JUCO defensive end Dorian Gerald talks Gamecocks
April 06, 2017
Junior college defensive end Dorian Gerald had a Wednesday he won’t be forgetting any time soon.
The 2018 defensive end from College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. landed two SEC offers: South Carolina and Tennessee. The Gamecocks offer was particularly special.
“It was crazy. I wasn’t expecting it. South Carolina was totally unexpected, but it means a lot. It’s my home state. I’m from South Carolina, so that’s huge,” he said. “Tennessee, I knew – I was in contact with them. I was in contact with South Carolina also, but I kind of already knew Tennessee really liked me, but South Carolina took me for a big shock day. It meant a lot, though.”
RELATED: Busy Wednesday for d-end targets
Gerald (6-3, 250) graduated from West Florence (S.C.) High School in 2015. After spending a post-grad season at Palmetto Prep in Columbia, S.C., he left for junior college.
South Carolina hosted him for several visits during the 2015-16 school year. Defensive line coach Lance Thompson passed along the word during a phone call.
“(Wednesday), he finally dropped it on me,” Gerald said. “(Thompson) said it’s official: ‘We need you. We need you back home.’”
When Gerald commences his JUCO work, he’ll have three years to play two seasons of college ball.
If he offers, they will follow
If Muschamp you wants to come rush the quarterback, that’s a pretty good indication that others will, too.
Though South Carolina wasn’t Gerald’s first Power 5 offer – Arizona State, Syracuse and Washington State came earlier – an offer from this staff tends to put others on alert. Tennessee tossed its hat into the ring an hour after his phone call to the Gamecocks.
“I know a lot of people, after (Wednesday) – Oklahoma is probably going to be the next offer, if I had to guess,” Gerald said. “But Florida State has gotten in contact with my coach. A lot of schools have gotten in contact with me today.
“Those two have been the only two that have said something about offering me today.”
The decision
Gerald’s family is still in Florence. While being close to them is important, he’s not necessarily intent on getting back to SEC Country.
“Location, of course, for my family, it matters to them,” he said. “To me, I’m already in California. You can’t get any further than that, so it’s that’s not a big deal for me.
“What’s big is where I get the best opportunity to play at. Coming out of JUCO, you don’t have any time to waste. Honestly, you don’t have any time, if you’re trying to go somewhere afterward, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I have plans for that.”
Early playing time will be a primary factor in his decision.
April 06, 2017
Junior college defensive end Dorian Gerald had a Wednesday he won’t be forgetting any time soon.
The 2018 defensive end from College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. landed two SEC offers: South Carolina and Tennessee. The Gamecocks offer was particularly special.
“It was crazy. I wasn’t expecting it. South Carolina was totally unexpected, but it means a lot. It’s my home state. I’m from South Carolina, so that’s huge,” he said. “Tennessee, I knew – I was in contact with them. I was in contact with South Carolina also, but I kind of already knew Tennessee really liked me, but South Carolina took me for a big shock day. It meant a lot, though.”
RELATED: Busy Wednesday for d-end targets
Gerald (6-3, 250) graduated from West Florence (S.C.) High School in 2015. After spending a post-grad season at Palmetto Prep in Columbia, S.C., he left for junior college.
South Carolina hosted him for several visits during the 2015-16 school year. Defensive line coach Lance Thompson passed along the word during a phone call.
“(Wednesday), he finally dropped it on me,” Gerald said. “(Thompson) said it’s official: ‘We need you. We need you back home.’”
When Gerald commences his JUCO work, he’ll have three years to play two seasons of college ball.
If he offers, they will follow
If Muschamp you wants to come rush the quarterback, that’s a pretty good indication that others will, too.
Though South Carolina wasn’t Gerald’s first Power 5 offer – Arizona State, Syracuse and Washington State came earlier – an offer from this staff tends to put others on alert. Tennessee tossed its hat into the ring an hour after his phone call to the Gamecocks.
“I know a lot of people, after (Wednesday) – Oklahoma is probably going to be the next offer, if I had to guess,” Gerald said. “But Florida State has gotten in contact with my coach. A lot of schools have gotten in contact with me today.
“Those two have been the only two that have said something about offering me today.”
The decision
Gerald’s family is still in Florence. While being close to them is important, he’s not necessarily intent on getting back to SEC Country.
“Location, of course, for my family, it matters to them,” he said. “To me, I’m already in California. You can’t get any further than that, so it’s that’s not a big deal for me.
“What’s big is where I get the best opportunity to play at. Coming out of JUCO, you don’t have any time to waste. Honestly, you don’t have any time, if you’re trying to go somewhere afterward, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I have plans for that.”
Early playing time will be a primary factor in his decision.