South Carolina Flips FSU DE Commit Keir Thomas Away from other SEC Hopefuls
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Gamecocks are officially on a roll pulling in recruits with Will Muschamp at the helm in Columbia. South Carolina has landed six commitments over the past 10 days adding 3-star recruit Keir Thomas on Saturday.
Thomas committed to Florida State on Feb. 21 but decommitted in mid-November, shortly after making an official visit date with Arkansas giving Razorback Nation hope that they may be adding the highly sought after defensive end. College coaches have fallen in love with Thomas’ big play ability on the edge for Central High School (Miami) after he logged 71 tackles with 18 sacks as junior and 83 tackles with 26 tackles for a loss, and 20 sacks in 2015.
Central went 14-1 in 2014 and 10-2 this season with a roster loaded with next level talent. Among the many include South Florida wide receiver commit Darnell Salomon, Florida State athlete commit Jamel Cook, Air Force defensive back commit Jamal Hudson, and Florida International linebacker commit Donavan Thompson. All the top talent and extended winning helped Thomas push his scholarship offers in the neighborhood of 20 with teams like Alabama, Louisville, Syracuse, Pitt, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Miami all offering. Auburn (Oct. 31), Tennessee (Nov. 27), and Arkansas (Dec. 5) were all in play for Thomas’ commitment before he sided with South Carolina.
The Gamecocks now have 17 verbal commitments but six are defensive ends. A change in position could be coming up for some moving to defensive tackle or lining up without a hand in the ground as a standup linebacker.
The big haul since Muschamp took over has included JUCO CB JaMarcus King, DE/DL Sadarius Hutcherson, WR Bryan Edwards, WR Diondre Champaigne, DE Javon Kinlaw, and Thomas.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List (17)
CB Jamarcus King, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Coffeyville C.C., Coffeyville, KS
CB Tre Jackson, 5’10”, 178 lbs, Univ. Lab HS, Baton Rouge, LA
DE Griffin Gentry, 6’2”, 255 lbs, Homewood HS, Birmingham, AL
DE Sadarius Hutcherson, 6’6”, 250 lbs, Huntingdon HS, Huntingdon, TN
DE Javon Kinlaw, 6’5”, 275 lbs, Goose Creek HS, Goose Creek, SC
DE Cecil Stallings, 6’4”, 250 lbs, Tucker HS, Atlanta, GA
DE Keir Thomas, 6’1”, 245 lbs, Miami Central HS, Miami, FL
DE Darius Whitfield, 6’3”, 265 lbs, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Mobile, AL
LB Jacorey Morris, 6’3”, 220 lbs, Clarke County HS, Grove Hill, AL
OT Akeem Cooperwood, 6’7”, 325 lbs, Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, GA
OT Peter Leota, 6’5” 300 lbs, Asheville HS, Asheville, NC
OG Lloyd Cushenberry, 6’4”, 310 lbs, Dutchtown HS, Geismar, LA
OG Will Putnam, 6’5”, 270 lbs, Hickory Ridge HS, Harrisburg, NC
RB C.J. Freeeman, 5’11”, 195 lbs, Northern Guilford HS, Greensboro, NC
QB Brandon McIlwain, 6’0”, 188 lbs, Council Rock North, Newtown, PA
WR Diondre Champaigne, 6’4”, 180 lbs, Fort Dorchester HS, North Charleston, SC
WR Bryan Edwards, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Conway HS, Conway, SC
WR Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: 24/7sports.com; No. 1 Keir Thomas.