South Carolina football recruiting: 4-star DE Arden Key commits to Gamecocks (again)
For the second time, 4-star weak-side defensive end Arden Key gave his pledge to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday.
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Key originally committed to the Gamecocks in June of 2013, but took several unofficial visits to other schools and decommitted in September. Key has been back to South Carolina a few times, most recently attending their junior day in March. He clearly felt comfortable enough to give his pledge to Steve Spurrier’s squad for the second time.
“I just felt real comfortable,” Key said via Wes Mitchell of 24/7 Sports. “They still showed love the first time when I decommitted. I felt like after I decommitted, me and the coaches got an even stronger relationship, so it was kind of easy for me to recommit.”
Key’s relationship with defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward as one of the reasons he’s recommitted to the Gamecocks.
“Coach Ward is real cool,” Key said. “He’s like a big brother to me. I can go to him and tell him anything. If I have problem, anything I have going on in my life, I know that one person I can go to in my life is Coach Ward.”
The 6’5, 200-pound Key attends Hapeville Charter in Lithonia, Georgia. He is ranked as the country’s 10th-best weak-side defensive end prospect, the 14th-best overall prospect from the state of Georgia and the 123rd-best overall prospect in the class of 2015, according to 24/7 Sports’ composite rankings.
Key has an impressive list offers, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Clemson Tigers, Florida Gators, Michigan Wolverines and Southern Cal Trojans, among others.