TE KeShawn Toney announces commitment to South Carolina
March 04, 2018
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View attachment 302 Video Highlights & Profile
On Sunday afternoon, about 24 hours after landing his offer, tight end KeShawn Toney 6'4" 237lbs announced his pledge to the 2019 South Carolina recruiting class.
The Gamecocks offered Toney while he was on campus Saturday with his mom and dad. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound prospect from Williston-Elko (S.C.) High School committed on the spot.
“We broke down the schools and we said that if South Carolina comes, that’s going to be the top choice. … And then, when they offered, me and my dad, we were just talking and we were like, we don’t need to wait, wait on them,” Toney said.
Three other schools have offered: Charlotte, Georgia State and South Carolina State. Appalachian State, Furman, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and North Carolina State have also expressed interest.
Toney has caught 107 passes for 1,571 yards with 11 touchdowns during his high school career. As a junior, he had 35 receptions for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns, to go along with 39 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 fumble recoveries, 4 sacks, 2 defensive touchdowns and a fumble recovery.
How the commitment happened
On Saturday, Toney was making his way through the weight room when he, his parents and tight ends coach Pat Washington were pulled aside from the tour group, to visit in coach Will Muschamp’s office.
That’s when news of the offer was delivered.
“It was good, because that’s the offer I was waiting on. I always wanted to play at South Carolina, since I was growing up, so that was big,” Toney said. “When [Muschamp] offered me, I already knew that I was going there. That’s what me and my family have really been waiting on. It came and I’m just happy that it got here.”
Why South Carolina
Toney grew up in a family full of Gamecock fans and South Carolina is his “dream school,” so there was no sense in delaying the decision, just for the sake of seeing who else might offer. His father encouraged him to jump on board and not run the risk of missing out on the opportunity to commit.
“That’s what I grew up into. It’s what I was born into. I was really born into a South Carolina family,” Toney said. “Everybody in my family is South Carolina fans. They just instilled it in me.
“Then I always go to the games, I just see them running out and I see the atmosphere of the fans and everything. What really, really — when I knew I had to get to South Carolina was this past season, when they played Clemson. Before the game, it was just crazy. I was like, I’ve got to be here.”
Family ties aside, there’s also a level of intrigue in the way South Carolina has utilized its tight ends over the last couple of seasons.
“I like it, because they use their tight ends in a bunch of different ways,” Toney said. “I’m like a hybrid tight end, so I can do a whole lot of things and they use them for a whole lot of things and I just like the way they shift around and the way run things, then coach Washington, he gives a good, at-home-feel.”
The Gamecocks 2019 class
South Carolina’s 2019 class includes six other commitments, two of whom are from the state: 4-star wide receiver Jamario Holley (Rock Hill-Northwestern) and 3-star defensive end Devontae Davis, a junior college prospect who went to Silver Bluff High School.
The Gamecocks have three other commitments for the offensive side of the ball, all of whom are linemen: 4-star tackle Mark Fox Jr. (Miami), 3-star center Vincent Murphy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and 3-star tackle Jaylen Nichols (Charlotte, N.C.).
Three-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten (Atlanta) is the most senior member of the haul.
After losing Hayden Hurst to the NFL Draft, South Carolina did not sign a tight end with the 2018 class. Plus, there are two seniors on the current roster, so Toney may not be the only take at the position in 2019.
Profile
March 04, 2018
Rivals bio / 247sports bio
Rivals star ranking
247sports star ranking
View attachment 302 Video Highlights & Profile
On Sunday afternoon, about 24 hours after landing his offer, tight end KeShawn Toney 6'4" 237lbs announced his pledge to the 2019 South Carolina recruiting class.
The Gamecocks offered Toney while he was on campus Saturday with his mom and dad. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound prospect from Williston-Elko (S.C.) High School committed on the spot.
“We broke down the schools and we said that if South Carolina comes, that’s going to be the top choice. … And then, when they offered, me and my dad, we were just talking and we were like, we don’t need to wait, wait on them,” Toney said.
Three other schools have offered: Charlotte, Georgia State and South Carolina State. Appalachian State, Furman, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and North Carolina State have also expressed interest.
Toney has caught 107 passes for 1,571 yards with 11 touchdowns during his high school career. As a junior, he had 35 receptions for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns, to go along with 39 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 fumble recoveries, 4 sacks, 2 defensive touchdowns and a fumble recovery.
How the commitment happened
On Saturday, Toney was making his way through the weight room when he, his parents and tight ends coach Pat Washington were pulled aside from the tour group, to visit in coach Will Muschamp’s office.
That’s when news of the offer was delivered.
“It was good, because that’s the offer I was waiting on. I always wanted to play at South Carolina, since I was growing up, so that was big,” Toney said. “When [Muschamp] offered me, I already knew that I was going there. That’s what me and my family have really been waiting on. It came and I’m just happy that it got here.”
Why South Carolina
Toney grew up in a family full of Gamecock fans and South Carolina is his “dream school,” so there was no sense in delaying the decision, just for the sake of seeing who else might offer. His father encouraged him to jump on board and not run the risk of missing out on the opportunity to commit.
“That’s what I grew up into. It’s what I was born into. I was really born into a South Carolina family,” Toney said. “Everybody in my family is South Carolina fans. They just instilled it in me.
“Then I always go to the games, I just see them running out and I see the atmosphere of the fans and everything. What really, really — when I knew I had to get to South Carolina was this past season, when they played Clemson. Before the game, it was just crazy. I was like, I’ve got to be here.”
Family ties aside, there’s also a level of intrigue in the way South Carolina has utilized its tight ends over the last couple of seasons.
“I like it, because they use their tight ends in a bunch of different ways,” Toney said. “I’m like a hybrid tight end, so I can do a whole lot of things and they use them for a whole lot of things and I just like the way they shift around and the way run things, then coach Washington, he gives a good, at-home-feel.”
The Gamecocks 2019 class
South Carolina’s 2019 class includes six other commitments, two of whom are from the state: 4-star wide receiver Jamario Holley (Rock Hill-Northwestern) and 3-star defensive end Devontae Davis, a junior college prospect who went to Silver Bluff High School.
The Gamecocks have three other commitments for the offensive side of the ball, all of whom are linemen: 4-star tackle Mark Fox Jr. (Miami), 3-star center Vincent Murphy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and 3-star tackle Jaylen Nichols (Charlotte, N.C.).
Three-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten (Atlanta) is the most senior member of the haul.
After losing Hayden Hurst to the NFL Draft, South Carolina did not sign a tight end with the 2018 class. Plus, there are two seniors on the current roster, so Toney may not be the only take at the position in 2019.
Profile
- Jersey #: 5
- Positions: TE, WR
- Height & Weight: 6'4" 235lbs
- 40 Yard Dash: 4.79
- Shuttle: 4.35
- Class of: 2019
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