Freshman Rosendo Louis just what Gamecocks need at linebacker
If you hear reports of someone flying around South Carolina's spring practices hitting everything that moves, it's probably just freshman linebacker Rosendo Louis.
That's no surprise to his coach.
When Coleman Hutzler first scouted Louis in person, the Gamecocks' special teams and linebackers coach saw exactly what he was looking to add to the Carolina roster.
"I saw a 240-pound grown man run around and hit everything that moves," Hutzler said last week of the then rising senior at Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High. "That’s what you need at linebacker."
From that point forward, Louis became a priority target for Will Muschamp's defensive staff.
Louis would commit to Florida State only to flip his pledge to the Gamecocks on the first day of the early signing period after the coaching change in Tallahassee.
"He was an impressive kid on tape," Hutzler continued. "When we went to his practice, (offensive line coach Eric Wolford) and I, we sat there at practice and said, ‘Wow.’ He was a really impressive kid with how he worked, how he hit, how he ran and how he went about his business, coming from a great program."
Louis is now in South Carolina's program as an early enrollee trying to learn the ropes during his first spring practice.
"He’s done a great job," Hutzler said. "He’s learning how to practice. He’s learning how to do all the little things and have urgency about it. He’s a physical kid. We’re excited about him."
Listed as 6-foot-2, 242-pounds by South Carolina, Louis is already working with the second team defense as a MIKE linebacker where he's getting "a bunch of reps" behind team leader T.J. Brunson -- a clear sign that he's likely to avoid a redshrt as a freshman.
“I’m trying to give Rosendo as much as I can just to saturate him in all the reps,” Hutzler said. "It's a great opportunity for him to come in and get a bunch of reps and learn how we do our business, how we practice, how we compete, how we meet. How we do everything, so it's awesome."