Sunday recruiting updates (Yafari Werts)
JANUARY 17, 2016
BY PHIL KORNBLUT LINK: SPORTSTALK
This was the first weekend for official visits in January and we’re checking on those prospects who were at USC and Clemson over the weekend. We’re also checking up on USC and Clemson targets who visited elsewhere plus other prospects around the state who made trips.
Yafari Werts
ATH Yafari Werts of Newberry make an official visit to Georgia Southern over the weekend. He has been committed to the Eagles since last summer and remains so, but some bigger programs are making a push. “It was a good visit, I liked it,” Werts said. “I liked how genuine the coaches are. They want me just as bad as the previous coaches.” Georgia Southern wants Werts as a quarterback. USC is strongly involved and sees him as a slot receiver and return man. He talked with Gamecock recruiter Shawn Elliott on Saturday. “He was telling me how they wanted me and we talked about my visit,” said Werts who will visit USC this coming weekend. “He said there’s a good chance I’ll leave with an offer. We’ll see how that goes. I’ll take my time and see their plans for me. I’ll take it into consideration. It could hake things up a little bit. But I don’t want to be just another guy. I want the ball in my hands wherever I go.” After the USC visit Werts said he might take a mid-week visit to Appalachian State. he is scheduled to visit North Carolina on the 29th. He is expecting USC and Appalachian State to visit him this week.
Daniel Thomas
DB Daniel Thomas of Montgomery, AL made his official visit to USC over the weekend. Thomas said he enjoyed his stay and in particular “the support and the love they had for us. I talked a lot to Coach Robinson. He wants me to come in and possibly be an impact player.” Thomas did not commit and will continue with visits. He’s going to either Clemson or Maryland this coming weekend. This week he’s expecting coaches from Mississippi State, Maryland and Auburn to visit with him. He does not have a favorite at this point.
Marlon Character
Former USC commitment and current Auburn commitment DB Marlon Character of Atlanta made his official visit to USC over the weekend. He has not backed of his Auburn commitment but the visit gave him something to ponder. “I loved the visit,” he said. “The visit was really good. I got a lot out of it. They said they’re going to use me on multiple ways on the defense. They have a lot of spots open right now. They said they just need corners, safeties, nickels, anything to get active on the field early and make some plays. I’m still committed right now to Auburn, but I’m still taking into consideration other schools like South Carolina and Virginia Tech because those are the officials that I’m taking. South Carolina is a little higher with the new coaching staff than it was when everybody was about to leave and stuff like that. The coaches that were recruiting me from Auburn, they’re there now. I just like the energy that they bring and the passion that they have and the want for me to be there. That’s a big part of the recruitment, just building relationships with the coaches and being able to talk to them about anything other than football, just personal relationships. I love every way they talk about using me.” Character will visit Virginia Tech this coming weekend and Auburn January 30th. he said he won’t make his final decision known until Signing Day.
USC commitment OL Pete Leota of Asheville made his official visit over the weekend and said he’s 100% committed though he’s still planning to take some other visits. He’s not sure where at this point. “The weekend went great,” he said. “I loved it. My mom and dad loved it. I’m really glad I’m committed to them. Coach Muschamp said he loved my highlights, said I was a very good player, nasty and I finish every block.” Leota said he’s still talking with Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and East Carolina. He said the Gamecocks are aware of his plans for other visits. “They trust me,” he said. “They know I’m going to make the right decision.” Leota hinted at a visit to East Carolina where former USC assistant Deke Adams is recruiting him. He said it’s possible he’ll take a visit somewhere this coming weekend.
TJ Brunson
LB TJ Brunson of Richland Northeast made his official visit to USC over the weekend and is now publicly favoring the Gamecocks. “It was really cool, I had a great time,” Brunson said. “The players made me feel at home. It wasn’t weird or anything, they just make you feel at home. I can be myself around them.” Brunson could not say when he might be ready to commit to the Gamecocks, if that’s what he decides to do. “I’ve got to get back home and talk with my parents. I’ll talk to some other coaches (from Maryland and Virginia Tech) tonight but I’m, pretty much done. I’m thinking about taking Maryland and Virginia Tech visits but I don’t know.”
Hank Tuipulotu
TE Hank Tuipulotu of Nation Ford called his USC official visit “awesome, really cool. The coaches are looking like they are doing a great job. The program is on the rise. The facilities are so sweet and the campus is so nice. There’s a lot of nice things to like about this schools.” Tuipulotu is committed to BYU and will visit there this coming weekend. “I’m not sure I can make a decision right now,” he said. “It’s tough to say. I haven’t visited BYU yet. But having my family being able to come to all of the games is real intriguing, a real pro for coming here.” Tuipulotu is planning to go on a Mormon mission for two years right out of high school so he won’t enroll in the college he chooses before 2018. “Well, it won’t really have an impact on my choice,” he said. “Both schools are cool with my decision to serve a mission. They will work around it. It just means that I won’t be on the roster the next two seasons since I will essentially be taking a break between high school and college.”
Javon Kinlaw
Change of plans for USC commitment DE Javon Kinlaw of of Goose Creek. Instead of coming to USC this weekend for his official visit, Kinlaw is headed to Jones JC in Mississippi for an early enrollment. Kinlaw said the plan for him is to play one season at Jones and graduate in the summer of 2017. That will allow him three years with the Gamecocks starting in 2017. “I feel good about it,” Kinlaw said. “I feel like I can get it done.” Kinlaw had acknowledged during his recruiting process that junior college was a likelihood for him and USC took his commitment on December 23rd knowing he could be a junior college candidate. Kinlaw gives USC three commitments for the 2017 class.
