Four-star QB Mitch picks South Carolina
[rl]The pressure of the recruiting process admittedly has gotten to Rivals250 quarterback Connor Mitch of Raleigh (N.C.) Wakefield in recent weeks.
But now, he can finally take a deep breath.
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On Tuesday afternoon, the heralded four-star signal caller committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks over LSU. According to Mitch, Alabama, Auburn and North Carolina also were strongly considered.
"I just called [quarterbacks coach G.A.] Mangus about a half hour ago to tell him," Mitch told Rivals.com.
Why South Carolina?
"It's just a place I wanted to be," Mitch said. "It's where I felt comfortable and feel at home. It's everything I want in a college."
Mitch has bonded with Mangus, but the allure of playing for head coach Steve Spurrier also greatly helped South Carolina land him.
"He's won a Heisman and produced a Heisman," Mitch said. "Coach Spurrier is kind of like the second QB coach at South Carolina and that's obviously a great thing."
In 12 games last year, Mitch passed for 3,832 yards and 48 touchdowns. The previous season, he threw for 3,300 yards and 33 touchdowns while leading Wakefield to a 10-3 record.
Mitch's father, Bob Mitch, played quarterback for Syracuse in the early 1970s. His older brother, Ryan Mitch, was a signal caller at Maryland.
Connor Mitch said he has visited South Carolina twice. With each trip, he grew more comfortable with the school, the city and the program.
"The first time, I sort of got a feel for it," Mitch said. "When they offered me, I started falling in love with the school. The second time I went back for the spring game, I knew it was the place for me."
Late last week, Mitch told Rivals.com he was a bit confused because he had so many major programs interested. But on Tuesday, he sounded sure South Carolina was right for him.
"I did a lot of talking with my parents," Mitch said. "We sat down, had heart to hearts and went through stuff. We all figured out that South Carolina is the right place for me to go."
Mitch plans to be an early enrollee.
As for his recruitment, he said it's all over.
"Once I'm committed, I'm committed," Mitch said. "I won't take any other visits. You have no idea how much of a relief it is. All the knots in my back feel like they're going away and I'm stress-free."
Keith Niebuhr can be reached at Keithrivals@yahoo.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.