South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, after signing the nation's No. 1-rated college football prospect on Monday, said program expectations would rise because of it.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney of Rock Hill, S.C., announced live on ESPN that he had chosen South Carolina over his other two finalists, Clemson and Alabama. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder waited until 12 days after signing day because Monday was his 18th birthday.
At a news conference later in the day, Spurrier was surrounded by his assistant coaches who were involved in the successful recruitment of Clowney. It capped a historic stretch for Spurrier and the Gamecocks who won the SEC East championship for the first time.
"This is a big day for us. … Signing players like Jadeveon ups our expectations," Spurrier said. "That's what we want to do. We want to rise around here and achieve the SEC Championship in years to come. I think it's the first time South Carolina has signed the [nation's No. 1 recruit]. … Our players are excited."
It was the second consecutive year that Spurrier had fended off other schools to secure South Carolina's top-rated prospect. Last February, the Gamecocks beat out Auburn for Byrnes High tailback Marcus Lattimore, who had an instant impact on last season's SEC championship run.
"[Keeping the state's top player] is good for us," Spurrier said. "Winning the East and getting a player like Jadeveon who could have gone to Alabama, Florida, Ohio Sate -- any of the glamour schools -- but he chose to come to us. He was there the day we beat Alabama. I remember telling him we can win big here, and he believes we can win big here. That was something important to him. Hopefully that process is heading in the right direction as we go here."
Clowney said he signed with South Carolina because it was close to home and presented the opportunity to play football in the SEC with some of his former teammates from South Pointe High School. Clowney had 32.5 sacks and seven defensive touchdowns as a senior.
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