South Carolina invited Atlanta-area eighth-grader Dominick Blaylock to its Junior Day football festivities Saturday and offered him a scholarship.
Blaylock is the stepson of new Chattanooga Lookouts co-owner John Woods, who grew up in East Ridge. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound class of 2019 prospect attends Dickerson Middle School in Marietta and is zoned for Walton High School.
"Dominick got invited to five Junior Days, and he decided he wanted his first visit to be South Carolina," Woods said Sunday. "With early offers comes pressure, but he's very excited. He's a hard worker and is very humble, and his interest now is in schools that will potentially let him play baseball as well."
South Carolina's site at 247sports.com reported that it's the first time the Gamecocks have offered an eighth-grader, which is impressive given that running back Marcus Lattimore and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney were consensus five-star recruits when they signed to play for Steve Spurrier.
Blaylock, whose biological father is former Oklahoma and NBA standout Mookie Blaylock, has two older brothers playing football in the Southeastern Conference. Twins Daron and Zack Blaylock signed with Kentucky in 2012, with Daron now a senior linebacker and Zack a redshirt junior safety.
Spurrier turns 70 in three weeks, so it is unlikely he will ever get to coach or face Blaylock.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.