Irmo QB AJ Brand signs with Virginia Tech. Hometown Gamecocks pushed to very end
South Carolina tried its best to get AJ Brand to stay in-state, but the Irmo High School quarterback didn’t budge from his pledge to Virginia Tech.
The Irmo standout quarterback signed with the Hokies on Wednesday during the first day of the early period for football players around the country.
“I definitely looked it over (with South Carolina) but I stood strong with Virginia Tech,” Brand said at a ceremony at his high school. “Virginia Tech kind of shined their light and showed me where I wanted to be. … They just always believed in me, coach Tyler Bowen, coach (Brian) Crist, coach Brent Prye. I felt like they stuck with me during the whole process.”
Brand committed to Virginia Tech on June 23, picking the Hokies over the Gamecocks. The next day, Westside High quarterback Cutter Woods committed to USC.
But that didn’t stop the Gamecocks from recruiting Brand. They first offered him as a defensive back but switched to recruiting him as a quarterback this summer and fall. He took an official visit to USC in May and attended a couple of games this fall with teammate Donovan Murph, a wide receiver the Gamecocks are recruiting.
That recruitment continued all the way to this weekend when Brand said South Carolina coach Shane Beamer called him from the locker room moments after the Gamecocks’ 17-14 road win over Clemson at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
“Coach Beamer tries to get the best in-state players to stay at home,” Brand said. “They wanted me to stay in South Carolina, but ultimately I think my decision was already made. I always had a little thought in mind, but I don’t want to be anywhere else but Virginia Tech.”
Irmo coach Aaron Brand, AJ’s father, said it would have been nice for his son to stay close to home, but he never interfered with the decision. Brand Sr. said the Gamecocks made it very enticing for his son to switch his commitment. Once he saw the Hokie-colored balloons bought the other day for Wednesday’s ceremony, he knew there would be no commitment flip.
“He is as loyal as the day is long, so ultimately Virginia Tech didn’t have anything to worry about,” Brand Sr. said.
AJ Brand’s dad and his mother Patrice were a little emotional as they spoke glowingly of their son during the ceremony. They told stories of AJ, who started out as a ball boy when his father was coaching in North Carolina.
Brand Sr. also talked about attending numerous signing days as a coach during the last 25 years, but this year’s one hit a little differently because he was recognizing his son.
“I didn’t want it (this day) to come,” Brand Sr. said. “I didn’t want anyone else to coach AJ, but if there is someone that I want to be a part of his life and be a part of his maturation process, it is the crew at Virginia Tech. … We have been chasing this boy around for 17 years, watching him play ball and be part of his support staff. It has come full circle.”
The 247Sports Composite rankings consider Brand as a three-star prospect and the No. 19 recruit in South Carolina. Brand is part of a talented QB class in South Carolina with Woods and Richland Northeast’s Will Wilson (N.C. State) signing at Power 4 Schools. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback has been one of the driving forces of the Yellow Jackets’ offense the last three years after playing receiver as a freshman.
This season, Brand has thrown for 2,358 yards, rushed for 1,647 and accounted for 49 touchdowns. For his career, he has 11,265 total yards and 143 touchdowns, all Irmo records.
Irmo is in the playoff semifinals for the second-straight season. The Yellow Jackets play White Knoll on Friday, and the winner advances to the Class 5A Division II state championship.
Irmo is looking for its first title game appearance since 2006.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 11:39 AM.
