Joe Cox keeping Gamecocks in the game with Alabama receiver. Official visit locked in
New South Carolina receivers coach Joe Cox is doing good work with wide receiver Malachi Bennett of Fairfield, Alabama.
He has been in daily contact with Bennett, selling him on the virtues of the Gamecock program and how he can help him achieve greatness in the SEC, like his uncle Earl Bennett did. Earl finished his career at Vanderbilt in 2007 with 236 catches, which at the time was the SEC record.
Malachi has a lot of promise, and right now he can see himself doing for the Gamecocks what his uncle did for the Commodores.
“I’m leaning toward them in my top five,” Bennett said. “It’s a good school and I like them. We’ve got to get down there for a visit and see what it’s like down there.”
Bennett (6-2, 180) also cited Ole Miss, Georgia, Louisville and UAB as schools high up on the list. He also had Texas, Texas A&M and Kentucky in his top eight.
Bennett said he and Cox have developed a good relationship through all of their conversations.
“I talk to Coach Cox every day,” Bennett said. “I talk to Coach (Mike) Bobo. We talk about the school, their official visits and when I can come down. He talks to me about my athleticism, how I go up and get the ball, my ball awareness and stuff like that. And I can be a big part of the receiving group.”
Bennett said he has set his official visit with the Gamecocks for Oct. 10, the weekend of the Tennessee game. That’s the only official visit he has set thus far. He has taken unofficial visits to Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida State and UAB.
Bennett is rated as three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked the No. 60 receiver in the country and the No. 12 prospect in Alabama.
South Carolina has two receivers committed for the 2021 class: O’Mega Blake (Rock Hill) and Sam Reynolds (Alabaster, Alabama).
News and notes
▪ USC defensive end target George Wilson of Virginia Beach will announce his commitment on July 12. He has the Gamecocks, North Carolina, Penn State and Arizona State as his final four.
▪ USC offered Class of 2022 linebacker Melvin Jordan (6-0 205) of Clearwater, Florida. He’s rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports. Some of his other offers are Florida State, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois and Arizona State. He was committed to Florida State until the coaching change there, and has called Arizona State his current favorite.
