A familiar face is joining the ranks of USC's 2018 recruiting class.
Atlanta product Marlon Character, a former Auburn Tiger, announced today that he's pledged to South Carolina.
"It just felt right. They were on me and stayed in contact with me," Character told GamecockCentral.com. "I could tell they really wanted me. I've always had a place in my heart for them, too."
A one-time Gamecock verbal commitment in the class of 2016, Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson flipped Character's pledge to Auburn while on staff there as defensive coordinator and secondary coach, respectively. When the pair landed at South Carolina in December of 2015, Character made an official visit to Columbia and considered another switch back to USC. Ultimately, the former four-star prospect stuck with his pledge to Auburn.
***Go beyond headlines - Inside the Commitment details how Character selected USC***
Once the decision was made to head to another institution, South Carolina was a natural fit with Muschamp and Robinson, Character said he's eager to get started.
"I'm just real excited to get down there and play for them. I've always had a relationship with both of them. I can tell they've always wanted me and I've always wanted to play for them. I'm ready to get into practice with them and into the game with them."
Character spent the 2016 season at Auburn, redshirting, and projected to compete for playing time this season. He transferred earlier in the year and enrolled at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Provided Character completes the necessary academic work, that will allow him to transfer to South Carolina in December.
