RNE linebacker TJ Brunson gets another look at USC
Richland Northeast linebacker TJ Brunson was back at USC for its last home game and continues to consider the Gamecocks, although he remains committed to Louisville.
“I talked to Coach Spurrier, Steve Spurrier Jr., Coach (Kirk) Botkin, Coach (Jon) Hoke and Coach (Lorenzo) Ward,” Brunson said. “The Head Ball Coach said he wanted me to stay in state and Coach Spurrier Jr. followed up with how they’ve had their best teams when they’ve kept the best talent in state. They said they want me to be a Gamecock and Coach Botkin said again how he wanted to coach me.”
So, with all that from the Gamecocks, is Brunson thinking right now of making the switch?
“No, not really,” he said. “I enjoyed my visit and the atmosphere and what they had to say. I’m still a Louisville commit. It’s still early and I’m still a Louisville commit.”
The Gamecocks will get another shot with Brunson because he plans to return for the LSU game with his parents. He’s going to try to go to Louisville on Oct. 24 for the Boston College game. He currently has an official visit to Louisville for Nov. 7, but might push it back so it’s his last official visit.
▪ In 2013, then-Mauldin quarterback Dre Massey (6 foot, 190 pounds) compiled one of the greatest individual seasons in South Carolina high school football history.
Massey passed for 2,798 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 2,050 yards and 34 touchdowns. Massey signed with East Carolina in February 2014, but did not qualify and enrolled at Holmes JC in Mississippi.
Massey, who has been clocked in the 4.3-4.4 range at junior college, is now garnering major college attention including USC. Massey was in touch with USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. last week after sending him a new transcript and film.
“He had already seen one (transcript) and he just wanted to see an updated one to make sure I was a December guy,” Massey said.
Massey said Spurrier Jr. told him he will be out to see him Oct. 19. It’s expected that USC will offer Massey during that visit and he said the Gamecocks will become his favorite at that point. Massey said he talked with Purdue on Wednesday and he also talked last week with Mississippi State and Cincinnati.
He is talking with the Gamecocks about an official visit for either the LSU game or the Florida game.
▪ USC has known about defensive back Dreshun Miller (6-2, 185) of Marietta, Ga., since his sophomore season when he was a wide receiver, and the Gamecocks saw him in camp as a junior. Now, playing his first season as a cornerback, Miller has the Gamecocks and several other major programs waiting in the wings while he tries to improve his ACT score.
Miller said his grades are good, but the test score needs to improve. He recently retook the ACT and once that’s fixed, he has no doubts the major offers will come, possibly including one from the Gamecocks.
“I talked to Coach (G.A.) Mangus and he visited me on the Friday before their game at Georgia. They like my film, my range and physicality.”
Miller is planning to take an unofficial visit to USC for the LSU game. He was at Alabama for the Ole Miss game and he wants to visit Michigan. He’s also heard from Kentucky and has an offer from Carson-Newman.
Basketball
▪ 6-foot-10 center Sedee Keita of Philadelphia made his official visit to USC late last month, the first of at last four official visits he plans to take, and the Gamecocks made a positive impression on him.
“I really liked the campus and I liked the strength and conditioning coaches,” Keita said. “I feel like I would fit in the program pretty good. I like their playing style. They give their bigs freedom to make plays.”
Keita said he doesn’t have a favorite right now and location is not a factor. Keita has two more definite visits planned. He will go to Temple on Oct. 9 and Providence on Oct. 16.
▪ 6-foot-10 Dewan Huell of Miami took the first of his three official visits this past weekend to Miami. On Oct. 9, he will visit Florida State and his final visit will be to USC on Oct. 16. According to Huell’s coach, USC talks with the player at least three times a week. Gamecock assistant coach Lamont Evans was in for a visit last week.
“He likes them,” Norland High coach Lawton Williams said. “There’s a chance to play early and Coach (Frank) Martin and I have similar styles. He has a great relationship with them and they’ve shown him they can put players to excel depending on their ability.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 7:26 PM.