JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State football brought in some Power 4 transfers this offseason under first-year coach Charles Kelly.
The group was headlined by Kentucky transfer Gavin Wimsatt and TCU transfer Cam Cook. Both talked about their decisions to come to the Gamecocks on Sunday during Jacksonville State’s media day. Wimsatt was one of the first calls for offensive coordinator Clint Trickett once he was hired and saw the culture in place with the Gamecocks.
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“I would say a big part was Coach Kelly and Coach Trickett was a big part of me coming here,” Wimsatt said. “What we wanted to do and what we discussed. There was already a culture here, a winning culture here from last season, and I just wanted to continue that and be a part of something great.”
Cook echoed the relationship building he had with running backs coach Max Thurmond and Trickett as big reasons he came to the Gamecocks. He also saw the vision Trickett was laying out and knew he could fit in well.
“For me it was pretty much the same, building that relationship with coach (Max) Thurmond and coach Trickett and his style of offense. How he was going to do things here, it opened my eyes. I just knew this was going to be a good place for me,” Cook said.
Wimsatt played in eight games last year for the Wildcats. Before that he was a Rutgers. Over a four-year career and 33 games, he has thrown for 2,824 yards with 17 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
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Cook played in 21 games over two seasons for the Horned Frogs, running for 518 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 460 yards and all nine scores last season, adding 18 catches for 75 yards in the passing game. He led TCU in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns last season.
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Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Why 2 Power 4 transfers joined Jacksonville State football?
