Weekend preview: Texas, UNC, Maryland commitments among USC’s final official visitors
It’s the final weekend of the 2016 football recruiting campaign, and South Carolina hopes to close with a bang.
South Carolina’s group includes some highly sought-after prospects and will give coach Will Muschamp and his staff an opportunity to make some national noise going into signing day next week.
Defensive end Malcolm Roach of Baton Rouge, La., is a Texas commitment, but will spend this weekend at USC listening to what Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson tell him about what they plan for the Gamecocks’ defense.
“I have good interest in South Carolina,” Roach said. “I like the coaching staff. I like Coach Muschamp. It’s just the way they use their defensive players, the way they move their players around. He sends a lot of players to the NFL, and that’s the ultimate goal for me.”
Roach (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) said USC wasn’t on his radar until contacted by Muschamp shortly after he took the job in December. Muschamp and Robinson visited him on Martin Luther King Day and have maintained the interest since then.
“I didn’t give them much thought until they started recruiting me hard,” Roach said. “It’s just South Carolina and Texas. I’m pretty solid to Texas, but I want to take my visit to South Carolina and see how it goes.”
Last season, Roach said he had 147 tackles with 16 sacks. His parents will join him on the visit and he said he probably will wait until Signing Day for a final decision.
UNC receiver commitment Korey Banks also will be among the Gamecocks’ official visitors. Banks committed to the Tar Heels in July. Maryland defensive tackle pledge Aaron Thompson also will be at USC this weekend.
Official visits
USC official visits scheduled for this weekend (subject to change):
Malcolm Roach, defensive end
6-3, 250; Baton Rouge, La. (Madison Prep)
Currently committed to Texas
Jacoby Hill, defensive end
6-3, 220; Atlanta (Carter)
Has USC, Memphis among his favorites
Karamo Dioubate, defensive tackle
6-4, 285; Philadelphia (Prep Charter)
Recruited at Auburn, USC by Gamecocks’ Lance Thompson
Stephon Taylor, defensive tackle
6-5, 292; New Orleans (McDonough 35)
Visited Texas and Florida State the last two weekends
Aaron Thompson, defensive tackle
6-4, 265; Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard)
Committed to Maryland last week, still visiting USC this weekend
Randrecous Davis, wide receiver
6-1, 185; Atlanta (Mays)
Former Georgia commit will decide between Miami, Gamecocks
Korey Banks, wide receiver
6-0, 170; Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek)
North Carolina commitment says he has “very high interest” in USC
Lloyd Cushenberry, offensive lineman
6-3, 310; Geismar, La. (Dutchdown)
Committed to USC in August; also interested in Mississippi State
Diondre Champaigne, wide receiver
6-3, 175; North Charleston (Fort Dorchester)
Committed to USC last month; had 1,212 yards, 16 TDs as a senior
This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Weekend preview: Texas, UNC, Maryland commitments among USC’s final official visitors."