Academics delayed Gamecocks signee Zaquandre White. He expects to arrive this weekend

South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp has stated on multiple occasions that he expected running back signee ZaQuandre White of Ft. Myers, Florida and Iowa Western Community College to make it academically and report to the team in late July.

White said Thursday Muschamp has been right on the target. He said Friday he will wrap up his academic work, pack his bags and hit the road for Columbia with his parents planning to arrive late Saturday or early Sunday morning.

“Everything is good right now so I’m in the door right now,” White said. “I take my last exam tomorrow and that’s when the grades officially post. It’s been a long grind, sir.”

The Gamecocks never gave up on White who began his career as a linebacker at Florida State redshirting in 2017 and playing in 10 games in 2018 before transferring to Iowa Western to play running back in 2019. He was on the phone today with running backs coach Des Kitchings and has been in regular contact with the staff.

“Everything is good to go,” White said. “They are just waiting for me to finish my exam and come on up there this weekend. Sir, I ain’t going to lie. I’ve been grinding myself so there really shouldn’t be any hiccups.”

That’s the hope on the USC end of things as White would considerably bolster the running back room that doesn’t return a lot of yardage (290 yards, four TDs) but offers a lot of promise in youngsters Marshawn Lloyd, Kevin Harris, Deshaun Fenwick, and now White who will have two years of eligibility.

Last season White rushed for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was rated by the 247Sports composite as a 4-star prospect and the No. 1 junior college running back in the country. He also considered Tennessee and Arkansas before committing to the Gamecocks.