USC visit ‘impressive’ for linebacker prospect from Alabama

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp was familiar with linebacker Monty Rice of Madison, Ala., when he was at Auburn, and he has transferred that interest to USC.

Muschamp on Saturday offered Rice (6-2, 223) while he was in Columbia for the Gamecocks’ junior day.

“All the linebacker coaches, they like my film,” Rice said. “Coach Muschamp said wherever you choose, make sure you’re not a second option because you’re nobody’s second option. He said I was versatile and I have a shot to play. They have a lot of linebackers leaving and I’d have a chance to play early. The visit was better than I expected. Coach Muschamp has already put his brand on the program.”

Rice also has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, UAB, Troy and Iowa State. He will visit Auburn next weekend and also plans to visit Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss. He does plan to graduate early and at this point there is no favorite.

“South Carolina was impressive,” he said, “but I want to wait it out and see how everything goes.”

Last season Rice had 124 tackles with 11 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles.

USC tracking 2018 D-lineman from Georgia

Saturday’s junior day at USC included some prospects from other classes down the line, and that included Class of 2018 defensive lineman Robert Cooper of Snellville, Ga.

It was his first chance to see the Gamecocks up close and get a feel for them moving forward.

“They didn’t offer me, but they said they are real close, so the offer is going be based off my spring practice performance,” Cooper said. “They said they liked my size and the way I move for a big guy because I’m the quickest and fastest. They like my strength (bench 455, squat 515) and the way I can control the line of scrimmage. They said I would be a great fit on their DL, a gap stuffer and a good pass rusher.”

Cooper (6-3, 350) has early offers from Florida State, Indiana, Boston College and N.C. State. He plans to visit Florida State next weekend and Vanderbilt in the future. Cooper said he’s also hearing from Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. His top two right now are Florida State and N.C. State.

Last season Cooper had 49 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

Notes

▪  DE/TE Tre Turner of Huntersville, NC, visited USC Saturday.

▪  WR Chad Terrell of Dallas, Ga., was offered Saturday by USC.

▪  OL TJ Moore and OL Eric Douglas of Charlotte attended USC’s junior day Saturday.

▪  WR Austin Connor of Dutch Fork was at USC’s junior day Saturday.

▪  DB Jamyest Williams of Decatur, Ga., attended USC’s junior day Saturday.

▪  DE Kalvin McCollum of Charlotte attended USC’s junior day Saturday.

▪  USC Saturday offered DB Yusuf Corker of Stockbridge, Ga.

▪  WR Sage Surratt of Denver, NC, was at USC’s junior day Saturday and landed an offer.

▪  USC Saturday offered TE Drake Deluliis of Charlotte.

▪  LB Ellis Brooks of Richmond, Va., was offered by USC Saturday.

This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 2:32 PM.