Urich enjoys junior day visit

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Class of 2017 Piedmont (S.C.) Wren standout Jay Urich is an emerging prospect to watch in the Palmetto State and the 6-foot-3, 186-pounder got an in-depth look at South Carolina on Saturday.

"For me it was really about all the relationships with the coaches," Urich said of the Gamecocks' junior day. "I really liked that I got to spend some time with coach (G.A.) Mangus, coach (Shawn) Elliott and coach (Steve) Spurrier Jr. They were all really nice, just genuine people that were fun to hang around and everything."

Elliott is Urich's official recruiter of record while Mangus handles quarterback recruiting for the Gamecocks, so both coaches have been involved.

"He was cool," Urich said of Mangus. "He's a really cool guy. Even in that short time I really learned a lot from him. We talked at the baseball game too and he walked me to my car. He was just telling me to keep in touch and that he's looking forward to seeing me at camp. And I think Coach Elliott is going to come up for a spring practice. It was really nice to get to know them."

Urich enjoyed sitting down with Mangus in a meeting setting.

"I got to meet with Coach Mangus when the split us up from our parents," Urich said. "He said that I reminded him of Connor Shaw the way I can run and I can throw too. He was saying how important it was for them to have a quarterback that can run the ball and be a threat to the defense."

Urich also met head coach Steve Spurrier on the trip.

"He's a really cool guy," Urich said. "He introduced himself to all the recruits. He was talking about the new stuff that they're building and the new apartments. He's a good guy and when I told him I was from Piedmont he said he loved Piedmont, so that was pretty cool."

Given his close proximity to Clemson growing up, Urich has always paid attention to the Tigers growing up, but admitted that Saturday's visit opened his eyes to the Carolina program.

"Obviously, they had three years in a row with the 11-2 seasons and Coach Spurrier has done a really good job," Urich said. "I grew up in Clemson, so I've always been a little bit of a fan of Clemson, but I've always kept an eye on Carolina and have always watched them and pulled for them when they weren't playing Clemson."

Urich already has an early offer from Mercer and is also hearing from Virginia and Penn State, where he plans to visit on June 20.

Urich believes if he throws well that the Gamecocks' camp this summer then an offer could be headed his way.

What does he want to ultimately find in the program he chooses?

"Coaches are one of my top things. I like establishing a good relationship with coaches," Urich said. "Location is another big thing. I want to be close to family and close to people I know. And academics is another thing. I really want to go into Pharmacy school. So if they have a good Pharmacy program and academics is a big deal to me."