Commitment Breakdown: DB Shilo Sanders, son of Deion, commits to Gamecocks
THE SITUATION
South Carolina added one of the final pieces to its 2019 recruiting class on Tuesday night when three-star Texas defensive back Shilo Sanders announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. The announcement comes after a few months of courting, with the Gamecocks beating out schools like Colorado State and Florida State for his services. Sanders officially visited both the Rams and the Gamecocks prior to the winter dead period, but was back in Columbia for an unofficial visits this past weekend, and that appears to have sealed the deal.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina was one of the first major programs to jump into the mix with an offer for Sanders after he started to blow up during the fall, and that early interest paid off in the form of his commitment. Sanders obviously comes from a family known for its football acumen and from a publicity standpoint, adding the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders is only a good thing. On the field, Sanders is a long, rangy prospect who could play cornerback or safety at the next level. He's also a dangerous return man and has impressive ball skills from his younger days as a quarterback. Adding Sanders late in the game is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move by South Carolina.
WHY IT HURTS FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT MISSED
Sanders added a number of major offers over the past six months, most notably his father's alma mater, Florida State. But while the Noles entered the mix, they never really pushed for Sanders, so at this point seeing him go elsewhere isn't a major shock. However, from a perception standpoint, a number of Florida State fans would have probably liked to see him in Tallahassee. Colorado State is the real loser here, as the Rams have been consistent in their pursuit of Sanders and were the only other school to host him for an official visit. However, the lure of a Power Five school and the SEC was too much for the Rams to overcome.