South Carolina has picked up its ninth verbal commitment of the 2013 recruiting class today.

Lithonia (Ga.) linebacker David Johnson pleged to his longtime leader on on Thursday. Auburn, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, NC State, Pittsburgh, and Vanderbilt also offered.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder told GamecockCentral.com that USC was the best fit for him.

"I really like the Gamecocks and I want to win," he said. "I see I fit their scheme very well and I feel at home."

Johnson was recruited to the Gamecocks by defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward, who landed OL Joe Harris from the school in the 2012 cycle and LB Cedrick Cooper in 2011.

"Coach Ward recruited me very well and really broke down how he would use me in the system," Johnson said.

The Peach State native was last on campus in Columbia during the spring. The USC staff plans on utilizing him similar to how Melvin Ingram was in Columbia, as a hybrid defensive lineman.

For more insight on the pickup of Johnson and notes on where USC's defensive end recruiting will go from here, visit The Insiders Forum, our premium forum to access this batch of notes:

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