South Carolina offers eighth-grader a football scholarship
March 29, 2015
South Carolina held a “junior day” event on Saturday and handed out several offers, including one to a 14-year-old who will be a freshman in high school this coming season.
The Gamecocks offered a football scholarship to eighth-grader Dominick Blaylock, a standout at Dickerson Middle School in Marietta, Ga. The school feeds in Walton High, which produced current Gamecocks safety D.J. Smith. Walton coach Maurice Dixon confirmed the offer.
“That was the purpose of his visit,” Dixon said. “He was told this is a solid offer.”
The offer is the first for the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Blaylock, who also plays baseball. That makes him a Class of 2019 prospect, the Gamecocks’ first offer for that cycle. USC has five offers out to 2018 recruits, according to 247Sports.
USC has been known to extend offers to prospects during or after their ninth-grade seasons. The offer to Blaylock as an eighth-grader is new territory.
Quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus is the recruiter for that area, and Blaylock was offered as an “athlete,” Dixon said.
“It felt pretty great,” Blaylock told Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I was shocked that when I met the coaches, they went straight the point with the offer. I had no words. I didn’t know what to say. All I could say was ‘Thanks, coach.’ ”
Blaylock was named MVP of the Elite Junior Classic Eighth-Grade All-Star game in December. His twin older brothers play football for Kentucky. He is the son of former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock, Carvell reported.
Blaylock has also been invited to visit Florida, Auburn and Alabama, his stepfather, John Woods, told the AJC.
“I am happy for Dominick,” Woods told Carvell. “I know there are more eighth-graders getting offered now. It seems like it’s happening with more eighth-graders every year.”
Dixon said it’s the first time in his 28 years of coaching that he can recall one of his players being offered in middle school.
“He is appreciative. Baseball is big for him also and USC has been encouraging about that,” Dixon said. “Dominick has a great family around him. He’s one of the most humble, mature kids I have been associated with. He’s a team guy, not a ‘me’ guy. He gets that from his family. They would not allow him to be any other way. They’re great people. There are no drills for that at a combine.”
March 29, 2015
South Carolina held a “junior day” event on Saturday and handed out several offers, including one to a 14-year-old who will be a freshman in high school this coming season.
The Gamecocks offered a football scholarship to eighth-grader Dominick Blaylock, a standout at Dickerson Middle School in Marietta, Ga. The school feeds in Walton High, which produced current Gamecocks safety D.J. Smith. Walton coach Maurice Dixon confirmed the offer.
“That was the purpose of his visit,” Dixon said. “He was told this is a solid offer.”
The offer is the first for the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Blaylock, who also plays baseball. That makes him a Class of 2019 prospect, the Gamecocks’ first offer for that cycle. USC has five offers out to 2018 recruits, according to 247Sports.
USC has been known to extend offers to prospects during or after their ninth-grade seasons. The offer to Blaylock as an eighth-grader is new territory.
Quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus is the recruiter for that area, and Blaylock was offered as an “athlete,” Dixon said.
“It felt pretty great,” Blaylock told Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I was shocked that when I met the coaches, they went straight the point with the offer. I had no words. I didn’t know what to say. All I could say was ‘Thanks, coach.’ ”
Blaylock was named MVP of the Elite Junior Classic Eighth-Grade All-Star game in December. His twin older brothers play football for Kentucky. He is the son of former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock, Carvell reported.
Blaylock has also been invited to visit Florida, Auburn and Alabama, his stepfather, John Woods, told the AJC.
“I am happy for Dominick,” Woods told Carvell. “I know there are more eighth-graders getting offered now. It seems like it’s happening with more eighth-graders every year.”
Dixon said it’s the first time in his 28 years of coaching that he can recall one of his players being offered in middle school.
“He is appreciative. Baseball is big for him also and USC has been encouraging about that,” Dixon said. “Dominick has a great family around him. He’s one of the most humble, mature kids I have been associated with. He’s a team guy, not a ‘me’ guy. He gets that from his family. They would not allow him to be any other way. They’re great people. There are no drills for that at a combine.”