USC flips McClain
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Defensive end was a big priority for the South Carolina football staff in the 2014 cycle and the position received a boost early on signing day morning when Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood three-star Blake McClain flipped from Nebraska to South Carolina. McClain will sign with the Gamecocks on Wednesday morning, finalizing a decision that he reached on Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder was originally committed to Florida State but opened things up again at the end of January after grayshirt discussions with the Seminole staff. It appeared at one time that the Sunshine State product would take his recruiting process past Feb. 5, as visits to Nebraska and South Carolina looked likely. Area recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. visited with McClain in Jacksonville shortly after his decommitment from Florida State.
McClain followed through with his official visit to Lincoln, and somewhat surprisingly made a verbal commitment to the Cornhuskers without making a final trip to Columbia first. He told HuskerOnline.com that he was finished with the process and would be inking with Nebraska on signing day, but neither McClain nor his father would verify that information for GamecockCentral.com.
The first inkling that McClain was still thinking things over came on Monday, when GamecockCentral.com reported that sources believed the door was still open for South Carolina. On Tuesday night, GamecockCentral.com reported that USC was clearly still in it from McClain and later that night, that USC was in good position heading into signing day even without an official visit to Columbia.
McClain is set to sign with South Carolina between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. "It's a done deal," said Sandalwood High head coach Adam Geis. "It's hard to pass up an opportunity to play for Steve Spurrier. The guy is a legend in this state."
He is ranked by Rivals.com as a high three-star prospect and the number 19 strongside defensive end prospect nationally.