Class of 2022 prospect Donovan Westmoreland has flipped his commitment to play college football from Georgia to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks Monday (May 3rd). Westmoreland, of Griffin High out of Griffin, GA had been committed to the Bulldogs since January.
Westmoreland (OLB, 6-1, 210) has offers from Louisville, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Syracuse, among others. He is rated as a composite high 3-star per 247Sports, who rates him independently as a borderline 4-star. Rivals.com rates Westmoreland as a 5.7 3-star - the highest rating a prospect can receive and still remain a 3-star.
South Carolina offered last September. Mike Peterson, who’s still on staff under Shane Beamer, was working as Westmoreland’s area recruiter. Peterson kept in touch with Westmoreland even after his commitment to UGA, and the relationship finally paid off.
“Georgia wasn’t keeping in touch with me that much. We were just separating,” Westmoreland said. “South Carolina, the head coach, coach Peterson, coach (Jimmy) Lindsey, all of those were keeping in touch with me every day, having conversations and checking on me. The bond grew stronger. And coach Lindsey and coach Peterson know my former coaches at Griffin High. It was only right. I saw the consistency and it opened my eyes a lot.”
Westmoreland made a personal visit to USC for the spring game in late April. After experiencing that, he started to have a strong feeling Columbia was where he wanted to be.
“Fanbase is crazy. It just felt right,” Westmoreland said. “It started getting to me like, this is probably where I need to be. This is where I need to be.”
Westmoreland said the relationship between Peterson and him grew stronger thru the recruiting process, and he’s excited for the opportunity to play for him.
“I can see him as like one of my high school coaches,” Westmoreland said. “It felt like I already knew him because he acts just like my coaches at the school. It’s like there will be no difference.”
In 12 games as a junior, he had 84 tackles, 53 solo stops, 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Westmoreland is the fourth prospect listed in South Carolina’s 2022 recruiting class. His commitment moved the Gamecocks up the national recruiting rankings, from 42 to 37. They’re still 11th in the SEC.
Westmoreland (OLB, 6-1, 210) has offers from Louisville, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Syracuse, among others. He is rated as a composite high 3-star per 247Sports, who rates him independently as a borderline 4-star. Rivals.com rates Westmoreland as a 5.7 3-star - the highest rating a prospect can receive and still remain a 3-star.
South Carolina offered last September. Mike Peterson, who’s still on staff under Shane Beamer, was working as Westmoreland’s area recruiter. Peterson kept in touch with Westmoreland even after his commitment to UGA, and the relationship finally paid off.
“Georgia wasn’t keeping in touch with me that much. We were just separating,” Westmoreland said. “South Carolina, the head coach, coach Peterson, coach (Jimmy) Lindsey, all of those were keeping in touch with me every day, having conversations and checking on me. The bond grew stronger. And coach Lindsey and coach Peterson know my former coaches at Griffin High. It was only right. I saw the consistency and it opened my eyes a lot.”
Westmoreland made a personal visit to USC for the spring game in late April. After experiencing that, he started to have a strong feeling Columbia was where he wanted to be.
“Fanbase is crazy. It just felt right,” Westmoreland said. “It started getting to me like, this is probably where I need to be. This is where I need to be.”
Westmoreland said the relationship between Peterson and him grew stronger thru the recruiting process, and he’s excited for the opportunity to play for him.
“I can see him as like one of my high school coaches,” Westmoreland said. “It felt like I already knew him because he acts just like my coaches at the school. It’s like there will be no difference.”
In 12 games as a junior, he had 84 tackles, 53 solo stops, 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Westmoreland is the fourth prospect listed in South Carolina’s 2022 recruiting class. His commitment moved the Gamecocks up the national recruiting rankings, from 42 to 37. They’re still 11th in the SEC.