Alabama defensive end impressed with South Carolina
Defensive end Alec Jackson of Montgomery, Ala., was at South Carolina on Tuesday to watch spring practice and he feels good about the Gamecocks and their interest in him.
Jackson (6-5, 240) also has been to North Carolina for a camp and a game and right now has the Gamecocks and Tar Heels even at the top of his list, with UAB third.
“I like how the coaches broke down everything,” Jackson said of the Gamecocks’ practice. “If you did good, they’d try to tweak you a little bit to make sure you get it right. And if you do it wrong, they put the focus on making sure you don’t do it wrong anymore. The practice was great. From offense to defense to special teams they were flying around. And if they weren’t flying around they made them go back and do it over again.”
This was Jackson’s first visit to USC and hopes to revisit this summer with his mother. He said the fact it’s an SEC program and everything that comes with that is a big reason he has the Gamecocks as one of his favorites.
“The fan base is crazy and the tailgating and stuff is crazy,” he said. “They have a train behind the stadium. I thought it looked like a regular train. I was talking with Coach Thompson the most. He had called me at Auburn at first before he left to go to South Carolina. He was asking how I think about the practices and how the intensity was there and how I could be one of those players that’s already there.”
Jackson has also visited UAB, Georgia Tech and Troy and is going to Alabama Friday. He has offers from USC, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Troy, Southern Miss, South Alabama and Charlotte. He doesn’t plan to make a decision until Signing Day.
Last season Jackson totaled 69 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Brad Johnson to visit
Pendleton defensive end Brad Johnson will visit USC Saturday and Mississippi State the following weekend, according to his coach Paul Sutherland.
North Carolina also contacted Sutherland Wednesday and wants Johnson to visit at which time the Tar Heels might offer. Sutherland said USC is recruiting Johnson the hardest right now, but more offers should be forthcoming.
“When he puts up his numbers in track and the Shrine Bowl combine, it’s getting ready to explode for him,” he said.
Johnson won the state triple jump championship last spring. And he’s only 16 years old.
News and notes
▪ OL TJ Moore of Charlotte continues to favor USC over NC State and North Carolina. His other offers are Missouri, East Carolina, Charlotte, West Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. He’s planning to release an official short list on Sunday. Moore said he’s in regular contact with USC hearing from Will Muschamp and Shawn Elliott. He has visited his three favorites and plans to visit Maryland as soon as possible. He plans to return to USC for the spring game.
▪ TL Hanna RB Davijuan Dean was a recent visitor to USC for a spring practice. The Gamecocks have not offered. Dean said they are waiting until after he takes the ACT April 19 before possibly doing so. He’s going to North Carolina April 2, the USC spring game April 9 and Georgia Tech April 23. He has offers from Old Dominion, Furman, Colorado State, Appalachian State, Miami of Ohio, Georgia Southern, Colorado State and Troy.
▪ USC Wednesday night offered TE Jeremy Patton of Arizona Western JC. He also has offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Louisville and others. He’s a native of Indianapolis. Last season he had 17 catches for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns.
▪ WR Austin Connor of Dutch Fork was offered by Georgia Southern. He has a USC offer.
▪ 2018 DE Xavier Thomas of Wilson will visit Ohio State Tuesday.
▪ RB Adarius Lemons of Clearwater, Fla., who was among the visiting prospects at USC practice this week, committed to North Carolina.
▪ Wando WR Or’Tre Smith was offered by Ole Miss this week.
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Alabama defensive end impressed with South Carolina."