South Carolina football: Michael Trigg sets announcement date

The South Carolina football staff is trying to land a commitment from one of the nation’s top TE.

Back in August, four-star tight end Michael Trigg reduced his list of possible landing spots to just three schools. Those finalists were LSU, South Carolina, and Southern California.

https://twitter.com/mtrigg_23/status/1291465101745192960

This weekend, it appears as though Trigg will reveal his school of choice, with plans to announce his commitment with his family in Tampa.

https://twitter.com/mtrigg_23/status/1310314853614133248

Will Muschamp and Co. have been on Trigg for a while, and the staff still communicates with the 6-foot-4 pass catcher on a daily basis. His primary recruiter has been South Carolina tight ends coach Bobby Bentley.

The most recent buzz surrounding his commitment seems to involve Southern Cal, whom Trigg visited this past weekend. Following his visit, Trigg received eight crystal ball predictions to the Trojans. He’s also taken a trip to Baton Rouge to see the Tigers in recent weeks. The Gamecocks haven’t gotten the tight end on campus since before the COVID pandemic began.

Still, South Carolina can hold out hope. They, too, have received a couple of crystal ball predictions, accounting for two of the ten total expert guesses.

247Sports has Trigg rated as the fourth-best tight end prospect in the nation, as well as the country’s 127th best player, regardless of position. He’s considered the 21st best prospect in the Sunshine State.

Trigg is also a highly touted basketball player, with offers from programs like Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, and Florida State. Should he end up in Columbia, he may have an opportunity to make an impact for Frank Martin on the hardwood, too.

Trigg gained some recent social media notoriety following a viral video of him hauling in a touchdown pass in his last high school matchup.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1313881988017934337

The Gamecocks could certainly use those pass catching abilities on a roster that’s lacking playmakers. Trigg has the size and athleticism to be utilized in a similar fashion to former Gamecock greats Jared Cook and Hayden Hurst. He should have the ability to line up on the line of scrimmage or split out wide, creating mismatches for opposing defenses.

Barton Simmons, an analyst for 247Sports, went a bit more in depth on Trigg’s production and potential.

"Tight end projection that is more of a big wide receiver in terms of body type and usage in high school. Underdeveloped frame that has a capacity for transformation. Extremely productive pass catcher against shoddy competition. Natural hands catcher. Good body control and ball skills. Easy athlete that can be dangerous after the catch and has played quarterback in a run-heavy role. Isn’t asked to play in-line but has shown some willingness to block in H-back roles and is active on defense. High end basketball player. Evaluation changes if he’s a wide receiver because separation speed isn’t obvious. Very much a hybrid type that may not fit every offense. We view as a future tight end with significant upside in the right system and with development will be a Power Five impact starter and a mid-round NFL Draft pick."

Stay tuned this weekend for Trigg’s announcement, and follow Garnet and Cocky for the latest in Gamecock recruiting news.