LB Chandler Wooden includes USC among leaders
[SIZE= 14px]MARCH 22, 2016 BY [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]PHIL KORNBLUT[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]Link:[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] sportstalk[/SIZE]
Chandler Wooten
Video: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2934788/chandler-wooten
Rivals bio
247sports bio
Rivals star ranking 3
247sports star ranking 3
In January, LB Chandler Wooten 6'2" 227lbs nearly committed to Clemson. Now, the Tigers are nowhere to be found on his short list. But USC is. Wooten said he currently favors Auburn but also likes USC, Tennessee and Florida in his top four.
Three months ago, though, Wooten was on the fast track to becoming another highly regarded commitment for Dabo Swinney and company.
“I was close but I’m starting to push it back just a little while, but it’s coming soon,” Wooten said of his decision. “At first I was close to Clemson in January but I backed off that. “Right now Auburn is my leader but right now I’m interested in Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and any other school that decides it wants to recruit me hard. I’m still pretty open right now. I just decided to back off (from Clemson) and re-evaluate my options. I felt it could be a little rushed. It felt like it wasn’t the right fit for me at the time. Once I backed off, prayed about it and sat down with my parents and talked about it, now I’m in a different direction at the moment.”
Wooten has visited USC, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn twice and he’s going back to Tennessee and Auburn the first week in April, and he’s going to try to get back to USC and Florida as well. Wooten said the Gamecocks are making a strong pitch for him.
“They love me, I’m the number one linebacker on the board as of right now,” he said. “At the moment they really want me, they really need me. They like how I can play on the line and also drop back in coverage and be able to play inside and outside and play on the line as well. They like how versatile I am and like the way I play so I think they definitely could use me at South Carolina.”
Wooten was on the phone Monday night with USC recruiter Coleman Hutzler. From the things he’s seen and been told by the Gamecock staff, he feels success isn’t far off.
“I love the direction they are headed in,” he said. “Coach Muschamp and T-Rob, Coach Hutzler and Coach Thompson are going to come in and do a great job. Coach Peterson, you know he’s been where I want to be. As far as coaching linebackers, he’s somebody I definitely could see myself playing for. I’m really attracted to South Carolina right now.”
Wooten plans to graduate early and he hopes to make a decision before his season.
“Of course everybody wants to go in and play early but at the same time it’s where you fit in the best, wherever you feel the most comfortable,” Wooten said. “Education plays a big part for me. I want the best staff, whoever I feel like can develop me the best. All those things play a big part in my decision.”
Last season Wooten 75 tackles with 2 sacks and 1 interception.
[SIZE= 14px]MARCH 22, 2016 BY [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]PHIL KORNBLUT[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]Link:[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px] sportstalk[/SIZE]
Chandler WootenVideo: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2934788/chandler-wooten
Rivals bio
247sports bio
Rivals star ranking 3
247sports star ranking 3
In January, LB Chandler Wooten 6'2" 227lbs nearly committed to Clemson. Now, the Tigers are nowhere to be found on his short list. But USC is. Wooten said he currently favors Auburn but also likes USC, Tennessee and Florida in his top four.
Three months ago, though, Wooten was on the fast track to becoming another highly regarded commitment for Dabo Swinney and company.
“I was close but I’m starting to push it back just a little while, but it’s coming soon,” Wooten said of his decision. “At first I was close to Clemson in January but I backed off that. “Right now Auburn is my leader but right now I’m interested in Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and any other school that decides it wants to recruit me hard. I’m still pretty open right now. I just decided to back off (from Clemson) and re-evaluate my options. I felt it could be a little rushed. It felt like it wasn’t the right fit for me at the time. Once I backed off, prayed about it and sat down with my parents and talked about it, now I’m in a different direction at the moment.”
Wooten has visited USC, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn twice and he’s going back to Tennessee and Auburn the first week in April, and he’s going to try to get back to USC and Florida as well. Wooten said the Gamecocks are making a strong pitch for him.
“They love me, I’m the number one linebacker on the board as of right now,” he said. “At the moment they really want me, they really need me. They like how I can play on the line and also drop back in coverage and be able to play inside and outside and play on the line as well. They like how versatile I am and like the way I play so I think they definitely could use me at South Carolina.”
Wooten was on the phone Monday night with USC recruiter Coleman Hutzler. From the things he’s seen and been told by the Gamecock staff, he feels success isn’t far off.
“I love the direction they are headed in,” he said. “Coach Muschamp and T-Rob, Coach Hutzler and Coach Thompson are going to come in and do a great job. Coach Peterson, you know he’s been where I want to be. As far as coaching linebackers, he’s somebody I definitely could see myself playing for. I’m really attracted to South Carolina right now.”
Wooten plans to graduate early and he hopes to make a decision before his season.
“Of course everybody wants to go in and play early but at the same time it’s where you fit in the best, wherever you feel the most comfortable,” Wooten said. “Education plays a big part for me. I want the best staff, whoever I feel like can develop me the best. All those things play a big part in my decision.”
Last season Wooten 75 tackles with 2 sacks and 1 interception.