DE recruit Justin Thomas’ USC visit gives Gamecocks some traction

Defensive end Justin Thomas of Spanish Fort, Ala., was on hand Saturday to watch South Carolina's scrimmage.

USC coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson are making a strong effort to land Thomas (6-foot-5, 255 pounds), and he felt that Saturday.

"I liked what the coaches had to say to me with how I would fit in their system and the things they are building," Thomas said. "They said I could play D-end, D-tackle and they just said they really wanted me to come up there. I like the way they run their practice because they hit every day, contact every day."

Thomas has also been to Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee and is going to LSU on April 9. He said the USC visit should give the Gamecocks some traction with him moving forward.

"It put them in my mind," he said, adding that Muschamp and Robinson did not recruit him when they were at Auburn.

Thomas' father played at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide are believed to be the team to beat, though he did not name a favorite and won't make a decision until after his season.

Thomas also has offers from Tennessee, Iowa State, Samford, South Alabama, Troy, UAB and Florida State.

NOTES

USC target OL Eric Douglas of Charlotte visited Penn State on Monday.

WR Austin Connor of Dutch Fork was offered Monday night by Army. He plans to visit South Carolina on Thursday and Tennessee on Saturday. He says he is not close on a decision.

WR Or’Tre Smith of Wando and his mother visited USC Saturday to watch the spring practice scrimmage. He plans to visit North Carolina on Friday.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 11:26 AM with the headline "DE recruit Justin Thomas’ USC visit gives Gamecocks some traction."