Dec. 22, 2015
The University of South Carolina football program has announced that high school seniors C.J. Freeman and Brandon McIlwain have officially signed financial aid agreements and will enroll in January. They join junior college transfer cornerback Jamarcus King as mid-year signees.
C.J. Freeman, Running Back
5-11, 196, Greensboro, N.C. (Northern Guilford)
Running back who will graduate from Northern Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C. in December… played for head coach Johnny Roscoe… rushed for 2,091 yards and 23 touchdowns for Northern Guilford in his senior season, averaging more than seven yards per carry and nearly 150 yards per game… in four playoff games, he averaged 265 rushing yards… the Nighthawks went 10-5 and reached the state 3AA semifinals… rated a three-star prospect and the 15th-best all-purpose back in the country by Rivals… considered a three-star prospect and the No. 31 running back in the nation by 247Sports Composite… ESPN gave him a four-star rating and considered him the No. 31 running back in the country… also visited Wisconsin and Louisville.
Brandon McIlwain, Quarterback
6-0, 198, Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North)
Two-sport standout who also plays baseball… will graduate from Council Rock North High School in Newtown, Pa. in December… threw for 1,720 yards and 17 touchdowns on 147-of-252 passing and rushed for 1,545 yards and 30 touchdowns on 227 carries as a senior, helping his team to the conference title and a 7-4 mark overall… as a defensive back, he collected 62 tackles and two interceptions, returning one for a score for the Indians in Class AAAA… played for head coach Adam Collachi… during his junior season in 2014 he threw for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,100 yards and 20 scores… named an Elite 11 quarterback after his summertime performance at The Opening national event… awarded Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Pennsylvania… considered a four-star prospect… 247Sports ranks his as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country and No. 153 overall… Rivals considers him a four-star prospect, the eighth-best player in Pennsylvania and the 14th-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation… will also play baseball for Chad Holbrook at South Carolina… on the diamond, he hit .429 with five homers and 23 RBI and logged a 7-3 record and 1.26 ERA on the mound with 42 strikeouts and 13 walks… was a Perfect Game All-American… considered him to be a potential first round pick in the MLB Draft… owns a 3.99 GPA with plans to be a political science major… hopes to obtain a joint MBA/JD degree… father, Roddy, was born in Columbia and is a USC graduate… grandmother lives in Irmo… had over 20 Division I offers.
