Top USC in-state target sets new commitment date. Why that day isn’t set in stone
Defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins of Gaffney originally planned to announce his college commitment Sunday, but he put that off until June 26.
Had he followed through Sunday, would he have announced for South Carolina? The Gamecocks are one of his final six. Ingram-Dawkins would not say Sunday night who he planned to commit to, but the Class of 2021 prospect did spend time earlier in the day talking with Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp and assistants Travaris Robinson and Tracy Rocker.
“They were saying how awesome it would be for me to stay in my home state and do what I do, have a great career,” Ingram-Dawkins said. “I love it. It’s my home state. My third offer, my first SEC offer. I’ve got a lot of love for them.”
Ingram-Dawkins named his top six last week and, at that time, said he had made his decision and notified the school. A day later, he pumped the brakes on a public commitment this month.
“I talked with my family and they were just telling me don’t rush into nothing, just wait and visit and see all the places that I have and see all my options,” Ingram-Dawkins said. “I was sure but I’m trying to do what’s good for me and my family. I think it’s best if I visit all the places before I make my decision.”
Ingram-Dawkins has a top six of USC, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia and Penn State. And he said another national power is trying to crash the party.
“I’ve got Oklahoma coming back up; they are probably coming up in the tops,” Ingram-Dawkins said. “I’ve been talking to them even though they are not in my top six.
Clemson will not be one of those programs trying to get back in on Ingram-Dawkins.
“I talked to Clemson maybe last month and they told me they were full,” he said. “I grew up a Clemson fan. Clemson was my dream school, so I hit them up and showed them my film and stuff. They told me they were full at D-line. Just got to move on.”
And moving on means working toward making an announcement on his new date of June 26. Maybe.
“I’m planning to, but it’s not 100 percent, not guaranteed,” Ingram-Dawkins said. “It depends on when everything opens up. I’m trying to get to Florida State, Penn State and North Carolina and visit. I’m trying to visit everywhere in my top six.”
No campus visits will be allowed until at least July. The NCAA last week extended the current recruiting dead period — meaning no face-to-face contact between coaches and recruits — to June 30.
The 247Sports Composite has Ingram-Dawkins as a three-star prospect, the 25th ranked defensive tackle in the country and the No. 3 prospect in South Carolina.
Recruiting news and notes
▪ Myrtle Beach wide receiver J.J. Jones has set Friday as the new date for his commitment announcement. Jones previously had scheduled Aug. 5 for his announcement. He said he’ll release the choice via Twitter at 7 p.m. Friday. He is down to South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
Jones was able to take unofficial visits to USC, UNC and Tennessee. Jones carries a three-star rating in the 247Sports Composite and is ranked the No. 84 receiver in the country and the No. 4 prospect in South Carolina. Last season he caught 40 passes for 654 yards and 14 touchdowns.
▪ USC offensive line target Jakiah Leftwich of Atlanta plans to announce his commitment this week, moving the announcement up from July 19. The Gamecocks and Georgia Tech have been two of the stronger programs with him. Some of his other offers are West Virginia, TCU, USF, UCF, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Tennessee, Kansas and Minnesota.
▪ USC is in the top six with wide receiver Keon Coleman (6-4 195) of Opelousas, Louisiana. The others in the group are Michigan State, Florida State, Mississippi State, Kansas and Oklahoma. Coleman is a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite and is ranked the 48th best receiver nationally and the No. 8 prospect in Louisiana. Last season he caught 35 passes for 1,143 yards and 22 touchdowns.
▪ USC is in top five with defensive lineman Isaiah Coe of Iowa Western junior college. The others are Oklahoma, Missouri, Memphis and Ole Miss. He will announce June 5.
▪ Three-star defensive end DeMarcus Smith (6-4 262) of Birmingham named a top seven of USC, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Kansas, Memphis and UAB.