Georgia defensive end still has love for Gamecocks after early offer

One of the remaining targets on South Carolina’s recruiting board for 2021 is defensive end Ian Mathews (6-foot-5, 270 pounds) of Columbus, Georgia. The Gamecocks were one of his first major offers, and they continue to work him hard with Will Muschamp and Tracy Rocker in touch.

“Me and the D-Line coach and Coach Muschamp talk on a weekly basis, just checking up on each other,” Mathews said. “They want me there to play. They don’t want me there just to be an extra body. They want me there to come to the program and actually play as soon as I get there and work me in, instead of me just being an extra body.”

Mathews added that the early interest the Gamecocks showed in him is something he hasn’t forgotten.

“I’ve still got love for South Carolina,” Mathews said. “They were one of the first to actually contact me, so they definitely have a special place in my heart to where they will be strongly considered.”

Recently entering the picture was Auburn, the school just an hour down the road from his home. Proximity makes the Tigers an immediate factor.

“It feels great because it’s right by the house, and it’s a SEC school,” Mathews said. “My main goal really is to stay in the SEC.”

Other offers for Mathews are Virginia, Arkansas, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Duke and Mississippi State. He plans to release a top six next week and then announce a commitment on Dec. 16, the first day of the early signing period.

This season Mathews said he has about 40 tackles and six sacks.

This story was originally published November 10, 2020 at 9:05 AM.