Sizing up one of Will Muschamp’s top targets
April 17, 2018
‘I need you here’
It’s been written several times in this space, but when Will Muschamp identifies a prospect he really wants to sign, he will personally recruit him. Four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.) was among the 2018 prospects who fell into that category.
There already are a handful of such prospects in the 2019 class, one of whom is from the same town as Sandidge: 3-star linebacker Derek Boykins, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound star at Central Cabarrus High School.
Muschamp’s message: “I need you here,” according to Boykins.
South Carolina, like so many other college programs, including Clemson, North Carolina and Tennessee, “love his versatility,” Central Cabarrus coach Kenneth McClamrock said.
“On film, he’s playing outside linebacker, he’s playing inside linebacker, he’s playing quarterback, he’s playing running back for us, so they like the fact that he’s able to play multiple positions,” McClamrock said. “I think everyone sees him as an inside linebacker at the next level. They see him at 220 pounds right now.
“They see that he’s going to play at 235 in two years and be even faster and be even stronger. They love his explosiveness. … He plays with an intensity and a passion and they love the way that he responds to his teammates.
“They see him making a big play and the first thing he does is he turns around and hugs one of his teammates. That, of course, leads into what kind of kid he is, and he’s a great kid.”
According to the 247Sports composite, Boykins is ranked as the No. 32 outside linebacker in the Class of 2019.
Brotherly love
Earlier this month, Boykins visited North Carolina with his brother, 2021 athlete DeAndre Boykins. The Tar Heels offered the younger Boykins (5-10, 165).
“We were always different,” Derek said. “He’s shifty. He’s getting out of his cuts real fast and he’s always played slot wide receiver, corner and that, played a little bit of running back. He can run, for real.”
Derek added, “He’s smart. He knows how to play.”
Apparently, DeAndre is about his business, too.
“Doesn’t screw around. He comes to the weight room to work,” McClamrock said. “We lost a game last year and we’re playing music at practice. He came up to me, a freshman, three weeks into the season and goes, ‘Coach, I don’t think we need to listen to music today. Our guys need to focus better.’ ”
With college coaches now permitted to hit the road for evaluations, McClamrock believes DeAndre “will have a busy spring.”
April 17, 2018
‘I need you here’
It’s been written several times in this space, but when Will Muschamp identifies a prospect he really wants to sign, he will personally recruit him. Four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge (Concord, N.C.) was among the 2018 prospects who fell into that category.
There already are a handful of such prospects in the 2019 class, one of whom is from the same town as Sandidge: 3-star linebacker Derek Boykins, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound star at Central Cabarrus High School.
Muschamp’s message: “I need you here,” according to Boykins.
South Carolina, like so many other college programs, including Clemson, North Carolina and Tennessee, “love his versatility,” Central Cabarrus coach Kenneth McClamrock said.
“On film, he’s playing outside linebacker, he’s playing inside linebacker, he’s playing quarterback, he’s playing running back for us, so they like the fact that he’s able to play multiple positions,” McClamrock said. “I think everyone sees him as an inside linebacker at the next level. They see him at 220 pounds right now.
“They see that he’s going to play at 235 in two years and be even faster and be even stronger. They love his explosiveness. … He plays with an intensity and a passion and they love the way that he responds to his teammates.
“They see him making a big play and the first thing he does is he turns around and hugs one of his teammates. That, of course, leads into what kind of kid he is, and he’s a great kid.”
According to the 247Sports composite, Boykins is ranked as the No. 32 outside linebacker in the Class of 2019.
Brotherly love
Earlier this month, Boykins visited North Carolina with his brother, 2021 athlete DeAndre Boykins. The Tar Heels offered the younger Boykins (5-10, 165).
“We were always different,” Derek said. “He’s shifty. He’s getting out of his cuts real fast and he’s always played slot wide receiver, corner and that, played a little bit of running back. He can run, for real.”
Derek added, “He’s smart. He knows how to play.”
Apparently, DeAndre is about his business, too.
“Doesn’t screw around. He comes to the weight room to work,” McClamrock said. “We lost a game last year and we’re playing music at practice. He came up to me, a freshman, three weeks into the season and goes, ‘Coach, I don’t think we need to listen to music today. Our guys need to focus better.’ ”
With college coaches now permitted to hit the road for evaluations, McClamrock believes DeAndre “will have a busy spring.”