Gamecocks get commit from Atlanta MLK DE Arden Key 2015

Some say Albert Huggins is next. One of the best DL classes ever?

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Does Mark Richt hate Georgia recruits?

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I dunno. A lot of people had predicted him to go to Georgia. February 2015 is still a long ways off - but I'm glad to have him at the moment, he's a big time player. His video highlights (can be seen on both youtube and also on Scout) are spectacular.

So we get SC's #1 qb to commit and enroll early for 2014, and you get a lineman to commit for 2015, and Spur is "getting it done in Georgia".

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Two years away and you think this might be the best dline class ever

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Arden is a good player, but I have a hard time conceding that a 6'5 200 pound DE makes up a key part of "the greatest DLine class ever"

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Arden is a good player, but I have a hard time conceding that a 6'5 200 pound DE makes up a key part of "the greatest DLine class ever"

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Don't know about the "greatest ever" part - it could end up being USC's best DL class ever, we'll see - but Key is a rising Junior, and he's 6-5, 200. He has a ton of room to develop and grow before he gets to college....

Let's get this straight here. Quit blasting the kid before you know facts that he has two years of HS left... Then his first year in college he will probably redshirt. He will easily gain 30 pounds before then and have a solid frame to build around... Hell, Devin Taylor was 200 pounds coming out of hs and was a 2 star recruit. Now he is 265 manchild..

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So we get SC's #1 qb to commit and enroll early for 2014, and you get a lineman to commit for 2015, and Spur is "getting it done in Georgia".

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Yeah, you're probably right. We're not doing too good down in Georgia right now and, as you note, y'all did get that QB kid out of SC that we never offered and all.

BTW, Tennessee got the #1 QB commit out of SC a couple of years ago, kid named Justin Worley, that we never offered either. How's that working-out for them? Nevermind. I'm sure Worley fits UT's system just fine and whatshisname will fit UGA's system just fine. I'm incredibly happy for both of y'all's programs - giddy even.



In the meantime, this skinny kid was not very highly sought-after, so his commitment is no big deal to anyone other that we Gamecock fans. You know how delusional we are.

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"I did it early so that I can start building relationships, it was the best fit for me and is close to home. It's only like three hours away."

The academic support system in Columbia was a big factor for the standout from Lithonia, Ga.

"There is something about the academics. You just have to try to do the work," he said. "They lead the SEC in academics."

Bonds with the USC coaching staff that were previously formed played another role in the early pledge.

"The D-line coach (Deke Adams), we had a good relationship from when he was at North Carolina," Key said. "Of all the coaches, coach Ward is the one I have the best relationship with."

The biggest reason for the commitment, however was Key's friendship with a pair of current Gamecock commitments.

"The biggest factor was Bryson (Allen-Williams) and DJ Neal," he said. "We have been playing together since rec ball and then middle school and split off in high school. We always said we would go to the same college."

Key said it would take "something crazy" to pull him away from his commitment to USC. He does plan on seeing some other schools on visits before February 2015.

"I promised Tennessee I would visit there. I want to go back to Florida," he said. "I want to go to LSU but I haven't talked to them. I will take officials to Oregon and South Carolina, that's about it."

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"They lead the SEC in academics."

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Oh my god, that kid was LIED to