Class of 2011 ESPNU150 Watch List offensive lineman
Shaq Anthony (Piedmont, S.C./Wren) got his first up-close look at South Carolina football on Saturday and came away impressed with what he saw. He spoke with TheBigSpur.com following his visit, talked about where things stand with the Gamecocks and other aspects of the early stages of his recruitment.
"It was a good visit," Anthony said. "The hurdle Stephen Garcia made where he jumped for the first down was amazing. The kickoff return by Chris Culliver where he went to one side of the field and then came back to the other and made a bunch of people miss was another very good play.
“I actually just got off the phone with (USC offensive line coach/running game coordinator Eric Wolford). I was telling him I had a good time and I enjoyed it. I had never been to a game there and seen the fans cheering and overall it was a very good trip. I really enjoyed it.”
During his visit, Wolford took him to meet with Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier.
"I was glad that I got a chance to talk with coach Spurrier and coach Wolford,” Anthony said. “Coach Spurrier was just asking about my family and that they really need me at South Carolina. He said they were not at their best right now but in a few years they will reach their peak. He was saying that the SEC is where it is at. He said that recruiting is the key right now for them and they need some lineman. He is really nice and a smart coach. He is a good guy. He was really upbeat and talked to me about how they were an up and coming team. He also told me how right now South Carolina is not at their peak but they are going to get there in a few years. We talked about them beating Kentucky we agreed that to get a win in the SEC is something big regardless of who the opponent is."
Anthony also praised Wolford.
"Coach Wolford is one of my favorite coaches,” he said. “He really worries about you. He is a aggressive as a coach and is not afraid to say what he is thinking. He told me face to face to watch the offensive line because they are not at their best right now and just see what I think. I thought Garcia had time to throw most of the time. He is aggressive and he is a real coach that is not afraid to speak his mind. He will work you to death and will get in your face but at the end of the day you can go talk to him because he is like a father figure. Outside of football he is a family man and he is one my favorite coaches that I get to speak with."
Anthony got the opportunity to get an up-close look at the Gamecocks’ offensive line, which had an up and down day, but finished strong.
“A lot of people South Carolina fans watch their line and there is a lot of criticism of the way they played,” he said. “But they didn’t really do a bad job. They are not the best offensive line they can be but they are so much better from last year. I know Coach Wolford is going to push them to the limit and make them better every day. They have so much potential and they have gotten better since the beginning of the season and they are getting better every game.”
While Wren is in defensive line coach Brad Lawing’s territory, Wolford is personally recruiting Anthony.
“It’s important to establish a relationship with the coaches whether I go to their school or not,” he said/ You want to know how people feel and how people act and see how they are outside of the football field.”
Anthony also got the opportunity to spend time with Carolina running back Brian Maddox, who played at T.L. Hanna in nearby Anderson.
“My family and his family are close,” Anthony said. “He was just telling me that South Carolina was the place to be. I also met Garcia and he said he was happy to finally meet me."
Anthony plans on coming back for the Florida and Clemson games and wants to make a decision at the end of the forthcoming summer.
"Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia are my top three schools and everybody is even right now," he said. “I’m planning on going to the Clemson/Florida State game. I also plan to be at the South Carolina/Florida and then the South Carolina/Clemson game. Georgia plays Auburn at home later in the season but I am not sure when it is, if it’s possible I will go to that game also South Carolina is still on the same level as Clemson and Georgia. I’m not going to narrow it down until I have a better view. I didn’t get a chance to see the whole campus yesterday so there is still a lot I want to see. I’m going to take all my official visits and then make a decision. I had thought about committing before my senior season but I am a man of my word and I want to see everything and meet everybody to know exactly where I am going so I can make a good decision.”
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