South Carolina Lands Class of 2016 North Carolina OT Peter Leota
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Gamecocks went into Tobacco Road on Thursday for a third time in the 2016 recruiting class landing Asheville offensive tackle Peter Leota.
Leota, 6’5”, 300 pounds, is a two-way star for the Cougars also lining up at defensive tackle. The results have been tremendous thus far with Asheville jumping out to a 4-0 record on the early season. Leota has helped blow open holes for fellow senior running back Reggie Battle catching the eye of college recruiters throughout the region.
South Carolina landed Leota over offers from Boston College, Wake Forest, North Carolina, East Carolina, and Virginia Tech among others.
The Cougars made a deep run into the North Carolina High School Playoffs a year ago before falling to Weddington (28-23) and appear to be on track as another state title contender in 2015.
The Gamecocks now have four offensive linemen committed to their 2016 recruiting class. Leota joins running back C.J. Freeman and offensive lineman Will Putnam as North Carolina talents headed to Columbia in 2016.
South Carolina has a total of 15 verbal commitments to their 2016 class.
2016 South Carolina Gamecocks Verbal Commitment List
FS Marlon Character, 6’0”, 170 lbs, Grady HS, Atlanta, GA
FS Jaqui “JJ” Givens, 6’1”, 165 lbs, Atlee HS, Mechanicsville, VA
CB Tre Jackson, 5’10”, 178 lbs, Univ. Lab HS, Baton Rouge, LA
DE Jordan Smith, 6’5”, 225 lbs, Lithonia HS, Lithonia, GA
DE Cecil Stallings, 6’4”, 250 lbs, Tucker HS, Atlanta, GA
LB P.J. Blue, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Park Crossing HS, Montgomery, AL
LB Jacorey Morris, 6’3”, 220 lbs, Clarke County HS, Grove Hill, AL
OT Akeem Cooperwood, 6’7”, 325 lbs, Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, GA
OT Peter Leota, 6’5” 300 lbs, Asheville HS, Asheville, NC
OG Lloyd Cushenberry, 6’4”, 310 lbs, Dutchtown HS, Geismar, LA
OG Will Putnam, 6’5”, 270 lbs, Hickory Ridge HS, Harrisburg, NC
RB C.J. Freeeman, 5’11”, 195 lbs, Northern Guilford HS, Greensboro, NC
QB Brandon McIlwain, 6’0”, 188 lbs, Council Rock North, Newtown, PA
WR Bryan Edwards, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Conway HS, Conway, SC
WR Chris Smith, 5’10”, 170 lbs, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, SC
Photo credit: citizen-times.com; No. 77 Peter Leota.