Gamecocks land another from Georgia

Finding under-the-radar prospects in the Peach State appears to be a common theme for the Gamecocks in the class of 2011 and they added another commitment who fits the mold Friday when they landed Peachtree Ridge HS defensive lineman Angelo Watley. Ridgeland HS DE Mason Harris and South Gwinnett three-star LB Edward Muldrow, who USC offered first, are also Gamecock commitments from Georgia.

"I called [and committed] and they were excited," the 6-3, 220-pound Angelo Watley said. "I talked to Coach Beamer. He's been a good coach. It's been good talking to him.

"I was excited. I liked the offer a lot. And my parents were excited."

Watley plays defensive tackle and tight end at Peachtree Ridge and led a defense there that held opponents to 11.7 points a game on the way to a 10-3 season.

Watley says he's been interesting in South Carolina for a long time, and they started showing interest in him with letters and e-mail at the end of his junior season.

South Carolina offered him at the end of the school year.

He visited Columbia about two weeks ago.

"They took me around the campus, and around the athletic facilities and the academic building," he says. "They just told me a lot about the school and the campus.

"I like their facilities and their workout room and their stadium."

The versatile jumbo-athlete says that South Carolina just offered the right place for him.

"I think I'm a good fit there," he says. "I like the academic program and the athletic program. They're like the No. 1 [school] in what I want to major in (business), so that took it to the top also."

Watley says the Carolina coaches told him he could end up helping the team in a number of ways.

"They see how I get off the ball quick and they like that," he says. "They said they can use me in the same position I play [in high school] as a d-tackle. And the tight ends coach he likes me a lot too."

Watley, who describes himself as quick and agile, also had offers from Marshall and Townsend, and is picking up interesting from Clemson, UCLA and Duke.

Watley is the Gamecocks' sixth commitment for the class of 2011. He joins Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, N.C.) WR K.J. Brent, Clarke Central (Athens, Ga.) ATH Martay Mattox and Ridgeland (Rossville, Ga.) DE Mason Harris, First Coast HS (Jacksonville, Fla.) Jared Henry and South Gwinnett HS (Snellville, Ga.) LB Edward Muldrow on that list.