Big O-lineman Akeem Cooperwood commits to USC

Offensive lineman Akeem Cooperwood of Georgia Military College has committed to South Carolina for the 2016 class.

Cooperwood (6-7, 325) visited Friday for USC’s pool bash, then stayed over for a tour of the facilities and campus Saturday.

“I had a great time here in Columbia,” he said Saturday afternoon. “I loved the city, the coaches, the players. It felt like it was home to me already.”

Cooperwood is a three-star prospect and considered the nation’s No. 10 junior college offensive tackle, according to the 247Sports Composite rating that factors in all networks. He was a second-team junior college All-American in his freshman season at GMC.

Cooperwood is originally from Knoxville, Tenn. He is the Gamecocks’ 10th pledge for 2016 and second offensive lineman in the class.

USC was his first major offer and he also drew recruiting interest from Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville and Georgia.

“He’s a good worker,” Georgia Military coach Bert Williams said of Cooperwood. “He’s a long kid with good size. He’s fluid and can move his feet. He has good punch. He’s going to be a darn good one.”

Cooperwood will have three years to play two with the Gamecocks. He is USC’s second commitment of the weekend, following the Friday pledge of athlete Chris Smith of South Pointe High.

“It was great,” Cooperwood said. “I got to meet the players and coaches. They showed me so much love it felt like I was already part of something special.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 4:41 PM.