Defensive end target from Miami sets Christmas Eve announcement
It’s the week of Christmas, and nothing is calm on the recruiting front.
Richland Northeast linebacker T.J. Brunson, coming off an MVP performance in the Shrine Bowl, announced Monday morning that he had decommitted from Louisville. He had been committed to the Cardinals since July.
Fort Dorchester receiver Diondre Champaigne, offered by South Carolina over the weekend, made his commitment to the Gamecocks on Monday.
Also Monday, defensive end Keir Thomas of Miami said he plans to announce his commitment on Christmas Eve. Thomas said he doesn’t have any sort of ceremony planned and will just notify the school of his choice. He said he is down to USC, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Thomas talked to USC coach Will Muschamp on Monday morning.
He is a mid-year enrollee. If he picks USC, it will be without taking an official visit there. He has taken official visits to Tennessee, Arkansas and Auburn. He did attend USC’s cookout for recruits in July.
“It would be a good fit,” Thomas said of possibly joining the Gamecocks. “They would be running the same defense they ran at Auburn, and I fit perfect in that defense. They do a good job of putting kids in the pros. I’m just looking for a home away from home.”
Thomas said he had 20 sacks this season, giving him 42 over the past two seasons.
Recruiting notes
▪ Greer DB Troy Pride has set Christmas Eve for his announcement day. He is considering Clemson, USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Marshall, Virginia Tech, Mercer, Maryland, Appalachian State, North Carolina and NC State.
▪ Dorman QB Collin Hill said after the Shrine Bowl that has heard from USC but remains committed to Colorado State. On Monday, Colorado State announced him as a midyear signee, and Hill intends to enroll in January.
▪ USC offered instate Class of 2017 ATH Cameron Bent of Bluffton.
▪ Former USC commitment DB JJ Givens of Mechanicsville, Va., released a top eight, in no order, of USC, Clemson, Arizona State, Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin, NC State and North Carolina.
▪ USC offered Class of 2017 RB AJ Davis of Lakeland, Fla.; Class of 2017 ATH Bruce Judson Jr. of Cocoa, Fla.; and Class of 2017 DB Trajan Bandy of Miami.