Charlotte lineman Eric Douglas commits to South Carolina

Offensive lineman Eric Douglas of Charlotte, N.C., confirmed Saturday morning what he actually did earlier in the week: a commitment to South Carolina football head coach Will Muschamp.

Douglas made the call to Muschamp on Wednesday but wanted to wait until talking with him in person at Saturday’s scrimmage before publicizing the news.

Douglas (6-5, 284) narrowed his list to USC, Penn State, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina from over 20 offers. He recently visited Penn State and Maryland and soon after those visits he knew he wanted to spend his college days at South Carolina.

“I love everything they have to offer,” Douglas said. “It’s a great fit for me socially and football-wise. Football is in the SEC, and this is home. This is where I want to be.’

Douglas camped at USC last summer and quickly became a major target of offensive line coach Shawn Elliott. And Douglas said he has always liked Elliott and the way he develops and coaches his linemen.

“Their style of play is how I play,” he said. “They are lean. They get out and pass block and they’re nasty in run blocking.”

Douglas becomes a major part of Muschamp’s building effort at USC as the third offensive lineman to commit. The head coach let him know how he felt after committing, Douglas said.

“ ‘It’s ‘not a want. We need you,’ ” Douglas recalled Muschamp saying to him. “And I’m ready to put in the work whenever I get up there.”

Douglas and offensve line teammate T.J. Moore have vowed to play together in college, and Douglas expects Moore to follow soon with a commitment to the Gamecocks.

Douglas gives USC eight commitments for the 2017 class. He announced his pledge on Twitter:

“After weighing all my options and praying to God continually day in and day out, I would first like to thank South Carolina for not only pushing my first offer out there but building a relationship with my family and myself day in and day out,” he said via Twitter. “Sorry for the wait, my heart bleeds garnet and black and for the next 4-5 years I will be wearing that garnet and black in front of the best fans in the nation at Williams-Brice. And hoping to bring 4 state championships and SEC championships and hopefully some national championships.”

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Charlotte lineman Eric Douglas commits to South Carolina."