Blue commits
SouthCarolina'scoachingstaffishostingsometopuncommittedseniortargetsforofficialvisitsthisweekend,butafewpriorityunderclassmenwerealsooncampus.
OneofthosewasDillon'sJoeBlue,andheleftcampustodaycommittedtoSouthCarolina.
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The6-foot,235-pounderearnedaquintetofscholarshipoffersalreadyfromAuburn,Florida,GeorgiaTech,VirginiaTech,andtheGamecocks.WhydidhepickUSC?
"Icouldn'tturnitdown.Meandmymomtalkedaboutitandshereallywantstoseemeplay,"Blueexplained."IfIwentfaraway,thenshecouldn't.Theyplayinthebestconferenceinthenationandtheprogramisontherise.".
ThePalmettoStateprospectwasrecruitedtoSouthCarolinabyoffensivelinecoach/co-offensivecoordinatorShawnElliott,whowasthefirstonetofindoutaboutthepledge.
"IwalkeduptoCoachElliottandtoldhimIwantedtobepartofthefamily.Hewasshocked,hedidn'texpectitrightthen.Coach(Kirk)Botkinwalkedupandsaid'welcometothefamily'aswell."
Blueplaysbothrunningbackandlinebackeratthehighschoollevel;wherewillheplayinColumbia?
"Wediscussedit,butwe'restilltalkingaboutitrightnow,"hesaid."Idon'teventhinktheyknowwhereyetI'mgoingtobeplaying."
Withhisdecisionbehindhimveryearly,thejuniorcannowfocusonhisfinalyearofhighschoolbothonandoffofthefieldwhenthetimecomes.
"Icanbreathebetter,"hesaid."IhadsomuchonmymindandnowIcanthinkbetter.IknowwhatI'mdoingwithmyself."
Blueisthefirst2014verbalcommitmentforSouthCarolina.HejoinsfellowDillonteammatesD.J.Park(alreadyoncampus)andBryceKingfromthe2013classasGamecockverbals.FormerWildcatreceiverKwintonSmithisaredshirtfreshmanreceiverinColumbia.
WantmoreinsightonhowlongthispledgehasbeenintheworksandhowBluewillfitinatUSC?Clickhereforourinsidernotesonthesituation(subscribersonly).
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