Jaylin Dickerson bringing ‘reckless’ play, depth to South Carolina secondary
Jan. 26, 2017
South Carolina will lock up its 2017 recruiting class on Feb. 1’s National Signing Day, but four high school recruits already are on campus getting ready for spring football. SEC Country gives you the rundown on the four early enrollees.
If you needed any idea of how important defensive backs were in this class for South Carolina, just look at the numbers. The Gamecocks have a half-dozen in total, getting much-needed depth under Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson’s tutelage.
Jaylin Dickerson, a safety from Southern Pines (N.C.) Pinecrest, is the first high school defensive back to get on campus for the Gamecocks, as he enrolled early. The 6-foot, 180-pound prospect brings a “reckless” approach to playing safety, his high school defensive backs coach Aaron Powell told SEC Country. That has to excite the coaches at South Carolina who want more physicality.
Dickerson is back healthy now, after missing a few games during his senior season with a hip injury. Despite the injury, Dickerson was named all-conference and picked as the conference’s defensive back of the year.
RELATED: Jaylin Dickerson had hoops dream, but found his home in football
Dickerson played both safety positions for Pinecrest, also getting playing time on offense in a variety of roles. The versatility in the secondary will be welcomed, especially at safety, where the Gamecocks return few contributors from a thin playing group in 2016.
Back in December, Dickerson said he was eager to get to South Carolina and start working before the deep class of defensive backs arrives.
“It’s going to be competitive,” Dickerson said. “Everybody is going to want it. That’s going to make it fun. Everybody is on the same mission, competing, competing, competing. You’ve gotta know if you don’t play, you’ve got cheer the man that is playing. Cheer him on and you’ve gotta work harder.”
The Dickerson Profile
247sports: 3-star, No. 29 player in North Carolina, No. 55 safety
Rivals: 3-star, No. 27 player in North Carolina, No. 55 safety
Scout: 3-star, No. 122 safety
ESPN: 3-star, No. 12 player in North Carolina, No. 42 athlete
SECCOUNTRY
Jan. 26, 2017
South Carolina will lock up its 2017 recruiting class on Feb. 1’s National Signing Day, but four high school recruits already are on campus getting ready for spring football. SEC Country gives you the rundown on the four early enrollees.
If you needed any idea of how important defensive backs were in this class for South Carolina, just look at the numbers. The Gamecocks have a half-dozen in total, getting much-needed depth under Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson’s tutelage.
Jaylin Dickerson, a safety from Southern Pines (N.C.) Pinecrest, is the first high school defensive back to get on campus for the Gamecocks, as he enrolled early. The 6-foot, 180-pound prospect brings a “reckless” approach to playing safety, his high school defensive backs coach Aaron Powell told SEC Country. That has to excite the coaches at South Carolina who want more physicality.
Dickerson is back healthy now, after missing a few games during his senior season with a hip injury. Despite the injury, Dickerson was named all-conference and picked as the conference’s defensive back of the year.
RELATED: Jaylin Dickerson had hoops dream, but found his home in football
Dickerson played both safety positions for Pinecrest, also getting playing time on offense in a variety of roles. The versatility in the secondary will be welcomed, especially at safety, where the Gamecocks return few contributors from a thin playing group in 2016.
Back in December, Dickerson said he was eager to get to South Carolina and start working before the deep class of defensive backs arrives.
“It’s going to be competitive,” Dickerson said. “Everybody is going to want it. That’s going to make it fun. Everybody is on the same mission, competing, competing, competing. You’ve gotta know if you don’t play, you’ve got cheer the man that is playing. Cheer him on and you’ve gotta work harder.”
The Dickerson Profile
247sports: 3-star, No. 29 player in North Carolina, No. 55 safety
Rivals: 3-star, No. 27 player in North Carolina, No. 55 safety
Scout: 3-star, No. 122 safety
ESPN: 3-star, No. 12 player in North Carolina, No. 42 athlete
SECCOUNTRY