Hamsah Nasirildeen to South Carolina: Gamecocks Land 4-Star DB Prospect
Hamsah Nasirildeen is one of the most interesting recruits in the 2017 class, making his commitment to South Carolina an intriguing fit.
Adam Friedman of Rivals reported Nasirildeen's commitment. Matt Connolly of the State confirmed the news.
Though Nasirildeen played primarily at wide receiver and safety in high school, he is ranked as the No. 12 outside linebacker in 247Sports' composite rankings. That versatility could allow him to play all over the field, though.
He's certainly got a high ceiling as a 4-star talent who is the third-ranked player from North Carolina and No. 139 overall, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
The Concord High School star does have work to do if he ends up slotting in at linebacker for the Gamecocks. He is listed at just 6'3", 210 pounds, which would be undersized.
Despite his small stature at the moment, Nasirildeen did earn high praise from his high school coach, Glen Padgett, who offered a scouting report to Scout.com's Don Callahan: "He's an exceptional athlete. In fact, he dunked a basketball last night and hit his head on the backboard. He's an excellent tackler in space—he's a very aggressive tackler. ... He had never played defense until this [past] year, but that's where his future is."
The best skill a defensive player can have is tackling. Being able to wrap up and drive an opponent into the ground is a lost art in the desire to constantly go after the ball. Nasirildeen will have plenty of time to add mass, so already being able to get opponents to the ground is a huge bonus.
Nasirildeen couldn't have picked a better school to take advantage of his defensive prowess. South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp comes from a defensive background, with the crowning achievement being defensive coordinator for LSU's 2003 national title team.
The Gamecocks are still building a roster to reflect Muschamp's strengths and scheme. Nasirildeen is a true difference-maker, an incredible athlete who can attack the quarterback and drop back in coverage if necessary.
Nasirildeen is still learning, having split time on offense and defense in high school, but he's a rare raw talent a team can build its defense around. He will take time to hone his skills before turning into a star, but the sky is the limit as he prepares for the next level.
