Horn: 'I just feel most comfortable there'
With the new Early Signing Period set to begin on Wednesday, South Carolina received an early surprise Monday night when four-star cornerback Jaycee Horn went ahead and announced a pledge to the Gamecocks.
"Just going up there this weekend really solidified it for me," Horn said. "I got a chance to see where their roster was. They practiced without the seniors this weekend, so I got to see what the roster would be like next year and I think that will give me the best opportunity to play."
Horn, who took an official visit to South Carolina two weekends ago, had originally planned to extend his recruitment into the new year and sign in February. But he'll now lock in his signature with the Gamecocks on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder's commitment is the result of months of consistent pursuit from South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson, who identified Horn early and made him a top target.
"He really just stayed on me," Horn said of Robinson. "Even after I stayed committed to Tennessee, he stayed on me since they offered me. Him and Coach (Bryan) McClendon and Coach Muschamp stayed on me 110 percent. I talked to T-Rob every day. I talked to Muschamp like every two days. I just feel most comfortable there."
Muschamp's consistent recruiting effort, as a head coach, stood out to Horn.
"It just showed how much they wanted me," Horn said. "For Coach Muschamp to come visit me, we talked on the phone probably twice a week. We text every day. He's heavily involved. He's also a DB coach, so I'm going to be involved with him every day at South Carolina, so that's a big thing."
Ranked the No. 19 cornerback in the country by Rivals.com, Horn's recruitment saw a couple of twists along the way.
What at one time appeared to be a two-team race between South Carolina and Alabama saw Tennessee jump in and pass both schools to land Horn this summer.
But with the dismissal of head coach Butch Jones, Horn re-opened his recruitment and ultimately landed with South Carolina on Monday night.
"I visited all of the schools that I was looking at, besides Florida -- they came in too late," Horn said. "Tennessee, Ohio State and Alabama, all those schools I've been to multiple times, so there was no reason for me to wait. So I just committed to sign on the 20th."
Horn will have the opportunity to play early in a Carolina secondary that will lose three senior starters from the 2017 team.
"They told me that's how they plan to use me, play more man [coverage] and have more length on the outside," Horn explained. "They need DBs in this class, because on the roster, they're light on the DB spot. That's their plan to use me."
The Alpharetta (Ga.) standout is considered the No. 180 overall prospect in the 2018 class and No. 23 prospect in Georgia.
