Gamecocks commit impressed by loyal fans
South Carolina defensive back commitment J.J. Givens of Mechanicsville, Va., has been on campus several times but never for a game. That changed Saturday.
Givens saw the Gamecocks in action at Williams-Brice for the first time when they faced Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl. His future team lost, but he came away impressed nonetheless.
“It was amazing,” Givens said. “For being a 3-9 team, the fans are so loyal. That was my first Carolina game and it was crazy seeing Sandstorm and everyone. I just witnessed a 70-year-old man jumping up and down. They are loyal. I could definitely see that place as home.”
Givens has continued to hold to the commitment he made at camp last summer despite the uncertainty of the program and the strong interest of Wisconsin, Ole Miss and Arizona State. Clemson at one time also made a push, but that interest seems to have cooled.
Givens’ plan is to stick with the Gamecocks as long as he and the new head coach make a positive connection.
“They told me they should have a new head coach in a couple of weeks,” he said. “They are keeping me informed and in the loop. I’m really waiting to see who the coach is and how he acts and how he is as a person. But I’m giving everybody a fair chance in case I don’t like the coach.”
Givens was scheduled to visit Wisconsin officially Nov. 21 but didn’t make it and will reschedule. He plans to visit Ole Miss in December and will also take officials to USC and Arizona State. His Wisconsin recruiter is set to visit Monday, and USC recruiter Deke Adams is due in Tuesday.
Cushenberry visits Ole Miss
USC offfensive line commitment Lloyd Cushenberry of Geismar, La., made an unofficial visit to Mississippi State Saturday for the Egg Bowl. It was his first visit to Starkville.
“I liked it, I liked the atmosphere,” he said. “They were saying they liked the way I played and they were coming to my school on Friday.”
He has been keeping in touch on social media with USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr.
“I’m still committed but I’m still keeping my options open, seeing where I fit the best, taking it day by day,” he said.
Cushenberry is expecting Spurrier Jr. to visit in the coming weeks. He said he will set official visits with USC, Minnesota, Memphis, Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech.