GAFFNEY- South Carolina landed one of its top targets Tuesday evening when class of 2014 four-star wide receiver Shaq Davidson (Gaffney/Gaffney) committed to the Gamecocks during a ceremony at Gaffney High School.

Shaq Davidson talks South Carolina commitment

"It feels great to get it off my chest," Davidson said. "Now I can really focus on the season coming up and more on school work."

Davidson, who is ranked the No. 6 wide receiver in the country by 247Sports, first named the Gamecocks as his leader 10 months ago when he visited for the Gamecocks' home-opening win over ECU, and the 6-foot, 170-pound prospect never wavered from that.

"Ever since my tenth grade year, I tore my ACL and I had to have surgery, and I felt like they were the ones that were there the whole time, recruiting me the hardest. They were loving and caring and very welcoming and I just felt like that was the place for me to go."

Davidson chose the Gamecocks over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Wake Forest.

"Last week, me and my mom sat down and talked about it," Davidson said. "And I told her how I was feeling, that I was pushing towards them a lot over everyone else. She told me that whatever decision I made, she would be right behind me 100 percent.

Davidson, who had Auburn has his No. 2 team, was recruited to the Gamecocks by offensive line coach Shawn Elliott and wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr.

"I have a very tight relationship with (Elliott) and Coach Spurrier Jr. as well," Davidson said.

Davidson informed the South Carolina coaches of his decision last Wednesday or Thursday.

"He said they were going crazy, jumping out of their shoes and they would love for me to be a Gamecock," Davidson said.

With a rating of 96, Davidson is considered the top prospect in his class in South Carolina and the No. 59 overall prospect in the country.

"So far we've just talked about me on one end and Shaq Roland on the other end," Davidson said. "He said we'll talk more about that when I come down at the end of this month."

In the industry-generated 247Composite, Davidson carries a rating of .9541 and is ranked the No. 3 prospect in South Carolina, the No. 9 receiver in the country and the No. 83 overall prospect in the country.

Davidson is the No. 9 commitment to the Gamecocks' 2014 football class. Davidson said he may now turn his attention to helping the Gamecocks recruit other prospects to Columbia.

"If that's what they need me to do, I'll do that," Davidson said smiling.

Class of 2014 shooting guard L.J. Peak (Gaffney/Gaffney) chose Georgetown at the same ceremony after first putting on a South Carolina hat.

Insider Notes on Shaq Davidson

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