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While Frank Martin got some good news from a four-star recruit, Will Muschamp received some not-so-good news from one of his commitments. After stating that he was still in the fold with the Gamecocks as recently as Thursday, Kinlaw reopened his recruitment, making the announcement on Twitter.
— Javon Kinlaw (@9_thegreat) November 15, 2016
What happened? Kinlaw has a close relationship with Maryland assistant Aazzar Abdul-Rahim, who joined D.J. Durkin’s staff in the offseason after two years at Alabama. Although the Terps offered Kinlaw back in January, they have made him a priority in the next recruiting cycle.
Kinlaw did take some time to speak with Phil Kornblut over at Sportstalk last night about his decision.
It’s the same thing with certain people just making me feel like I owe coach Muschamp and them something, I owe South Carolina something. Just a lot of people driving me away, making me feel like they own my life or something. People back home. I didn’t really feel bothered by it until I told coach Muschamp how I felt about it and he just talked to me the way he did.
I understand that the recruitment process is an emotional time, but accusing a coach of “rubbing it in (your) face” after decommitting, especially after saying just a few days earlier that you weren’t changing your mind, is a bad look. Of course, I don’t know what exactly was said between Muschamp and Kinlaw last night, but I can understand Muschamp’s frustration. This is probably a case of a recruit saying too much when he should have said nothing at all.
What’s next?
I doubt that Javon Kinlaw will be a Gamecock when it’s all said and done, and if they don’t continue to pursue him after his comments last night, and especially after he vowed to remain a commit not even a week prior, it wouldn’t be a shock. Maryland or Alabama is where I think he’ll end up - we should know rather soon.
Calbert to announce tomorrow
247Sports reports that OL K’Rojhn Calbert will announce his decision tomorrow at 1pm. Calbert took an official visit to South Carolina for the Tennessee game on the 29th, just three days after the Vols offered him. After his numerous visits to Rocky Top this year over other schools, I think Tennessee will be the one to get his services.