Munroe gets first SEC offer

Miami (Fla.) Coral Reef athlete Malcolm Munroe picked up two more scholarship offers on Sunday, including his first from a Southeastern Conference program.

"I got offers from South Carolina and Middle Tennessee State," he said.

The Gamecocks are the first SEC school to offer and it comes on the heels of in-state rival Clemson extending a scholarship offer last week. The Tigers were the first BCS Conference program to do so. UCF, Indiana, Syracuse, Air Force and Troy also have offered the 6-foot-4, 206-pounder with 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

South Carolina running backs coach and South Florida recruiter Robert Gillespie got word of the offer to Munroe via the Coral Reef coaching staff.

"They talked to my coach on the phone and they told my coach and said they are going to offer me and then sent a text and told me to call and then I called (Gillespie)," Munroe said. "They weren't on me at all until they got the tape. They said they can use me in their 3-4 scheme coming off the edge and dropping back. They said there might be an opportunity for me to get early playing time."

Munroe has interest in South Carolina.

"I watched their spring game on ESPNU and my brother's game (Florida defensive back Dorian Munroe against South Carolina, I was there and it was one of the greatest games I've ever seen (the Gators edged South Carolina 17-16 on a blocked field goal). They seem very disciplined and like they have a good team.

"I love the SEC as a conference," he said. "It's the toughest conference. They have the most competition throughout and players seem to have a good chance of getting to the NFL from the schools in the SEC."

On that note, Munroe feels that a pair of additional SEC schools are close to offering, along with some others.

"Georgia Tech, LSU, Alabama and Louisville are all close," Munroe said.

Munroe also commented on the offer from Middle Tennessee State.

"That offer came by e-mail," he said. "They sent me an e-mail. (Blue Raiders defensive coordinator) Manny Diaz, who used to coach at N.C. State, recruited my brother and they decided to offer me."