W
Wes Mitchell
Guest
JOINT EFFORT HERE BY ME AND CHRIS CLARK:
South Carolina added to its 2022 recruiting class once again with the addition of offensive lineman Cason Henry out of Marietta (Georgia) Walton, who committed to Shane Beamer and Co. on Friday night and went public on Saturday afternoon - indeed he was the #WelcomeHome that Beamer Tweeted out Friday night.
The courtship of this 6-foot-6, 299-pounder was swift, with the Gamecock staff dispensing an offer late in the month of May.
Like so many fellow prospects, Henry took a slate of visits during the month of June: Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, NC State, and North Carolina all drew trips throughout the month, with South Carolina’s at-bat coming on Thursday.
As it turns out, both parties were very comfortable with one another after that unofficial visit. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins came into this week with one offensive lineman committed in the form of Grayson Mains, and the Gamecocks obviously want to add Pennsylvania four-star Ryan Brubaker to the fold as well.
Aside from those two, if the Gamecocks could land Brubaker, there’s been room in the class for other offensive line prospects only if the right ones came along; Adkins deemed Henry as fitting that bill and being too good to turn down.
Speaking of Mains, he was actually instrumental in helping push the Gamecocks over the top with Henry as the two play right down the road from each other and have gotten to know each other while competing at the same camps. Henry loved what he saw on his visit but turned to Mains for guidance as the Gamecock commit confirmed that he had all the same feelings about Adkins and the program.
In the end, I believe it was that connection that Adkins and Henry have - and their similar dispositions - that led the Gamecocks to be being the pick here.
Henry has a tackle type frame, and plays tackle at the high school level. He has a nice frame and plays with a physical disposition at the high school level, giving him a nice upside up front for the Gamecocks.
What does South Carolina like about Henry?
Henry told us that he and Adkins just clicked and that feeling is mutual from Adkins' side. The Gamecocks are getting a big, physically offensive lineman who profiles as a tackle right now but essentially is capable of playing any of the five spots on the line.
Henry is an intelligent, thoughtful kid off the field but plays mean and physical on the field, showing a penchant for finishing his blocks all the way and letting his opponents know about it. He's a toughnosed kid that also has the measurables needed to play in this league. Back off the field, he wants to become a doctor.
Yall will love his approach to the game, in his own words: "I think my philosophy for football is, I want to make the other guy quit the sport," Henry said. "I'm not dirty. I don't hold. I don't believe in holding or all that dirty (stuff). I just want to beat someone 1-on-1, fair and square and show that I'm better than them. I want them to know that they are outmatched and I want them to know that they will not win against me and that there's nothing that they can do and that they will never catch up to me and they will never beat me in anything. That's how I play. I just want to get someone on their (tail) every single play. I just play mean."
With Mains and now Henry in the fold, the Gamecocks will look add Brubaker to that list next, and I believe their chances of doing that are increasing by the day.
South Carolina added to its 2022 recruiting class once again with the addition of offensive lineman Cason Henry out of Marietta (Georgia) Walton, who committed to Shane Beamer and Co. on Friday night and went public on Saturday afternoon - indeed he was the #WelcomeHome that Beamer Tweeted out Friday night.
The courtship of this 6-foot-6, 299-pounder was swift, with the Gamecock staff dispensing an offer late in the month of May.
Like so many fellow prospects, Henry took a slate of visits during the month of June: Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, NC State, and North Carolina all drew trips throughout the month, with South Carolina’s at-bat coming on Thursday.
As it turns out, both parties were very comfortable with one another after that unofficial visit. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins came into this week with one offensive lineman committed in the form of Grayson Mains, and the Gamecocks obviously want to add Pennsylvania four-star Ryan Brubaker to the fold as well.
Aside from those two, if the Gamecocks could land Brubaker, there’s been room in the class for other offensive line prospects only if the right ones came along; Adkins deemed Henry as fitting that bill and being too good to turn down.
Speaking of Mains, he was actually instrumental in helping push the Gamecocks over the top with Henry as the two play right down the road from each other and have gotten to know each other while competing at the same camps. Henry loved what he saw on his visit but turned to Mains for guidance as the Gamecock commit confirmed that he had all the same feelings about Adkins and the program.
In the end, I believe it was that connection that Adkins and Henry have - and their similar dispositions - that led the Gamecocks to be being the pick here.
Henry has a tackle type frame, and plays tackle at the high school level. He has a nice frame and plays with a physical disposition at the high school level, giving him a nice upside up front for the Gamecocks.
What does South Carolina like about Henry?
Henry told us that he and Adkins just clicked and that feeling is mutual from Adkins' side. The Gamecocks are getting a big, physically offensive lineman who profiles as a tackle right now but essentially is capable of playing any of the five spots on the line.
Henry is an intelligent, thoughtful kid off the field but plays mean and physical on the field, showing a penchant for finishing his blocks all the way and letting his opponents know about it. He's a toughnosed kid that also has the measurables needed to play in this league. Back off the field, he wants to become a doctor.
Yall will love his approach to the game, in his own words: "I think my philosophy for football is, I want to make the other guy quit the sport," Henry said. "I'm not dirty. I don't hold. I don't believe in holding or all that dirty (stuff). I just want to beat someone 1-on-1, fair and square and show that I'm better than them. I want them to know that they are outmatched and I want them to know that they will not win against me and that there's nothing that they can do and that they will never catch up to me and they will never beat me in anything. That's how I play. I just want to get someone on their (tail) every single play. I just play mean."
With Mains and now Henry in the fold, the Gamecocks will look add Brubaker to that list next, and I believe their chances of doing that are increasing by the day.
