Reports: Inside Pursuit As South Carolina Eyes Homegrown Star Amid LSU Commitment

Hammond tight end Mike Tyler has been keeping a close eye on South Carolina’s recent games. After committing to LSU in August, Tyler attended the Tigers’ matchup against Columbia on September 14 as a regular ticket-buying fan. He returned last Saturday for the Akron game, this time as an invited guest of USC tight ends coach Shawn Elliott. Throughout the recruiting process, Tyler (6-5, 225) has experienced a fluctuating relationship with the Gamecocks. He previously visited for the Clemson game last season and attended a junior day in February, but he didn’t take an official visit in June, which seemed to signal that South Carolina was prepared to move on—and he chose LSU.

Now, however, South Carolina has rekindled their interest. “They’ve reached out to me, wanting to reopen discussions and try to flip my commitment,” Tyler said. “We realized that there hadn’t been much communication initially, so it made sense to revisit things later in the season.” This season, Tyler has made 18 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He mentioned that Coach Elliott plans to scout him on Friday night but is already familiar with his playing style. “He appreciates my physicality and my ability to run and catch,” Tyler explained. “From the games I’ve attended, I’ve noticed they really involve tight ends in their passing and running game. They keep them active on the field.”

A major reason Tyler committed to LSU was the development of junior tight end Mason Taylor, who has had a successful run after joining the team as a true freshman. “The culture there is fantastic, and the Southern hospitality is genuine,” Tyler shared. “Seeing how they’ve utilized Mason and helped him grow really inspired me, especially considering he gets targeted multiple times a game, which is what I aspire to do.”

This Saturday, Tyler plans to visit Duke and is looking into an official visit to South Carolina for the Ole Miss weekend next week. While he’s already taken an official visit to LSU, he intends to go back for the Ole Miss game. Currently, South Carolina, Duke, and LSU are the only programs on his radar. “I’m feeling great about everything right now,” Tyler said. “I’m just exploring my options but still committed for the time being.”