SAN ANTONIO – Four-star safety Hamsah Nasirildeen of Concord, N.C., has been committed to South Carolina since August. Florida State has continued to make their presence known in his recruitment over the last four months, but the Gamecocks are looking to hold on through National Signing Day.

THE LATEST

Nasirildeen is set to make his official visit to South Carolina the weekend of Jan. 13 and will be bringing other family members with him, specifically his mother. She traveled with him when Nasirildeen took an official visit to Florida State the weekend of Oct. 28 when the Seminoles played host to Clemson. That visit, and his mother’s impression of Florida State’s program, is a big reason the Seminoles continue to be the only school giving South Carolina a run for the Rivals100 safety’s services.

IN HIS WORDS

“The only other school I communicate with is Florida State. Coach (Jay) Graham went to my high school. I didn’t know him personally (before), but I knew of him. He’s a legend, so it is kind of cool talking to him (now).

“A lot of reason why Florida State is still a big school (in this recruitment) is because that’s the only school my momma visited. She likes Florida State because that’s the only school she’s been to, so I feel if she comes down to South Carolina she will see the same things she saw at (Florida State).

“There’s probably an earlier chance of playing (at South Carolina). They had a much better season than people expected from them and are headed in the right direction.”

RIVALS’ REACTION

The chance to play early at South Carolina obviously resonates with Nasirildeen. Both schools project him in the same role defensively and there does not appear to be a scheme preference for the tall safety. Florida State has made a lot of correct moves here. The Jay Graham connection is a strong one and they obviously made a good impression on his mother during the official visit, but it still appears they have a steep hill to climb to pull off this flip. Though I have not followed Nasirildeen’s recruitment from its genesis, South Carolina sounded to me to be where his heart is.