Dillard standout Aaron Thompson picks South Carolina on National Signing Day

Dillard defensive tackle Aaron Thompson couldn’t wait to reveal what was under his button-down shirt. When the time finally came, Thompson unveiled a red shirt with a giant ‘C’ in the middle for South Carolina.

Thompson picked the Gamecocks over Maryland. The three-star prospect decommitted from Maryland on Monday after verbally committing to the Terrapins earlier in January.

“I felt more comfortable there and the coaching staff is real cool,” Thompson said of South Carolina.

Thompson decided to flip from Maryland to South Carolina during his visit to Columbia last weekend. Although Thompson is excited to attend South Carolina, his dream school was 35 miles away from Dillard.

“Miami was my dream school, but they came in too late,” Thompson said.

The new staff at Miami under coach Mark Richt first contacted Thompson two weeks ago. Former coach Al Golden reached out to Thompson a few months ago but never made an offer.

Fellow defensive tackle McKinley Williams III is joining teammate Kenneth Ruff at Syracuse. Ruff enrolled early at Syracuse in January.

“When I went up there, I realized that’s where I need to be,” Williams said of his visit to Syracuse on Jan. 23. “It’s home. It’s family.”

Williams picked Syracuse over Pitt, Minnesota and Idaho.

Athlete James Jackson signed his letter of intent to play at Dodge City (Kansas) Community College. Dillard coach Lorenzo Davis said Jackson received multiple Division I offers, but Jackson felt more comfortable going to a junior college.

Offensive lineman Ernest Sellars is still undecided about which college he will attend. Edward Waters College is his favorite at the moment, but several other schools interest him. “It might take a while,” Sellars said of a decision.

In addition to Ruff, Dillard had another player enroll early in school last month. Linebacker Torian Williams is at Bethune-Cookman.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Dillard standout Aaron Thompson picks South Carolina on National Signing Day."