Gamecocks recruiting target Matthew Butler sets commit window

Defensive end Matthew Butler of Garner, N.C., now knows when he will announce his college decision and how he will do it. Butler said he will take part in an announcement ceremony at his school between October 10-14. That's an off week for his team and he feels the perfect time to make his choice known from among South Carolina, Duke, N.C. State, Tennessee and Penn State.

Butler plans to take official visits to each of his finalists. He won't nail down trip dates until after the Sept. 1 evaluation period begins. He's hearing regularly from all of the contending head coaches and recruiters with no one out working the others at this point.

"I'm always hearing from somebody from the program whether it be the head coach, position coach, recruiter or just somebody that I'm in contact with," Butler said. "I know the gist of what every school has to tell me. None of the schools are trying to push me to do or say anything. They are just trying to develop the relationship because I'm going to be there for three, four or five years."

As for his USC official visit, Butler said he's looking at the Texas A&M weekend on Oct. 1 or the following weekend when Georgia visits.

Butler recently added Penn State to his short list which previously was made up of the other four schools. He said the Nittany Lions have been recruiting him for a long time and he owes them a closer look because of their persistence.

"The reason that I wanted to visit Penn State is because they've been trying to get me to visit since like last November," Butler said. "That's been like eight months and they're still consistent, so I want to see what they are all about."

Butler's last visit to USC was for the social gathering of targeted prospects in late July.