Jan. 12, 2011

Four new student-athletes who will be on football scholarships began attending classes at the University of South Carolina on Wednesday, it was announced today. The quartet includes junior college transfer Kaleb Broome, prep school transfers Kelcy Quarles and Brison Williams and true freshman Martay Mattox.

Broome, a 6-6, 320-pound offensive lineman, has spent the past two years at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga. He was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s first-team All-America squad. He played offensive guard during his first season at GMC, but moved to right tackle for his sophomore campaign, where he allowed just one sack all season. Broome is a 2009 graduate of Aiken (S.C.) High School where he played for the Hornets and head coach Cary Johnson. He will have three years to play two at South Carolina.

Quarles, a 6-4, 265-pound defensive tackle from Hodges, S.C., originally signed a National Letter of Intent with the Gamecocks in February 2010. After graduating from Greenwood (S.C.) High School he attended Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy in the fall, where was a four-star prospect and considered the nation’s third-best prep school player by Rivals.com. While at Greenwood, he was named to Parade Magazine’s 47th annual All-American High School Football Team. He earned all-state honors, and was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. His father, Buddy Quarles, lettered at South Carolina from 1984-87.

Williams, a 5-10, 200-pound defensive back from Warner Robins, Ga., originally signed with the Gamecocks in February 2010. After graduating from Northside High School he attended Fork Union Military Academy in the fall, where he was considered a four-star prospect and the nation’s sixth-best prep school player by Rivals.com. While at Northside, he was named the 5A Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Middle Georgia and all-state first team accolades. He participated in the GACA North-South All-Star Classic and earned the 2009 Golden Helmet Award.

Mattox, a 6-1, 185-pound athlete, graduated from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. in December 2010. He played quarterback and was also used as a cornerback during his senior campaign. His team went undefeated and earned the region title before losing in the second round of the playoffs. He was named the region’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was considered a three-star prospect, the nation’s 25th-best dual-threat quarterback and the 68th-best player in the state of Georgia by Rivals.com.