One of the bright spots of South Carolina’s training camp has been the emergence of former Division II WR Jalen Brooks.

Brooks, originally from Harrisburg, N.C., went to Wingate before transferring to Tarleton State in Texas, though he never played there. He was familiar with the South Carolina campus from running track at Wingate, and knew he wanted to be move closer to his family.

That’s why he committed on the spot when coach Will Muschamp offered him a scholarship.

“Once he said those words, it was truly amazing,” Brooks said.

He then explained what sold him on playing there instead of Duke or North Carolina A&T.

“Not only the need for receivers, but ultimately the production on offense overall, and I was able to see that it was a pretty good atmosphere,” he said. “Because I know a couple people that was on the team already. I heard good things about it.”

Brooks outlined how he has proven himself so far in camp.

“I knew I was going to be walking in here looked at as a Division II receiver,” he said. “And I was going to be looked down on, and I just had to prove myself.”

At Wingate, Brooks earned First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors after he caught 35 passes for 751 yards and six touchdowns.

He currently has three years to play two seasons for the Gamecocks.