Desmond Umeozulu talks USC future, Under Armour experience, message to Nykoles Harbor

South Carolina’s football program was well-represented in this year’s Under Armour All-America Game, which took place Tuesday at Camping World Stadium.

The Gamecocks had five signees in the game along with five-star tight end and recruiting target Nyckoles Harbor.

One of those signees was Desmond Umeozulu from Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound edge/defensive end played in Tuesday’s game and was set to move in at USC on Wednesday.

Umeozulu finished with two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in the Under Armour game.

The four-star recruit is the highest-rated defensive signee in South Carolina’s 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite that factors in all networks. He’s ranked the No. 159 overall prospect nationally.

And he’s one of three USC signees from the DMV area of DC-Maryland-Virginia.

We checked in with Umeozulu ahead of the Under Armour game.

Why sign with South Carolina?

“My relationship with all the coaches, starting from the strength coach and my position coach, Coach (Sterling) Lucas and Coach (Shane) Beamer. It just felt like home the first time I went there. I felt welcome. There’s nothing like feeling like it’s a home away from home. It’s good to get away from home.”

Impressions of your future position coach Sterling Lucas?

“Coach Lucas, he’s there from the NFL, he’s able to develop guys. He’s worked with a lot of great guys I look up to, Matthew Judon is someone I look up to. I watch his game a lot and take pointers from here. He’s someone that he coached. I feel like he’s going to be able to develop me into a better player. And with the strength coach, they’re going to able to develop my body to be a better player as well.”

Were you able to keep up with the Gator Bowl while handling Under Armour things?

“I feel like we’re a young team right now. There are a lot of young guys in the secondary. It’s just a great start. We put up a great fight until the end. Hopefully Juice (Wells) and Spencer (Rattler) can stay next year so they can help the offense and we make a national championship run next year.”

What are you learning this week with the Under Armour experience?

“Really just watching some of the guys I’m working out with, playing against some great guys. It’s a great experience to measure myself against other people to see what I can do against other people I’m going to be playing against in college. It’s really a great experience overall.”

How much have you talked to Nykoles Harbor this week and how much are you telling him about South Carolina?

“I’m just telling him it’s another home away from home. It’s a lot of guys from the DMV. He’s going to enjoy the weather, running track in the sun. Just really the hospitality from all the people, all the love and support you get from the people at South Carolina ... it’s really all there.”

Give me a self-scouting report. What do you do best?

“I’m really good at using my hands. I love watching film. I have a really good football IQ and I’m in love with the game. I think that’s very important. You’re not going to be able to dial in and really learn and get better if you don’t love the game.”

What is the excitement level about the Gamecocks right now with the direction of the program?

“We’re hot right now. The Gamecocks are hot. I’m talking to a lot of the younger recruits, 2024. ... I think it’s going to be moving forward from now on, Coach Beamer, second year. Every year is going to be better.”

What are your early goals for your time at South Carolina?

“Get to 245, 250 by next season and get in that rotation and be able to play next year. Just really learning and getting better and becoming a better man.”

— This interview was done by The State contributor Sam Wolfe.