Gamecocks offer instate DB Troy Pride

Class of 2016 defensive back Troy Pride of Greer was offered by South Carolina on Thursday, a day after he picked up an offer from Ole Miss.

The former Virginia Tech commitment also has offers from Tennessee, N.C. State, Notre Dame and North Carolina, as well as Marshall, Appalachian State and Mercer. He’s not heard much from Clemson.

Pride has visited Notre Dame officially and is looking at Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia Tech for other possible official visits.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” said the Shrine Bowl selection, who is still involved with the playoffs. “There’s no favorite. I’m evaluating the entire offer list and making sure I make the right decision for my life.”

Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed talked with Pride last weekend and he was expecting to hear more from his this week, but he had not as of Wednesday. As for USC, now that he has an offer Pride would be interested in hearing from the new coach once he’s in place.

“It’s definitely a blessing,” Pride said of the Gamecock offer. “I was astounded to get the news. It just gives me something else to look at. I do want to see what they are going to do. The fact that they have a new guy coming in, it’s going to be interesting to see how they are going to progress.”

Pride is not graduating early, so he’s not in a hurry to make another decision.

“If I feel a place is suitable for me and my entire family is behind me with it, then a decision could come, but I’m not going to really rush a decision,” he said.

Pride is still hearing from Virginia Tech, and his Hokies recruiter was at his practice Tuesday.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 2:16 PM.