons of Greensboro, North Carolina. That’s his first offer.
▪ South Carolina is among the offers for 2023 defensive lineman Peter Woods (6-4 250) of Alabaster, Alabama. Some of his other offers are Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Penn State and LSU.
▪ The Gamecocks offered 2023 Ramsey, New Jersey offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (6-foot-5, 275 pounds). Some other offers are Penn State, Miami, Maryland, Rutgers, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas and Boston College.
▪ USC target tight end Elijah Arroyo of Frisco, Texas committed to Miami.
▪ Watkinsville, Georgia safety West Weeks, who had a USC offer, committed to Virginia.
▪ Tallahassee safety De’Shawn Rucker, who has Clemson and USC offers, committed to Tennessee.
▪ LIlburn, Georgia running back Cody Brown, who has a Gamecocks offer, committed to Tennessee.
▪ South Carolina 3-star offensive lineman target Weston Franklin of Jessup, Georgia was offered by Virginia Tech and Duke.