Chauncey Rivers Decides on South Carolina

Apr 14, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA South Carolina Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward works with his team before the start of the Garnet and Black spring game at Williams Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina’s 2015 recruiting class is starting to take shape quite nicely.  Three out of the four commits that have currently pledged to the Gamecocks are defensive lineman.  Chauncey Rivers is the third, and possibly final defensive line commitment that the Gamecocks will take for the 2015 class.

Rivers, Stone Mountain, Ga., is currently rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the 9th best weakside defensive end in the 2015 class.  The 6-foot-2, 238-pound defensive end has been recruited by over a dozen top-tier college programs including:  Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, NC State and plenty more.

For most South Carolina fans, this commitment comes as a slight surprise.  Not because the Gamecocks are incapable of landing high-quality talent, but most signs did not point to South Carolina pursuing Rivers.  However, while visiting South Carolina, Rivers decided that the Gamecocks were a perfect fit for him.

“I took a tour around the weight room, the athletic facilities, the locker room,” Rivers said. “I got to see everything. It’s a great place to be.”

Rivers also had much to say about defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward.  “I decided to end it because I really have a great relationship with coach Ward.  He’s a great person. He’s always honest. He tells you the truth and I really wanted to hear what he had to tell me. I think it was a great commit because we have a great relationship.”

Although coach Lorenzo Ward’s relationship with Rivers was key, He (Rivers) made it very clear that he brings much to the table for the Gamecocks.  “I bring speed, I bring strength, everything possible. I just want to be a leader.  Some of my goals, I want to have 25 sacks and lead my team to a state championship.”

With Rivers commitment, the Gamecocks have possibly the best defensive line class in 2015, and they have surpassed Tennessee and Alabama for the second ranked recruiting class overall.