Darius Rush rounding into form at WR; new Nashville offer goes out
October 20, 2017
Impressive start
Darius Rush, the first commitment in South Carolina’s 2018 class, is playing just one position for the first time in his high school career at C.E. Murray in Greeleyville, S.C.
“It’s a huge adjustment, from playing quarterback [and] running back. Just me focusing on wide receiver, it’s good for me and it’s really impacting the whole game,” Rush said. “Usually, we’ve been a running team, but we’ve opened up our playbook and we’re doing much better as a whole, mixing up the run and the pass.”
The War Eagles are 6-2 heading into Friday’s game against Bethune-Bowman. Rush has caught 32 passes for 478 yards with 12 touchdowns. He’s also rushed 14 times for 114 yards and recorded 23 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
South Carolina, the team he’ll join in January, is 5-2 (3-2 SEC).
“It’s a great start,” Rush said. “It’s great to see them coming out with some fire after taking a loss at Texas A&M and bouncing back from it. I believe they have a chance to win the [sEC] East this year and that would be big for the program.”
Rush, whose family has had Gamecock season tickets for the last few years, likes what he’s seen from his future position-mates.
“What stood out to me was the freshmen receivers, Shi Smith and OrTre Smith,” he said. “For them to be just freshmen coming in and making a big impact, not just on offense, but throughout the whole game, it’s great to see.”
New Nashville offer out
Last Friday, the day before South Carolina’s win over Tennessee, the Gamecocks offered 2021 wide receiver Quenton Barnes. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect from Cane Ridge High School (Nashville, Tenn.) got word from National Playmakers Academy founder Buck Fitzgerald.
South Carolina running backs coach Bobby Bentley recruits Nashville for the Gamecocks.
“I haven’t looked much into the school yet, but I saw the last game they played against Tennessee,” Barnes said.
He added, “It was pretty good, seeing what they were doing. I’ve got an offer from both schools, so I was just seeing how they both played.”
Tennessee offered a few weeks earlier.
“It was a big thing for it to be my first offer,” Barnes said.
Barnes is second among Cane Ridge pass-catchers with 16 receptions for 217 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Somewhere that’s going to get me to the level and help me fulfill my game,” he said, when asked what will factor in a decision.
“Just somewhere that’s going to be better for me.”
Another official visit
Last weekend, Florida State commitment Israel Mukuamu took an official visit to Georgia. South Carolina hosted him the weekend prior. Florida State is up next this weekend.
Mukuamu, who previously played high school ball at Berkeley in Moncks Corner, S.C., now lives in Bossier City, La.
“[Muschamp] keeps telling me to come home,” Mukuamu said, during an interview with Phil Kornblut. “I still got Georgia and South Carolina in the back of my head. They both want me to play corner and they have a lack of depth.”
According to the interview, the Gamecocks are second behind the Noles.
October 20, 2017
Impressive start
Darius Rush, the first commitment in South Carolina’s 2018 class, is playing just one position for the first time in his high school career at C.E. Murray in Greeleyville, S.C.
“It’s a huge adjustment, from playing quarterback [and] running back. Just me focusing on wide receiver, it’s good for me and it’s really impacting the whole game,” Rush said. “Usually, we’ve been a running team, but we’ve opened up our playbook and we’re doing much better as a whole, mixing up the run and the pass.”
The War Eagles are 6-2 heading into Friday’s game against Bethune-Bowman. Rush has caught 32 passes for 478 yards with 12 touchdowns. He’s also rushed 14 times for 114 yards and recorded 23 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
South Carolina, the team he’ll join in January, is 5-2 (3-2 SEC).
“It’s a great start,” Rush said. “It’s great to see them coming out with some fire after taking a loss at Texas A&M and bouncing back from it. I believe they have a chance to win the [sEC] East this year and that would be big for the program.”
Rush, whose family has had Gamecock season tickets for the last few years, likes what he’s seen from his future position-mates.
“What stood out to me was the freshmen receivers, Shi Smith and OrTre Smith,” he said. “For them to be just freshmen coming in and making a big impact, not just on offense, but throughout the whole game, it’s great to see.”
New Nashville offer out
Last Friday, the day before South Carolina’s win over Tennessee, the Gamecocks offered 2021 wide receiver Quenton Barnes. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect from Cane Ridge High School (Nashville, Tenn.) got word from National Playmakers Academy founder Buck Fitzgerald.
South Carolina running backs coach Bobby Bentley recruits Nashville for the Gamecocks.
“I haven’t looked much into the school yet, but I saw the last game they played against Tennessee,” Barnes said.
He added, “It was pretty good, seeing what they were doing. I’ve got an offer from both schools, so I was just seeing how they both played.”
Tennessee offered a few weeks earlier.
“It was a big thing for it to be my first offer,” Barnes said.
Barnes is second among Cane Ridge pass-catchers with 16 receptions for 217 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Somewhere that’s going to get me to the level and help me fulfill my game,” he said, when asked what will factor in a decision.
“Just somewhere that’s going to be better for me.”
Another official visit
Last weekend, Florida State commitment Israel Mukuamu took an official visit to Georgia. South Carolina hosted him the weekend prior. Florida State is up next this weekend.
Mukuamu, who previously played high school ball at Berkeley in Moncks Corner, S.C., now lives in Bossier City, La.
“[Muschamp] keeps telling me to come home,” Mukuamu said, during an interview with Phil Kornblut. “I still got Georgia and South Carolina in the back of my head. They both want me to play corner and they have a lack of depth.”
According to the interview, the Gamecocks are second behind the Noles.