JANUARY 17, 2016
BY PHIL KORNBLUT LINK: SPORTSTALK
This was the first weekend for official visits in January and we’re checking on those prospects who were at USC and Clemson over the weekend. We’re also checking up on USC and Clemson targets who visited elsewhere plus other prospects around the state who made trips.
Yafari WertsATH Yafari Werts of Newberry make an official visit to Georgia Southern over the weekend. He has been committed to the Eagles since last summer and remains so, but some bigger programs are making a push. “It was a good visit, I liked it,” Werts said. “I liked how genuine the coaches are. They want me just as bad as the previous coaches.” Georgia Southern wants Werts as a quarterback. USC is strongly involved and sees him as a slot receiver and return man. He talked with Gamecock recruiter Shawn Elliott on Saturday. “He was telling me how they wanted me and we talked about my visit,” said Werts who will visit USC this coming weekend. “He said there’s a good chance I’ll leave with an offer. We’ll see how that goes. I’ll take my time and see their plans for me. I’ll take it into consideration. It could hake things up a little bit. But I don’t want to be just another guy. I want the ball in my hands wherever I go.” After the USC visit Werts said he might take a mid-week visit to Appalachian State. he is scheduled to visit North Carolina on the 29th. He is expecting USC and Appalachian State to visit him this week.
Daniel ThomasDB Daniel Thomas of Montgomery, AL made his official visit to USC over the weekend. Thomas said he enjoyed his stay and in particular “the support and the love they had for us. I talked a lot to Coach Robinson. He wants me to come in and possibly be an impact player.” Thomas did not commit and will continue with visits. He’s going to either Clemson or Maryland this coming weekend. This week he’s expecting coaches from Mississippi State, Maryland and Auburn to visit with him. He does not have a favorite at this point.
Marlon CharacterFormer USC commitment and current Auburn commitment DB Marlon Character of Atlanta made his official visit to USC over the weekend. He has not backed of his Auburn commitment but the visit gave him something to ponder. “I loved the visit,” he said. “The visit was really good. I got a lot out of it. They said they’re going to use me on multiple ways on the defense. They have a lot of spots open right now. They said they just need corners, safeties, nickels, anything to get active on the field early and make some plays. I’m still committed right now to Auburn, but I’m still taking into consideration other schools like South Carolina and Virginia Tech because those are the officials that I’m taking. South Carolina is a little higher with the new coaching staff than it was when everybody was about to leave and stuff like that. The coaches that were recruiting me from Auburn, they’re there now. I just like the energy that they bring and the passion that they have and the want for me to be there. That’s a big part of the recruitment, just building relationships with the coaches and being able to talk to them about anything other than football, just personal relationships. I love every way they talk about using me.” Character will visit Virginia Tech this coming weekend and Auburn January 30th. he said he won’t make his final decision known until Signing Day.
USC commitment OL Pete Leota of Asheville made his official visit over the weekend and said he’s 100% committed though he’s still planning to take some other visits. He’s not sure where at this point. “The weekend went great,” he said. “I loved it. My mom and dad loved it. I’m really glad I’m committed to them. Coach Muschamp said he loved my highlights, said I was a very good player, nasty and I finish every block.” Leota said he’s still talking with Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and East Carolina. He said the Gamecocks are aware of his plans for other visits. “They trust me,” he said. “They know I’m going to make the right decision.” Leota hinted at a visit to East Carolina where former USC assistant Deke Adams is recruiting him. He said it’s possible he’ll take a visit somewhere this coming weekend.
TJ BrunsonLB TJ Brunson of Richland Northeast made his official visit to USC over the weekend and is now publicly favoring the Gamecocks. “It was really cool, I had a great time,” Brunson said. “The players made me feel at home. It wasn’t weird or anything, they just make you feel at home. I can be myself around them.” Brunson could not say when he might be ready to commit to the Gamecocks, if that’s what he decides to do. “I’ve got to get back home and talk with my parents. I’ll talk to some other coaches (from Maryland and Virginia Tech) tonight but I’m, pretty much done. I’m thinking about taking Maryland and Virginia Tech visits but I don’t know.”
Hank TuipulotuTE Hank Tuipulotu of Nation Ford called his USC official visit “awesome, really cool. The coaches are looking like they are doing a great job. The program is on the rise. The facilities are so sweet and the campus is so nice. There’s a lot of nice things to like about this schools.” Tuipulotu is committed to BYU and will visit there this coming weekend. “I’m not sure I can make a decision right now,” he said. “It’s tough to say. I haven’t visited BYU yet. But having my family being able to come to all of the games is real intriguing, a real pro for coming here.” Tuipulotu is planning to go on a Mormon mission for two years right out of high school so he won’t enroll in the college he chooses before 2018. “Well, it won’t really have an impact on my choice,” he said. “Both schools are cool with my decision to serve a mission. They will work around it. It just means that I won’t be on the roster the next two seasons since I will essentially be taking a break between high school and college.”
Javon KinlawChange of plans for USC commitment DE Javon Kinlaw of of Goose Creek. Instead of coming to USC this weekend for his official visit, Kinlaw is headed to Jones JC in Mississippi for an early enrollment. Kinlaw said the plan for him is to play one season at Jones and graduate in the summer of 2017. That will allow him three years with the Gamecocks starting in 2017. “I feel good about it,” Kinlaw said. “I feel like I can get it done.” Kinlaw had acknowledged during his recruiting process that junior college was a likelihood for him and USC took his commitment on December 23rd knowing he could be a junior college candidate. Kinlaw gives USC three commitments for the 2017 class.
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