re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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Alfano
Eboigbe
Young
Ingraham
Dale
Sopsher
Ika

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Hank South is sticking with his CBs for Sopsher and Ika to Alabama.

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The first scholarship offer is often one college football prospects is said to be the toughest to attain and hardest to forget.

For Jah-Marien Latham, it came from an SEC program before the end of his junior season Tuesday as South Carolina broke the ice despite several additional programs interested in the two-way Reform (Ala.) Pickens County lineman.

"It was a pretty good day," he told 247Sports. "I got inducted into the Beta Club this morning, so it started off pretty good. You have to have an 85 overall average in all your core classes for that.

"Later I called coach (Lance) Thompson, he told me they were going to offer me. Then the head coach (Will Muschamp) was telling me that I had the offer. I'm excited, I've been working all summer and have been telling everybody I was going to get an offer...I couldn't do nothing but smile."

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound standout helped Pickens County make a state championship game appearance in 2017 playing on both the offensive and defensive line. Muschamp and company like him as a prospect on either side according to the newest Gamecock target.

"They asked me what position I wanted to play, because I have both OL and DL film, and I told him defensive line," Latham said. "I prefer defensive line but will play either one. I'm going to visit in a few weeks, November 17, for their next game. I want to see how they prepare for a game, what the coaches are like and what type of energy they have."

The remainder of the USC knowledge the class of 2020 recruit has came from the phone conversation Tuesday.

"I've heard about the program but hadn't done a lot of research until today," he said. "The coaches have been showing a lot of interest and support, so I like that. I've also seen a lot of their football videos on Youtube, so I like where they're going. The coaches told me about the program and asked me what I wanted to major in. I told them I wanted to study business and they said they have a great program there."

Latham reports interest from Tennessee and Memphis while having already taken unofficial visits to UAB and Tulane for games this season. In addition to South Carolina, a game day trip to Memphis could be next up.

The closest program to home happens to be the defending national champions and he has been on campus for a game there, too.

"I'm right down the road, about 30 minutes," he said of Alabama. "I talked to coach (Mike) Locksley some but we had to go. I really like it over there and it's close to home.I follow Da'Ron Payne and Raekwon Davis closely...

"On the D-line, you can be as physical as you want to be. I can do whatever I want to do. I like to be physical, kind of mean. I like the interior."

Beyond location, Latham has a strong connection to the Crimson Tide nearly daily.

"My coach, Michael Williams, played at Alabama," he said. "He just shows me what he did to get to the next level, so it will help me in the long run. I really take it into consideration. We spend a lot of time in the gym together so we can work on what I need to improve on or get better at.

"I played guard when I first came up and then I moved to tackle."

Williams has helped Latham work on each side of the football to where he could be an FBS target in multiple spots.

"I think how physical I am on the defensive line, how I use my hands and my get-off off the line," he said of why schools are interested on defense. "Just being physical on offense. My coach always tells me I have a good kick-slide, so that's probably what they look at, too."

5-3 under the first-year coach, Pickens County hosts Fayette (Ala.) Hubbertville on Friday night.

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Barmore

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