Local linebacker T.J. Brunson ready to hear USC’s plans for him

Linebacker T.J. Brunson of Richland Northeast will make the short ride to downtown Columbia with his parents Friday for his official visit with South Carolina.

Unlike a lot of recruits who want to check out all of the football-related properties of a program, Brunson won’t find that necessary this weekend. He’s been over to USC several times and knows the ins and out of the program very well. So what will he be searching for this weekend?

“I can’t say if it feels at home, it’s more like if I still feel like I can grow even though I’m still in Columbia,” said Brunson, who was the South Carolina team’s defensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl. “They have some of the best stuff (facilities) around so that’s not going to make or break anything. And I know they do a really good job (academically) in The Dodie, so I’m not worried about that.”

Brunson, who once was committed to Louisville, said he’s not going into this visit looking to make a commitment, “but we’ll see.”

Maryland has been recruiting him strong of late and he plans to visit there, though the date hasn’t been set. He has visited Louisville but said the Cardinals no longer are in play. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is coming to see him Friday.

As for USC, he has been talking with his new recruiter Coleman Hutzler.

“I’m just hearing the same stuff I’ve been hearing,” Brunson said. “I’ll find out their plans for me this weekend. There’s been nothing definite on where they would expect me to play.”