Gamecocks recently discovered tight end target. He can’t wait to take a visit
South Carolina’s pursuit of tight end Jalen Shead (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) of Olive Brach, Mississippi is off to a good start. According to Shead, the Gamecocks just recently discovered him, and recruiter Bobby Bentley has worked quickly in relationship building. So quick in fact, Shead has scheduled an official visit with the Gamecocks for the weekend of the Missouri game Sept, 19.
“I guess I started picking up a few other offers and I guess they just found me on Twitter,” Shead said. “I might have DMed one of their coaches, but they probably didn’t see it because I didn’t get a response or anything. But I was picking up a few offers here and there and I guess they found me on their timeline. We talked for maybe a few days and then they offered me. We haven’t built that much of a relationship yet. We’ve been talking about the official visit and academics. On down the line we’ll connect a little more.”
Shead and Bentley have talked in detail about the Gamecocks’ offense, how they use the tight end and what they like about him for their offense.
“He said I would like the offense that they run,” Shead said. “He showed me a lot of stats from past tight ends they’ve dealt with and the things that they’ve done with them. He told me how I would fit in very good with their scheme and the formations that they run. I’d be on the field a lot and everything like that. He said he likes my quick feet, good hips, good mobility, my versatility I guess you could said.”
While he doesn’t know much about the Gamecock football program, past or present, Shead is interested enough to do his due diligence and learn more about what they have to offer.
“The stats that they showed me were pretty impressive,” Shead said. “There are two or three of my friends that want to go to South Carolina pretty bad, so I did some research. I like the campus and facilities, things like that. Everything seemed to be pretty cool. I can’t wait to go on the official to see for myself.”
Shead said he only caught three passes last season for under 100 yards. But that’s not because he can’t catch the football. Rather, he just played his role in an offense that featured the run.
“Our two running backs had pretty good years last year and the year before,” Shead said. “They got a thousand yards each the last two seasons. We’ll throw it in a third and long situation, but it’s usually a post or a slant, something simple. My coach from last year liked running the ball because nobody could really stop it,, and he didn’t want to change anything. And I understood that, so I just did what I had to do. I just made the most out of it.”
Shead, since his USC offer last week, has also picked up offers from Alabama and Arkansas. He also has offers from TCU, Florida State, Colorado, Kansas State, Memphis, Ole Miss, UCF, Tulane, Liberty and others. He does not have favorites at this point but he plans to name some soon. He’s also a basketball player, so he will not graduate early. A decision won’t come until after he takes his official visits.
Notes:
▪ Another South Carolina target is close to coming off the board with a decision. Wide receiver Derwin Burgess (5-foot-11, 177 pounds) of Riverdale, Georgia tweeted Sunday that he is close on announcing his commitment. He has not specified a time and date. Burgess has been working with a short list of USC, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida State and Coastal Carolina. The three-star prospect visited the Gamecocks in March and had planned a return trip until the pandemic erupted. Last season he caught 28 passes for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
▪ The Gamecocks offered 2022 running back Kevin Winston of Hyattsville, Maryland. He also has offers form Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, Syracuse, Michigan State and Maryland. He has a three-star rating by 247Sports.
▪ USC linebacker target Tavareon Martin-Scott of Dodge City Community College (Kansas) was offered by Texas Tech.
▪ Walters State Community College (Tennessee) shortstop Michael Robinson (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) on Sunday committed to South Carolina for this year’s class. Walters hit .309 with eight RBIs in 20 games in 2020. He committed one error in 48 chances. He replaces shortstop Sawyre Thornton in the class. Per John Whittle of TheBigSpur, Thornton has opted to return to junior college for next season. He played for Angelina College in Texas this past season.
▪ The USC women’s basketball team offered 2022 6-foot-4 forward Maya Nnaji of Hopkins, MN, ranked No. 8 nationally by ESPN.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 10:53 AM.