St. Germain talks commitment

McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) K Nick St. Germain discusses his commitment to South Carolina.

Monday afternoon South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier lamented the overall play of his kickers this season.

Wednesday afternoon the Gamecocks went out and got a new kicker.

On an in-home visit special teams coach John Butler offered McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) K Nick St. Germain a scholarship, and the talented kicker committed on the spot.

The big-legged kicker, who averaged 68 yards per kickoff this season, will likely immediately compete for playing time as a kickoff specialist and place kicker.

Butler and recruiter of record G.A. Mangus had recruited St. Germain for some time and the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder just needed the offer to make his intentions official.

"I was just excited to have the opportunity to play for the University of South Carolina," St. Germain said.

"Having players like recruit Darius English and former [McEachern] players Rory Anderson and Marquis Roberts being there [and] having a chance to maybe play as a freshman," he listed as reasons he chose USC. "It just felt like home when I went on unofficial visits to the Florida and Clemson games."

St. Germain developed a great relationship with Mangus during his recruitment.

"Be patient and everything will work out is pretty much what he was telling me," St. Germain said. "Pretty much everything about Coach Mangus is unbelievable."

He also developed a relationship with his future position coach, Butler.

"Same as Coach Mangus, they're just unbelievable people. Being able to interact with them most of the time I was at South Carolina just made the decision a lot easier knowing it was people I'm going to be around for the next four years."

St. Germain also watched the Gamecocks very closely this season.

"Outstanding knowing that the program is on the rise and hopefully we'll have a chance at an SEC Championship and hopefully even a national title, and I think that everything's just going to get better from here."

St. Germain, who is primarily currently a place kicker and kickoff specialist will also work on his punting before enrolling.

He chose the Gamecocks over offers from Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee State, South Alabama and Georgia Southern.

St. Germain will take his official visit to South Carolina Jan. 13.

"I'm pretty much going to give everything I have, everything I got," he says. "I'm going into the season with no regrets. Pretty much, I'm going to train as hard as I possibly can if not harder than what I'm already doing and give it my all. I pretty much know what the expectations are and what fans want in a kicker."