Redshirt junior Matt Raysor is not returning to the University of South Carolina this fall.

The former All-State Bamberg-Ehrhardt lineman’s future plans are apparently less clear than previously reported. In a telephone interview Saturday, Raysor’s mother, Demmie, confirmed USC had granted her son a release from his scholarship after three years.

However, while USC sports information director Steve Fink told The State Raysor intends to transfer to South Carolina State, his mother said Matt has yet to decide on his future college destination. Although excited about the prospect of seeing her son attend school approximately 20 minutes away from Bamberg, she said Benedict College and an unnamed out-of-state school have also expressed interest in Raysor’s services.

A final decision by Raysor is expected by Thursday when he’s expected to complete his summer classes, Demmie Raysor said.

Highly recruited by both head coaches Lou Holtz (then of USC) and Clemson’s Tommy Bowden out of high school after a senior season where he tallied 121 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries and earned Shrine Bowl Defensive MVP honors, the 6-3, 313-pound Raysor tallied just three tackles in limited action (12 games) during his two seasons on the roster.

Last season, Raysor was moved from defensive tackle to offensive guard, where he continued to languish on the bench.

Sources close with SCSU indicate the school is “very interested” in Raysor, but it would depend on his academic standing following summer school – an issue Spurrier brought up two weeks ago in regards to Raysor’s future with the Gamecocks.

Should Raysor choose SCSU, he would become the seventh former Gamecock to play under Oliver “Buddy” Pough since his arrival in 2002. Pough spent five seasons as the USC running backs coach after leading Fairfield-Central to a Class 3-A title in 1996.

-- T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547.

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