J.J. Givens still a solid verbal for South Carolina

Defensive back J.J. Givens of Mechanicsville, Va., is a key component to South Carolina's 2016 class and the current coaching staff is doing all it can to keep him on board. That won't be easy as the Gamecocks move through the transition to a new head coach and staff, and Givens is taking official visits to other schools.

He's going to Wisconsin this weekend but will be at USC for his official visit Clemson weekend. He also plans to take official visits to Clemson, Ole Miss and Arizona State.

"I'm still solid verbal as of right now," he said of his commitment. "They are just hanging in there. I see that they are playing hard. Those boys are giving a tremendous effort, they're just falling short. Still, they are giving their all and that's all you can ask for." Givens said he's been in touch with Gamecock recruiters Shawn Elliott, Deke Adams and Steve Spurrier Jr.

Givens twice has seen Clemson up close in recent weeks. He caught them in Raleigh when they played NC State and he was at Death Valley for Florida State, his first game at Clemson.

"Ah man, it was good," he said. "A great atmosphere. I had a good time. I got to talk to Coach Reed for about a minute or two. He said they were excited to have me on campus and I just got a good feeling from them. It was cool. It left me with a good feeling. I'm thinking about taking an official visit there just to get more time with the coaches." Givens said he talks with Reed on a daily basis.