Despite what some other SCISA high school students might think, the South Carolina tight end football coach Erik Kimrey like he never recruited football players before. One of the greatest challenges for the former Hammond School coach is to recruit college football players.
Kimrey was once a recruited football player, he certainly knows the state and its best high school football players, and also has an idea of how he wants to recruit them.
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The Columbia native, who has not really left town since his days as a player in South Carolina, has a unique perspective on the area, having spent his entire life here. He brings a passion to sell the school because of his game days, but also to sell the city.
“You have the opportunity to be immersed in a giant family,” said Kimrey. “In my opinion, it starts with the city of Columbia, that there are so many opportunities for young people. I’ve seen it over and over again, when they got that diploma – I know everyone wants to play in the NFL, but most don’t. It is a great opportunity to be in the city of Columbia and prosper. “
Kimrey pointed to his longtime friend Ryan Brewer, who came from Ohio to South Carolina to play football. Brewer became an icon in Columbia during his gambling days, and now owns his own thriving business in the city where he made his home in college.
Many come to Columbia and don’t want to leave, says Kimrey.
“The city of Columbia is a unique place in the SEC for young people to come,” said Kimrey. “I think we have a top-notch university that will make people ready for life and it will be an incredible experience.”
Kimrey says the facilities are “unbelievable”, which applies to what exists on the South Carolina campus and to growth in Columbia. A $ 50 million operations facility has transformed the lives of football players and coaches, which is right next to the $ 15 million practice field and indoor training facilities.
Combine modernized football facilities with the city of Columbia, and Kimrey believes South Carolina can be a winning institution in terms of what should be important for high school recruits looking for a place to call their college home.
“The facilities are unbelievable. Where they live is unbelievable and the opportunities they have to get involved in culture, you can’t find that in other cities, ”said Kimrey.
“I think that the atmosphere that Coach Beamer will build will be built around love for each other, love for the game and for the family. I think it will be a very healthy place for a youngster to enter and not just make progress towards playing in the NFL, but make progress as a human being and citizen, and I think all of these things are important. “
Kimrey believes in South Carolina, believes in the city of Columbia and believes that the new head coach Shane Beamer can turn Gamecocks into a winner.
“We need great leadership at the top, which we have in Shane Beamer”Said Kimrey. “We need the community, we need the fans and everyone needs to work together. If we can spread that message and we all get together, we can create something that can be special for a long time. “