Atlanta defender Jacoby Hill reverses position, now favors Memphis

Defensive end Jacoby Hill of Atlanta left South Carolina Sunday following his official visit feeling very good about the Gamecocks. Something changed.

Hill (6-3, 220) earlier in the day called the Gamecocks his leader and appeared headed towards a USC signing on Wednesday. Some time to think about things and a phone conversation with his Memphis recruiter Sunday night shuffled things in Hill’s mind, and as he went to bed Sunday night, he did so favoring Memphis.

“The conversation me and Coach Muschamp had on the way out changed my decision for USC,” Hill said. “But Memphis has stuck with me and is recruiting me hard. I’m a priority guy there. South Carolina says it, but action speaks louder than words. Me and the head coach (at Memphis) are engaged. Any time I have had a problem, I call him.”

And he said that’s one of the differences in the two programs, that he has asked to have Muschamp’s number so he can reach him directly, but it was never given to him.

Hill said Memphis leads USC by a 60-40 margin. He did not talk with USC coaches Sunday night but he has, at one time or another, talked with all the defensive coaches except for newly hired Mike Peterson.

Hill won’t announce his final decision until signing day at his school.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 12:42 PM.