Emory Floyd, South Carolina commit, still being recruited by SEC programs

KENNESSAW Ga. – South Carolina commit and Powder Springs (Ga.) Hillgrove defensive back Emory Floyd looked down and grinned in response to the query of his Alabama-themed gloves he donned in his team’s preseason scrimmage on Friday.

Relax South Carolina fans.

Floyd is solidly committed to the Gamecocks, and he doesn’t plan on changing that. The gloves were free. They also matched the Hillgrove maroon and white uniforms.

“I’m just wearing them, I got them for free, so I’m just wearing them to wear them,” Floyd said. “It’s just for the fun of it.”

Emory Floyd still being recruited by other SEC programs

Floyd committed to South Carolina back on July 3.

The Standard🙅🏿‍♂️🐔… #Committed🤙🏿@CoachClaytonW pic.twitter.com/05SNA7ZfM6

— Emory Floyd (@EmoryFloyd) July 3, 2021

His commitment is still fairly new. That hasn’t stopped Georgia, Florida and Kentucky coaches from continuing their relationships and recruiting the 6-foot-1, 170-pound defensive back.

Many have Floyd listed as a safety. Floyd plays cornerback for his high school team and the teams that are still talking to him also consider him a cornerback.

“I’ve still got schools reaching out to me, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky, those schools are still hard on,” Floyd said. “They like my speed, they think that I could go there and play corner in man situations, I’m a very physical corner.”

Floyd does plan to check out a few of those schools this fall. He plans on attending some games once the college football season kicks off in a few weeks.

Floyd wants to attend South Carolina’s opener against Eastern Illinois or another early-season contest. He also hopes to attend a Georgia game. Nothing is set in stone yet for any campus visits.

South Carolina pulling out all the stops for elite tight end Oscar Delp

Floyd is a part of group of Georgia-based group of recruits that are pursuing four-star tight end Oscar Delp, who has the Gamecocks in his top four. Delp is the third-ranked tight end in the class of 2022 in the On3 tight end rankings. The Gamecocks have five commits from the state at the moment.

Former Georgia commit Donovan Westmoreland from Griffin, Felix Hixon from Jackson, Grayson Mains from Suwanee (Ga.) Lambert High School and Cason Henry from Walton have all pledged to South Carolina this summer.

Floyd hasn’t played against Delp at the high school level, but he’s seen him in camps and has respect for the things the elite tight end can do on the football field.

“He can play more than tight end to me,” Floyd said. “He can play receiver. He’s versatile out on the field. He can move and everything. South Carolina would really love him.”

Beamer, coaching staff big hit early on with Floyd

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer’s energy and humor have stuck with Floyd after building a strong bond since December.

“He’s really cool guy,” Floyd said. “Me and coach Beamer have a strong bond. He’s a really funny coach. Not everything is about football with him. It’s a family down there.”

Floyd was pursued by Florida throughout his recruitment. Torrian Gray was a cornerbacks coach for the Gators the last two years before heading to South Carolina to join Shane Beamer.

The addition of Gray made a big impact in Floyd’s decision.

“Me and my position coach (Torrian Gray) talk like every day,” Floyd said. “We have a strong bond. Once I knew he was going to South Carolina it was a done deal for me.”