South Carolina Gamecocks football has picked up a commitment from three-star Concord N.C., linebacker Derek Boykins.

He's part of a big group of prospects visiting USC this weekend. He is the No. 480 player nationally in the 247 Composite rankings, 30th among outside linebackers and 17th in the state of North Carolina. He chose USC over offers from Clemson, Texas, A&M, Louisville, Duke, Michigan, Tennessee, NC State, North Carolina, Kentucky and others.

"Once we got to Coach Muschamp's house, I was like, yeah, I'm fixing to do it," Boykins said. "I didn't really have no relationship like that with no other head coach. When we were going to Clemson I only talked to Dabo (Swinney) one time. Tennessee, talked to Coach Pruitt like twice. But like Muschamp, it was really every day."

Click to resize

Boykins said he first told linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler of his commitment and then they went to Muschamp.

"He said it was about time," Boykins said. "I feel good. I feel like this was what it was supposed to be all along. They are really looking at my versatility. I'm not a 240 (pound) linebacker and I'm not a 200 pound linebacker. I just weighed in at 225. I can still move. I can still run. He said I can play all over. I can play Sam. I can play Will. Mike. I can play the Dime. They mainly look at me for the Dime right now."

Boykins lived in Beaufort until the age of 6 and has said he grew up a Gamecock fan.



