Smitherman will give Gamecocks a chance
Jan. 5, 2015
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South Carolina was keeping an eye on defensive backs anyway and with the defection of a two commitments, there’s definitely room for at least one more. One players that defensive backs coach Grady Brown has his eye on is 3 star DB Maurice Smitherman 5'9" 178lbs (Adamsville, Ala./Minor), who has set up an official visit.
Smitherman, a Mississippi State commitment, received a committable offer from the Gamecocks in late December and immediately set up an official visit. He’s coming to Columbia on January 30, the final weekend that recruits can visit a college campus before the dead period begins and National Signing Day.
The visit is happening in large part because of Brown, who has stayed in touch with Smitherman throughout the process.
“Coach Grady talked to me and told me he had a spot for me,” Smitherman said. “He wanted me to come down on a visit and I thought that’d be cool. South Carolina is definitely an option.”
It won’t be the first trip to Columbia for the three-star prospect though. Smitherman visited campus in 2013 for the game against Clemson and left impressed.
“South Carolina has great fans,” Smitherman said., recounting his visit from over a year ago. “I really liked the stadium. I didn’t get a real to go look around and see how the campus is. That’s why I want to take a visit, to go see what everything is really like at South Carolina.”
Apart from his relationship with Brown, one of the other selling points for Smitherman is the opportunity for early playing time. He knows the Gamecocks, which finished ranked No. 13 in the SEC in total defense in 2014, needs help on that side of the football.
As evidenced by his rotation at cornerback this year, which featured three freshmen and a sophomore, Brown is also willing to play his youth.
“I know they need some help on defense,” Smitherman said. “I think I have an opportunity to go in there and play early. Coach Grady is a good man. He wouldn’t lie to me. Everything he’s told me, he thinks I can come in and help the program.”
Smitherman, who has already visited Mississippi State, will visit Texas Tech on January 16 and South Carolina on January 30. After his trip to Columbia, he’ll take a few days before making a final decision, which could still end up being the Bulldogs.
“It’s going to come down to signing day,” Smitherman said. “It’s all going to depend on how good my visits are.”
Jan. 5, 2015
Rivals bio
Scouts bio
247sports bio
South Carolina was keeping an eye on defensive backs anyway and with the defection of a two commitments, there’s definitely room for at least one more. One players that defensive backs coach Grady Brown has his eye on is 3 star DB Maurice Smitherman 5'9" 178lbs (Adamsville, Ala./Minor), who has set up an official visit.
Smitherman, a Mississippi State commitment, received a committable offer from the Gamecocks in late December and immediately set up an official visit. He’s coming to Columbia on January 30, the final weekend that recruits can visit a college campus before the dead period begins and National Signing Day.
The visit is happening in large part because of Brown, who has stayed in touch with Smitherman throughout the process.
“Coach Grady talked to me and told me he had a spot for me,” Smitherman said. “He wanted me to come down on a visit and I thought that’d be cool. South Carolina is definitely an option.”
It won’t be the first trip to Columbia for the three-star prospect though. Smitherman visited campus in 2013 for the game against Clemson and left impressed.
“South Carolina has great fans,” Smitherman said., recounting his visit from over a year ago. “I really liked the stadium. I didn’t get a real to go look around and see how the campus is. That’s why I want to take a visit, to go see what everything is really like at South Carolina.”
Apart from his relationship with Brown, one of the other selling points for Smitherman is the opportunity for early playing time. He knows the Gamecocks, which finished ranked No. 13 in the SEC in total defense in 2014, needs help on that side of the football.
As evidenced by his rotation at cornerback this year, which featured three freshmen and a sophomore, Brown is also willing to play his youth.
“I know they need some help on defense,” Smitherman said. “I think I have an opportunity to go in there and play early. Coach Grady is a good man. He wouldn’t lie to me. Everything he’s told me, he thinks I can come in and help the program.”
Smitherman, who has already visited Mississippi State, will visit Texas Tech on January 16 and South Carolina on January 30. After his trip to Columbia, he’ll take a few days before making a final decision, which could still end up being the Bulldogs.
“It’s going to come down to signing day,” Smitherman said. “It’s all going to depend on how good my visits are.”
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