South Carolina flips local TE Mike Tyler from LSU: 'It means everything to me to stay home and represent my hometown'

Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School committed to LSU in August, but South Carolina continued to recruit him into the fall. They made him a priority and the 6-foot-3, 220-pound three-star tight end kept taking in games at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Over time, Tyler started thinking more about his commitment, and he decided to stay home and be a Gamecock.

“I really started vibing with South Carolina a lot more during the season,” Tyler told On3. “The coaches started recruiting me hard early in the season, we started talking every day and the connection we established was way better than it was when I committed to LSU.

“The whole recruiting staff recruited me, coach (Shawn) Elliott recruited me and the staff made me feel important. I’m big on relationships and that made an impact on me.”

Location was a factor too.

“A big part of my decision was to stay close to home. It means everything to me to stay home and represent my hometown. I grew up in the community. I grew up going to South Carolina games, so it definitely means a lot.

“It is a great community that offers a lot of support. I know a lot of South Carolina fans, I live close to the school and so many people love the players and the team around here. It is exciting to be able to play in front of my hometown and it definitely will be very special to me.”

It’s close to home, and recently I’ve built, like, a great connection with the whole coach stuff.

Shane Beamer has the program headed in the right direction too. South Carolina has played some great football this season the new Gamecock is excited about the future.

“South Carolina is going up,” Tyler said. “They’ll probably be a playoff contender soon. And in the next two or three years, we can win a national championship.”

Tyler is ready to do his part. He likes their plan and how they are putting their players in a position to succeed.

“They like how I’m a hybrid guy. I can space the field and not just be a hand-in-the-dirt tight end. I can go catch, block, edge, get match-ups, all of the above.”