Before Strom Thurmond (SC) QB Aramis Hillary (6-3, 223) left South Carolina's prospect

camp on Saturday, Steve Spurrier had some strong words of encouragement for him.

"Coach Spurrier said 'We fell in love with you today, son. We were only going to

sign one quarterback next year, now we might have to go with two,'" recalled Hillary

on Sunday.

"Who knows what will happen or if they will eventually offer another QB, but that

meant a lot coming from Coach Spurrier. I got to work very closely with one of the great

offensive coaches in college football history for several hours on Saturday, and it was an

experience that I will never forget."

South Carolina offered a scholarship and got a commitment on Saturday from Summerville

(SC) QB Reid McCollum. Hillary, who already has six offers, including East Carolina and

Mississippi State, knew before he left prospect camp that McCollum had agreed to become a

future Gamecock.

Was Hillary disappointed when he heard the news?

"I'm a competitor, and I want to earn a scholarship at every prospect camp I

attend this summer. But I am not going to lie: I've been born and bred a Gamecock

fan, ever since my uncle played there (former USC WR Ira Hillary, who is in the Gamecocks

Hall of Fame and played seven years in the NFL), and it would have been nice to have been

offered, especially since my dad an some of my friends who were there watching said it was

the best passing performance of my life. Coach Spurrier was challenging me to make every

throw in the book, and I was really on my game.

"So yes, I am disappointed to not get offered, but if it is the only thing I have

learned from recruiting so far, it is this: All I can do is the best I can do, and the

rest is out of my hands. I know that Saturday was the best I've ever felt after a camp, I

just don't know what South Carolina is exactly looking for at QB next year, you'd have to

ask them. I just appreciate the consideration from Coach Spurrier. That's all you can ask

for, a chance. And I got that."'

Hillary said that he and McCollum competed one after another in every drill under the

careful eye of Spurrier and QB coach David Reaves. Did Hillary think he performed better

than McCollum?

"I don't think I could make that call because I wasn't watching any of the other

QBs. I was in a zone, and totally focused on what I had to do on the next play, and what

adjustments Coach Spurrier was telling me to make. But I'm sure Reid is a good

quarterback, or Coach Spurrier wouldn't offered him."

Hillary said Saturday was a "100-percent positive experience" and he will

never have any hard feelings against South Carolina, even if Spurrier sticks with

his initial decision to sign just one quarterback.

"My high school team has been in the state playoffs for every year I can remember

since I was in middle school and we won it all (Class AAA state championship) in 2005. I

have watched from the stands or played against so many superstar players over the

years, and most of them never even got one major-college offer.

"I am so blessed. I've got six offers to six great schools and around seven or

eight more camps to attend over the next five weeks. Even if I didn't get another offer

between now and February, I'd feel great about my situation. I have no complaints about

anything. I'm just going to focus on playing as hard as I can, and all the recruiting

stuff will take care of itself."

Hillary, who has already met college entrance requirements, said his immediate plans

are to attend Tennessee camp next weekend. Tennessee offensive coordinator David

Cutcliffe flew into town to observe Hillary during the spring, only a few days after

Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges made a special trip to the school. Hillary said he

has also been keeping in touch with coaches from Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, and

Troy, among others.