Gamecocks JUCO target Josiah Coatney wraps up official visits

Defensive end Josiah Coatney of Holmes Community College (Mississippi) took his final official visits last weekend to Florida and Alabama.

Those two, along with South Carolina, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, are the schools he’s considering as he works toward a decision the first week in May, possibly May 5. He is a Class of 2016 prospect.

Coatney said both visits over the weekend went well and he got the chance to see a lot of both schools and meet with the coaches.

“It’s two different programs, but they both were saying what they want to do, they both want to win games and they’re trying to get me to come in for the defensive line to have that quality rotation,” Coatney said. “Florida, I went to the spring game and I talked to Coach McElwain a lot. Great coach. Coach Rumph is really a great coach. I got to see the program, see the campus. It was my first time being at Florida so it was new to me.”

Coatney previously had taken an unofficial visit to Alabama so he already had a feel for the place, but this time he got a chance to talk more with Nick Saban and hear his pitch for him.

“Coach Saban talked to me and he said he wanted me to be a part of something great again,” Coatney said. “They think I can be a vital piece of the puzzle. He spent a lot of time with me.”

Coatney said he won’t narrow his list down and will make his pick from the five schools he visited. USC recruiter Lance Thompson remains in regular contact with him and the two talked earlier this week.

“He was telling me about the spring game and their needs on the defensive line,” he said. “He also talked about how they are progressing as a team and where they want to be this season and how he wants me to be a part of something really special.”

Coatney said there is no leader at this point and he realizes he faces a difficult decision. He does have criteria by which he’ll judge the schools.

“Where I fit in with a program and where I can contribute the most,” he said. “Coaches, players, player development, academics, facilities, stuff like that. I’d be lucky to sign with any one of them.”

DB visits the Gamecocks

Will Muschamp knows he has to retool his secondary at USC and Saturday he and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson had a chance to meet with DB Rahmi Robinson (5-11 183) of Hampton, Ga., who came in for the spring game. Muschamp has not offered Robinson but there is interest both ways.

“The interest is picking up right now,” Robinson said. “Coach T-Rob really wanted to see me and eye test me. He said that he will definitely come to see me the first week of spring. The stadium was amazing, the fans were great. They made me and my family feel at home.”

Robinson is a relative unknown at this point in recruiting circles and he hopes to change that with a big spring.

“I only have two offers thus far and that’s from Columbus State and Kentucky Christian but interest is picking up from South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Brown, Tennessee-Chattanooga and SC State. This off-season I’ve already visited SC State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.”

Last season Robinson totaled 67 tackles with 3 passes defended and 1 interception in 8 games.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Gamecocks JUCO target Josiah Coatney wraps up official visits."