Local athlete impresses at Gamecocks camp

South Carolina was the first Power 5 program to step forward with an offer to in-state athlete AJ Brand. He was in town for the Gamecocks’ seven-on-seven passing camp in Friday, where he stood out playing both ways.

“It was definitely fun yesterday,” the Irmo product said. “There’s still a lot of stuff we have to work on, but overall I think we played good.”

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There are several past notable Gamecocks defensive backs who successfully made the move from high school quarterback to defensive back.

Most recently, another local product in DQ Smith did it, making a significant impact as a freshman despite not playing the defensive back position since eighth grade.

Could Brand be the next?

The 6-foot-2, 183-pounder is on the USC staff’s board as a defensive back, and multiple coaches took in Irmo’s games throughout Friday to watch Brand in action as a quarterback and playing in the secondary.

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“Overall, they were telling me I did a good job,” Brand explained. “They liked watching me play out there and definitely want to see me in action more over the summer and during the season. Whatever feedback they had, I’ll take it in and learn from the situation.”

Brand got some feedback from the Gamecocks’ head coach, too.

“Yesterday was the first time I really got to talk to Coach Beamer. We had a conversation about the situation I was in, how I was playing,” he said.”

A couple other coaches from the staff have been involved in the recruiting process here and have made a positive mark.

Said Brand: “I love the coaching staff. Coach (Jody) Wright, he’s definitely a big part of me having a relationship with South Carolina. He reaches out to me all the time. Coach (Torrian) Gray, I talk to him from time to time. I just love how they make me feel like I’m in the family.”

While Brand has not officially decided to play another spot at the next level, he’s completely open to moving wherever his skill set best fits.

“I haven’t really decided yet, but wherever any college puts me right now, I’ll play,” he said.

Up next for Brand is a trip to Georgia Tech on June 21, then Vanderbilt on June 24. He plans on returning to South Carolina at least one more time this summer.

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