In-state kicker favors Gamecocks
December 05, 2017
Six kickers and punters from the state of South Carolina are committed to sign with ACC and SEC programs. It remains to be seen if that ridiculously high amount of 2018 in-state specialists will be matched in 2019, but there’s at least one who’s emerged as an option for South Carolina.
Patrick Nations, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect from Walhalla High School (S.C., registered touchbacks on 55 of 61 kickoffs this season. He connected on 9 of 14 field goals with a long of 44, to go along with 39 of 41 made PATs.
Nations also averaged 40.7 yards per punt with 6 downed inside opponents’ 20-yard line. He also had 79 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense and grabbed 15 passes for 457 yards on offense.
South Carolina hosted him for the Florida and Clemson games.
“I like the coaching staff,” Nations said. “They’re really hands-on and they like talking to you. They just make you feel at home. They don’t leave you out. They make sure they talk to you every time you come and just everybody is super nice there.
“I like the city there. I like the city, how it’s laid out. And they’ve got that new facility being built.”
Special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler has played a significant role in Nations’ recruitment to South Carolina. Running backs coach Bobby Bentley is also involved.
At the Wofford game, Nations said Hutzler told him that he’s “their No. 1 guy as of right now, but it just boils down to if they have scholarships and all that stuff.”
Clemson hosted Nations for two games this season: Auburn and Georgia Tech. But the Tigers have a commitment from BT Potter, one of the in-state specialists from the Class of 2018.
“Their situation is a little different [than South Carolina], but they’re still interested and I still like Clemson,” Nations said. “But, as of right now, South Carolina is my No. 1.”
Furman, East Carolina and Coastal Carolina have also been in contact.
This aforementioned six 2018 in-state specialists:
December 05, 2017
Six kickers and punters from the state of South Carolina are committed to sign with ACC and SEC programs. It remains to be seen if that ridiculously high amount of 2018 in-state specialists will be matched in 2019, but there’s at least one who’s emerged as an option for South Carolina.
Patrick Nations, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect from Walhalla High School (S.C., registered touchbacks on 55 of 61 kickoffs this season. He connected on 9 of 14 field goals with a long of 44, to go along with 39 of 41 made PATs.
Nations also averaged 40.7 yards per punt with 6 downed inside opponents’ 20-yard line. He also had 79 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense and grabbed 15 passes for 457 yards on offense.
South Carolina hosted him for the Florida and Clemson games.
“I like the coaching staff,” Nations said. “They’re really hands-on and they like talking to you. They just make you feel at home. They don’t leave you out. They make sure they talk to you every time you come and just everybody is super nice there.
“I like the city there. I like the city, how it’s laid out. And they’ve got that new facility being built.”
Special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler has played a significant role in Nations’ recruitment to South Carolina. Running backs coach Bobby Bentley is also involved.
At the Wofford game, Nations said Hutzler told him that he’s “their No. 1 guy as of right now, but it just boils down to if they have scholarships and all that stuff.”
Clemson hosted Nations for two games this season: Auburn and Georgia Tech. But the Tigers have a commitment from BT Potter, one of the in-state specialists from the Class of 2018.
“Their situation is a little different [than South Carolina], but they’re still interested and I still like Clemson,” Nations said. “But, as of right now, South Carolina is my No. 1.”
Furman, East Carolina and Coastal Carolina have also been in contact.
This aforementioned six 2018 in-state specialists:
- K Hunter Pearson (Seneca) Virginia
- P Skyler Delong (Fort Mill-Nation Ford) Alabama
- K BT Potter (Rock Hill-South Pointe) Clemson
- K Nicolas Sciba (Clover) Wake Forest
- K Paxton Brooks (West Columbia-Airport) Tennessee
- K Chance Poore (Anderson-T.L. Hanna) Kentucky
