Gamecocks Add "SEC Type Receiver"

Justin Barney of the St. Augustine Record reports that the Gamecocks have added a wide receiver to the signing class. The link is: http://staugustine.com/sports/2011-02-02/hometown-feel-drew-markis-merrill-jacksonville-state. Here is an excerpt from the article:

"It took very little convincing for St. Augustine High School receiver Markis Merrill to decide where he wanted to spend the next four years of his life.

The opportunity to play college football, and to possibly step in and contribute immediately, is why he signed with Jacksonville State on Wednesday's national signing day. The 6-foot, 190-pound athlete said that the school was a fit from the moment that he stepped on campus.

"I liked it a lot," Merrill said. "It felt like home so I committed. They told me I could come in right in and start. That kind of got me, too."

Merrill said that Arkansas and Central Florida had expressed interest during his senior season. The two-time All-County player finished with 1,109 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. He also took a kickoff back for a touchdown and was one of the most unstoppable players in the county with the ball in his hands. He had three touchdowns in a quarter during a 27-10 win over Bartram Trail in Week 2.

St. Augustine coach Joey Wiles, who has called Merrill one of the best receivers that he's ever coached, said that Merrill could be a dynamic player for the Gamecocks.

"They're getting an SEC-type receiver in that league," Wiles said of Merrill. "He's going to do great there.""