Hammond tight end Mike Tyler has attended the last two games played by South Carolina. After committing to LSU in August, Tyler watched the Tigers play in Columbia as a ticket-buying fan on September 14. He returned last Saturday for the Akron game as a guest of USC tight ends coach Shawn Elliott.
Tyler (6-5, 225) has had an inconsistent relationship with the Gamecocks during the recruiting process. He visited for the Clemson game last season and attended a junior day in February, but did not take an official visit in June. At that time, it seemed the Gamecocks were ready to move on, leading him to LSU.However, interest from South Carolina has now been reignited.
“They reached out to me, expressing their interest and wanting to reopen discussions to try to flip me to become a Gamecock,” Tyler explained. “We both realized that communication had been lacking early on, so it made sense to revisit things later in the season.”
This season, Tyler has recorded 18 catches for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He mentioned that Elliott plans to scout him on Friday night but already has a good understanding of his playing style.
“He appreciates my physicality and my ability to run and catch the ball. From the games I attended, it’s clear they involve tight ends a lot in both the passing and running game,” Tyler noted.
Tyler’s commitment to LSU was influenced significantly by the development of junior tight end Mason Taylor, who he saw thrive after visiting LSU three times over the summer.
“The culture there is amazing, the food is great, and the people are welcoming. Watching how they’ve developed Mason and involved him in the offense really inspired me. He started as a true freshman, which shows me that if I work hard, I could get early playing time too. I like how they utilize tight ends; Mason gets targeted about five times a game, which is what I want.”
This Saturday, Tyler will visit Duke and is planning an official visit to South Carolina the following weekend during the Ole Miss game. While he has already taken an official visit to LSU, he intends to return for the Ole Miss matchup. Currently, the only programs he’s considering are USC, Duke, and LSU.
“I’m feeling great right now,” he said. “I’m just exploring my options while still remaining committed for now.”
