Four-star WR Jonathan Paylor on South Carolina OV: ‘It was amazing from start to finish’

As the recruiting process is winding down, Burlington (N.C.) Cummings four-star WR Jonathan Paylor is taking his final official visits, including spending this weekend at South Carolina.

“It was amazing from start to finish,” Paylor said. “I got down here, first of all, we checked into the hotels, they had everything laid out — excellent, right? So got in there, had everything I needed. So after that, we checked out and got to the lobby. Vibes were excellent. All the guys got here, Mazeo Bennett, Kam Pringle, Dante Reno, just chopping it up, talking. And after that, we headed down to the facility and talked to the coaches.”

Those conversations, which included the chance to spend more time with wide receivers coach Justin Stepp and head coach Shane Beamer, seemed to stand out to the speedy receiver.

“Had a couple of conversations (with) Coach Stepp, which y’all already know about that type of bond,” Paylor said. “We’ve literally had that bond since he offered me. The love is still strong here as usual. I also had a couple of talks with Coach Beamer, (about) having the mentality to come into college football and everything like that, besides even me coming here, just really having the attitude and discipline to be a different man as a student-athlete and the whole shebang. Right now, the vibes have been great.”

[Get news from GamecockCentral via email]

Paylor says the message from the staff was more about the overall program than the on-the-field aspects.

“To know that it would be a family, that they have a family atmosphere,” he said. “The vibes were excellent. Like I said, I had great talks with all the coaches. I haven’t felt one uncomfortable moment since I’ve been here.”

Paylor was hosted this weekend by All-SEC wide receiver Juice Wells

“Man, he gave me the real deal from start to finish,” Paylor said. “He said, all you gotta really do is just go to class, turn your work in on time, make sure you do their workouts, ready to learn, and really just show up. Basically, just up and put in 100 percert effort and everything else will really follow through.”

Of course, Carolina had eight of its committed players on campus this weekend too, meaning Paylor heard recruiting pitches from coaches, players and future Gamecocks.

“Man, those guys really, really put the pedal to the metal in getting me here,” he said. “And I didn’t fold, but overall, it’s that those guys know what they’re talking about, and they know why they’re here.”

While Dante Reno and Kam Pringle have led the way for the class, Paylor said it was fellow wide receiver Mazeo Bennett who made the best pitch.

“It’d have to be Mazeo,” Paylor said. “It’s unexpected. But if you sit down and talk to him, man, he’ll get you the one to commit right then and there.”

Paylor has been eyeing July for a possible decision for some time and says he has a tentative date of July 28, though that is not finalized.

So some key factors in my recruitment right now, (one that is) big for me is family,” Paylor said. “One thing is getting my parents involved with all types of recruitment and all types of anything that goes on with me. That, and really right now, for me, it’s academics. What school can graduate with me the fastest. Like, for me, it’s a big deal in my family to get a college degree. And I’ll be the first.”

Paylor, who says he will announce a Top 5 on Monday, has also taken official visits to N.C. State and North Carolina.

[Garnet Trust: Become an NIL supporter]

According to the On3 Industry Ranking – a weighted average of rankings from all four major recruiting services – Paylor is rated as the No. 189 prospect in the country for the 2024 class.

He is additionally ranked by the metric as the fourth-best prospect in the state of North Carolina and the 29th-best receiver in the country.

[Subscribe to GamecockCentral’s YouTube page]

Discuss South Carolina Gamecocks football on The Insiders Forum!

The post Four-star WR Jonathan Paylor on South Carolina OV: ‘It was amazing from start to finish’ appeared first on On3.