News is swirling around the South Carolina football camp that Sheldon Royster is leaving the team. The former St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) safety is rumored to be heading closer to home and all fingers point to his next stop being Rutgers.
If you recall, the No. 7 safety in the nation out of high school picked South Carolina over Rutgers in 2011. Now it seems he is bound for the Scarlet Knights.
As of Sunday morning, he is no longer on the roster – HERE.
Reasons are not clear as he does have a health issue (diabetes) and is third on the depth chart behind D.J. Swearinger and Jared Shaw. If playing time is a issue, then it is a bad choice as he was going to be the prime suspect at safety next season with Swearinger and Shaw being seniors. I am sure it is a combination of things but we here at LOHD hope he finds happiness.
This does hurt the depth in the secondary…again. Yes, he was not a starter but he provided depth at safety and was going to get some reps. Now, well it is time for a younger player to seize the moment. Hate to see this as we thought high of Royster coming out of high school. He had a knack for being around the ball and we a hard hitter. Now we will never see him reach his potential in the ‘garnet and black.’
Look for this rumor to be confirmed later today by USC. Once he heads to Rutgers, he will have to sit out 2012 and will have three years to play up north.
