Two of Midlands best QBs pass up scholarships to walk on at football ‘blue bloods’
Hunter Helms and Jackson Muschamp had full college scholarship opportunities, but getting a chance to be part of two of the nation’s best programs were too tough to pass up.
Helms, the Gray Collegiate senior quarterback, announced Wednesday at school with his teammates that he accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity from Clemson.
Helms committed to Holy Cross in July but backed off that pledge in November. Since then, he received a scholarship offer from South Florida and made a few trips to Clemson.
Helms also visited Mississippi State last weekend. But in the end, the chance to play at Clemson won out over his other options.
“It has always been my dream school. It is a great choice and the best choice,” Helms said. “I have been visiting up there for three years and getting all to the coaches. ... Clemson is the best place for me and I always want to compete at highest level.”
Helms will be part of a loaded Clemson quarterback room that features junior Trevor Lawrence, five-star signee DJ Uiagalelei, Taisun Phommachanh and walk-on Patrick McClure. Former Clemson QB Chase Brice left the program after this past season and has enrolled at Duke.
“I am going to go in with my head down and work as hard as I can,” Helms said. “I love competition and going in there wanting to compete with the best every day. It is only going to make me better. I lam going to go in, work as hard as I can and do what I can to help the team.”
Helms threw for 4,126 yards and 48 touchdowns this season in helping the War Eagles to their second straight region title and school’s upper state semifinal appearance. He finished his career with 9.129 yards passing and 98 touchdowns.
Jackson Muschamp heads to Georgia
Muschamp, the quarterback at Hammond, originally committed to Colorado State but revealed Tuesday that he will walk on at Georgia, the alma mater of his father and USC football coach Will Muschamp.
Will Muschamp was at his son’s signing ceremony Wednesday where Jackson donned a Georgia hat.
The younger Muschamp began having second thoughts the day after committing to CSU on Jan. 26. Will Muschamp said his son might have got caught up in the moment and realized what he did.
Jackson informed the Rams coaching staff of his intentions and desire to go to UGA and play for Kirby Smart, a teammate of his father’s at Georgia and someone he has known since he was born.
Muschamp camped at Georgia over summer and visited last weekend.
“I love the coaching staff out there (Colorado State). It is such a great place,” Jackson Muschamp said Wednesday. “I feel Georgia is best place for me to go. ... It is a no-brainer. I love Georgia. I am real happy to be a Dawg.
“I feel like everything is there for me to go and be successful both on and off the field.”
247Sports ranks Muschamp as a three-star prospect and No. 72 in South Carolina in the Class of 2020. As a junior, Muschamp threw for 3,062 yards and 34 touchdowns.. This season, he threw for over 2,000 yards and 29 touchdown passes.
Muschamp was part of three Hammond state title teams, the last two as starting quarterback.
Muschamp said it will be a little weird to be on the opposite sideline as his father when the Gamecocks and Bulldogs meet on Nov. 7 in Columbia. But his father was supportive of his decision.
Like Helms, Muschamp will be competing against top level competition. Former Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm is headed to the NFL but Wake Forest grad transfer Jamie Newman is headed to Georgia. The Bulldogs have the No. 1 recruiting class coming in, according to 247Sports.
“It was definitely a hard decision but I know I made the right one for sure,” Muschamp said.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 11:41 AM.
