In-state recruit reacts to South Carolina offer after Shane Beamer camp

During one of his first live reps at a position he doesn’t play, Jaquel Holman dropped back into coverage, tracked the ball and leapt to hit it before the receiver could put on an inch of skin on the leather.

Standing in the end zone about 25 feet away, Shane Beamer placed his hands on his knees and turned his head toward Holman’s Blackville-Hilda High School coach, Kevin Jones. Beamer pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. The non-verbal way of saying “Wow”.

“I can’t teach size and speed,” Jones said.

“No, you can’t,” Beamer agreed.

A few hours later, in South Carolina’s recruiting lounge, Beamer officially offered the 6-foot-1, 200-pound three-star athlete.

Sitting shotgun as Jones drove him back to Blackville, Holman was still trying to process the news.

“I’m so happy right now, it’s hard to think about what I did at camp,” he said. “I watched this team since I was little and dreamed of playing for Williams-Brice. Now I have the chance. It’s a dream come true.

Holman admitted he had choices and a difficult decision to make, adding that he would likely commit to a college in July before the start of his final high school season.

Pittsburgh offered him as a running back, and Holman admitted he’ll likely take an official visit there next week.

Clemson is also in the mix. Holman has spoken with Tigers defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, but Clemson has yet to offer.

“Clemson hasn’t shown as much interest as Carolina,” he said. “I think they were interested because of Carolina. It’s one of those things like, “Okay, so Carolina wants this?” Let me watch it too. »

After Friday, South Carolina definitely wants him.

The Gamecocks have shown interest in recent months, but things heated up after Holman won the SC High School League 1A championship in the 100 (10.81), 200 (21.98) and 4×100 (41 .90).

At USC camp Friday, Holman ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash that impressed South Carolina coaches.

Defensive coordinator Clayton White coached Holman individually for about a half hour, focusing primarily on coverage drills.

“He wanted to see me go back and see if I could develop as a DB,” Holman said. “They go back and forth because they don’t know how my body is going to (develop).”

The Gamecocks, Holman said, believe he could eventually stay at linebacker if he jumps up to 225 or 230 pounds, but also could move to safety if he settles in around 210 pounds. There’s also a chance they’ll let him try to become a running back (he had 26 touchdowns and averaged over 10 yards per carry as a junior).

“I can play running back in college,” Holman said. “It’s a bit of a 50-50 at the moment (which position I prefer).”

For now, though, he still needs time to tell his parents that their favorite school, the college an hour away, the one they’ve always supported, wants Holman to play for them.

“(My family are) Carolina fans, but they’re not going to push me in one direction,” Holman said. “I know they would love to see me go to Carolina because I grew up watching Carolina.”