Class of 2018 Cane Bay safety RJ Roderick did not plan on committing to the South Carolina Gamecocks while in Columbia on Saturday for the Will Muschamp Football Camp — offers were still rolling in and he had several more camps to attend throughout the summer. He also wanted to visit the campuses of some of his newer suitors.
So when Roderick told Muschamp and defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson shortly after camp ended that he had decided to become a Gamecock, they stood up and cheered in the middle of their meeting. The two were instrumental in landing the burgeoning in-state prospect.
“The consistency they showed in my recruiting and getting me to Carolina, the confidence they have in my ability and the opportunities I have when I enroll,” were the key messages conveyed by Muschamp and Robinson, said Roderick. “They told me I was a necessity and showed me that day to day.”
Recruited by USC as a safety, Roderick is a versatile athlete and could have played about anywhere at the next level, though he said that did not factor too much into his final decision.
“Everywhere was a different position. I’ve had offers to play quarterback, wide receiver, running back, safety, outside linebacker and corner. I had no preference, my biggest priority and reasoning was the education and my level of comfort. I have both at Carolina and that’s what separated them from the rest.”
As of now, Roderick has cleared his summer plans apart from a possible return trip to Columbia for another camp. He plans to graduate early and enroll at South Carolina next January.
“I’m just looking forward to the family feel, the hard work, the education and putting on for my hometown!”
I think it’s safe to say Gamecock fans will be looking forward to his arrival as well.