Catching up with 4-star DE commitment Rodricus Fitten
Feb. 21, 2018
Four-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten (Atlanta) is ranked behind 4-star wide receiver Jamario Holley (Rock Hill, S.C.) as the No. 2 overall prospect in South Carolina’s 2019 commitment class.
While Fitten is still firm with his commitment, the Gamecocks are hardly the only suitors in pursuit of the 6-foot-3, 235-pound prospect from Washington High School.
Iowa State, Louisville and North Carolina were on board with offers before he committed, followed by Florida, which came in just days before Christmas. Tennessee offered Fitten a scholarship earlier this week.
The Vols, led by defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, have piqued Fitten’s interest, and they could be in line for a visit next month.
“It’s like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of other schools recruiting me,’ but at the same time, I have to weigh out all my options,” Fitten said, when asked about his newest offers. “With me being committed, it’s even harder. If I did de-commit, it would be a very hard decision for me.”
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Fitten, the No. 22 weakside defensive end in the country according to 247Sports, plans to remain in South Carolina’s 2019 commitment class. The Gamecocks coaches last had him on campus in January for junior day.
“I really enjoyed myself there,” Fitten said. “I really enjoyed myself at South Carolina, like I did before. They treat me like family. That’s what I love about it, and the coaches ask how I’ve been doing in school and all that, and I’ve been doing well.”
During the trip, he spent time with assistant coach Mike Peterson, who coaches South Carolina’s hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end spot. Fitten likes imagining himself in that kind of role at the next level.
“With playing outside linebacker, I can be more athletic than being at defensive end because I can’t drop back into coverage or anything like that,” Fitten said. “I enjoy it, playing outside linebacker more, and that’s where most colleges are looking at me, as an outside linebacker, instead of an end.”
South Carolina will see him back on campus for the Garnet & Black spring game.
“I love the system that [Muschamp] has because it’s an all-work system,” Fitten said. “And he cares about the kids that come in and all that. At the end of the day, it’s tough love that he shows with the program and all the coaches bring full effort, full throttle to practice and games, and I love it.”
Feb. 21, 2018
Four-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten (Atlanta) is ranked behind 4-star wide receiver Jamario Holley (Rock Hill, S.C.) as the No. 2 overall prospect in South Carolina’s 2019 commitment class.
While Fitten is still firm with his commitment, the Gamecocks are hardly the only suitors in pursuit of the 6-foot-3, 235-pound prospect from Washington High School.
Iowa State, Louisville and North Carolina were on board with offers before he committed, followed by Florida, which came in just days before Christmas. Tennessee offered Fitten a scholarship earlier this week.
The Vols, led by defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, have piqued Fitten’s interest, and they could be in line for a visit next month.
“It’s like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of other schools recruiting me,’ but at the same time, I have to weigh out all my options,” Fitten said, when asked about his newest offers. “With me being committed, it’s even harder. If I did de-commit, it would be a very hard decision for me.”
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Fitten, the No. 22 weakside defensive end in the country according to 247Sports, plans to remain in South Carolina’s 2019 commitment class. The Gamecocks coaches last had him on campus in January for junior day.
“I really enjoyed myself there,” Fitten said. “I really enjoyed myself at South Carolina, like I did before. They treat me like family. That’s what I love about it, and the coaches ask how I’ve been doing in school and all that, and I’ve been doing well.”
During the trip, he spent time with assistant coach Mike Peterson, who coaches South Carolina’s hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end spot. Fitten likes imagining himself in that kind of role at the next level.
“With playing outside linebacker, I can be more athletic than being at defensive end because I can’t drop back into coverage or anything like that,” Fitten said. “I enjoy it, playing outside linebacker more, and that’s where most colleges are looking at me, as an outside linebacker, instead of an end.”
South Carolina will see him back on campus for the Garnet & Black spring game.
“I love the system that [Muschamp] has because it’s an all-work system,” Fitten said. “And he cares about the kids that come in and all that. At the end of the day, it’s tough love that he shows with the program and all the coaches bring full effort, full throttle to practice and games, and I love it.”