USC among Top 4 schools for in-state defender with weekend commitment possible
Marion defensive end T.J. Sanders took that next public step toward a commitment Thursday by releasing his top four schools.
He named South Carolina, NC State, Vanderbilt and West Virginia as that quartet. Sanders tweeted that while his “recruitment is still 100% open to all other schools that have reached out to me and/or offered me,” he’s going to concentrate on the other four for now.
Sanders also is ready to make a commitment and said “maybe Saturday” when asked about a possible day.
“All of them, we talk about football but every now and then we’ll talk about other stuff like how I’m doing, what’s going on, TV and Netflix, stuff like that,” Sanders said last month of those same four schools. “They are keeping it cool.”
From USC’s standpoint, Sanders said Will Muschamp and new defensive tackles coach Tracy Rocker are in regular communication.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Muschamp and Coach Rocker,” Sanders said. “One of them will call me one day and the other will call me another day. Both of them text me every day.”
Sanders has a three-star rating in the 247Sports Composite, and is the 39th-ranked defensive tackle in the country and the No. 6 prospect in South Carolina.
Recruiting news and notes
▪ Two more in-state prospects announced their college decisions Thursday. WR Ahmari Higgins-Bruce committed to Louisville, and DE Jatius Geer of Belton-Honea Path committed to Syracuse. Unofficially, that’s 15 players from the state committed at this point to FBS programs.
Here are the other in-state commitments to FBS schools: Dorman RB Chance Black to Virginia Tech; West Florence CB Nyke Johnson to Virginia Tech; South Pointe WR O’Mega Blake to USC; Greer OT Jaydon Collins to Wake Forest; Sumter DE Justus Boone to Florida; Boiling Springs CB Caden Sullivan to Appalachian State; Myrtle Beach WR JJ Jones to North Carolina; Chapman LB Camden Gray to Navy; Strom Thurmond TE Brandon Johnson to Wake Forest; Chapin OL Thornton Gentry to NC State; Westside OT Jayden Ramsey to Appalachian State; River Bluff WR Kendall Long to Syracuse; and Lakewood SAF James Wright to East Carolina.
▪ USC CB target Khyree Jackson of East Mississippi junior college and Upper Marlboro, Maryland has not yet determined a new commitment date after canceling his plans for a July 11 reveal. He has been working with a top six of USC, Oregon, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama and Kentucky. Jackson said he wanted more time to visit schools before making his decision. Jackson said he’s talking with USC weekly.
▪ OL Charles Armstrong of Bradenton, Florida, who was offered by USC, committed to Arizona State.
▪ USC OT target Caleb Etienne of Butler County Community COllege was offered by Southern Miss.