South Carolina won’t have to wait much longer to learn if it’s won the recruiting battle for junior quarterback Brandon McIlwain of Newtown, Pa.
McIlwain said he has made his decision and will announce it on Wednesday. McIlwain’s final four schools were USC, Penn State, Auburn and California.
“Through the whole recruiting process, the school has been great to me,” McIlwain said, referring to his choice. “I’ve got a very good relationship with the coaches and it’s a place where it feels like home.”
This past season, McIlwain passed for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Florida no longer sits alone at the top of the list for Goose Creek junior defensive end Javon Kinlaw. The Gators now have company from USC, the team that was the singular leader for Kinlaw before the Gators made a strong push for him in late October. But since then there’s been a change in coaches at Florida and a drop off in its communication with Kinlaw.
“I haven’t heard from or seen Florida coaches in a long time,” Kinlaw said. “South Carolina coaches always check on me. I’m getting a lot of handwritten mail from USC. It’s 50-50 Florida and USC.”
Kinlaw said Clemson is also on his list right behind Florida and USC.
Defensive back Michael Jackson of Hoover, Ala., remains committed to Miami but is still thinking hard about Clemson, Jackson, who had 12 tackles in the recent Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, plans to set up an official visit with the Tigers after the dead period ends.
“I feel pretty good about my Miami commitment but Clemson was my dream school growing up, so I don’t know how it’s going to play out,” Jackson said. “My visit to Clemson will determine if I stay committed to Miami or change to Clemson. I’ve always dreamed of running down the hill and touching the rock, and I love coach Swinney. It’s either Clemson or Miami.”
Defensive back Mark Fields Jr. could figure into where Jackson ends up. Fields, a former USC commitment, has an official visit set with Clemson for Jan. 17. He’s a more highly regarded prospect than Jakcson and it’s not likely Clemson will take Jackson if it lands Fields.
Junior wide receiver Kyle Davis of Decatur, Ga., who has committed to USC, was offered last week by Auburn.
Here’s the list of players from the recent North-South Game who have made commitments:
Marlboro County WR Tabari Hines to Wake Forest; Myrtle Beach WR Kyle Belack to Ohio; Marlboro County QB London Johnson to Charleston Southern; South Florence QB Nick Jones to Newberry; LB Michael Billlings of Georgetown to Coastal Carolina; TE Wyatt Craig of Timberland to Newberry; WR Colby Gore of North Myrtle Beach to East Carolina; RB Ty’son Williams of Crestwood to North Carolina; LB Jonathon Sutton of Swansea to North Carolina; DL Jacob Garibay of Hanahan to Charleston Southern; LB Mac McCurry of Summerville to Newberry; OL Blake Durant of Sumter to Lackawanna JC, PA; DE Lasamuel Davis of Bamberg-Ehrhardt to Clemson; QB Tommy Sanders of Chester to Newberry; RB Isaiah Hill of Byrnes to Miami of Ohio; DL Gage Cervenka of Emerald to Clemson; OL TJ Haney of Gaffney to Wake Forest; OL Austin Anderson of Wren to Newberry.
Basketball
Schuyler Rimmer (6-10) of Orlando, who is transferring from Stanford, hopes to have his decision on a new school this week. Rimmer is deciding between USC, Boston University and Davidson.
Rimmer made his official visit to USC last week and was on hand when the Gamecocks played Clemson.
“I think it went well,” he said. “We saw everything we needed to see. I’m glad I got to see the game because I wanted to familiarize myself with their system and style of play as well.”
Rimmer will enroll at his new school in January and will become eligible at the end of the first semester of 2015. That will leave him 2½ seasons of eligibility.
Clemson has offered 6-4 sophomore shooting guard Peyton Broughton of London, KY.
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