Gamecocks Legacy Coming In For A Visit Thursday Morning
SPORTSTALK / March 16, 2023
Willie Offord was a standout safety for USC during the Lou Holtz era. He went on to a successful NFL career, and then he became a coach on both the college and high school level. He is now the assistant head coach and secondary coach at Gray Collegiate in Columbia, and his son, WR Zai Offord (5-10 165) is a budding prospect in the 2024 class.Last season Offord had nearly 1000 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. He has picked up offers from Campbell and Charlotte. Thursday morning, he will make an unofficial visit to USC to watch the Gamecocks’ second practice of the spring.
“For me, the interest is, I love South Carolina actually,” Offord said. “My dad played there in college. We moved back because he wanted to be here. If I got the chance to go to South Carolina, I’d definitely go. The interest from them hasn’t been real good, though. I feel like they are just starting to recruit me now that I’m a junior. I’ll see how it is tomorrow morning.”
USC tight ends coach Jody Wright is the Gamecock recruiter who has been in touch with Offord.
“He likes that I can do it all,” Offord said. “Like, I’m fast, explosive. I can change directions very good and all that aggressive type stuff. They told me I’ve got to come out to camp this year and show them my forty yard time.”
Offord plans to do that this summer with the hope he can show the Gamecocks he’s worthy of receiving an offer.
“That would be amazing,” Offord said.
Saturday, Offord plans to visit North Carolina Central. He also plans to visit Wofford, Appalachian State and Wake Forest. He visited James Madison earlier this month, and in January he attended a junior days at Coastal Carolina and Florida State. Last spring, he visited USC for their spring game, and he made a visit to Tennessee.
Offord, who also plays cornerback, played for Oceanside Collegiate in the 2021 season when his dad was an assistant coach there.