Trey Houston had to watch his Greer football team lose to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina\u2019s Williams-Brice Stadium. Now he had a choice to perhaps join the Gamecocks.<\/b>
\nTrey Houston has a choice to make.
The Greer High School quarterback could take a scholarship, have school paid for and get his chance as a dual-threat quarterback with an FCS team or perhaps a smaller FBS team. Or he could take a bigger swing and join the South Carolina Gamecocks as a walk-on.
\u201cI\u2019ve just been thinking,\u201d Houston said, \u201cif I want to take a chance or not.\u201d
He spoke while standing on the field at Williams-Brice, a crutch under one arm. After posting a dominant season for the Yellow Jackets as a junior, a knee injury limited him this season. His team persevered and made it to the state title game, where it couldn\u2019t hold off Luke Doty and Myrtle Beach.
Houston was sitting on offers from the likes of Wofford, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State and East Tennessee State. Then came the call from USC.
\u201cMatt Lindsey, director of player personnel called me and said, \u2018We\u2019d like to offer you a preferred walk-on spot,\u2019 \u201d Houston said. \u201cTook a chance on me and I\u2019m very blessed they gave me one. They\u2019ve just been recruiting me for a while, been up to their camp, came out to my school.\u201d
As a junior, Houston was as productive a dual-threat QB as you\u2019ll find. He completed 71 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,147 yards, 35 scores and no interceptions, plus rushing for 780 yards and 10 scores. He led an offense that averaged 43.6 points a game.
But the 6-foot-2,177-pounder said he\u2019s not picky about his position, even with offers to play QB.
\u201cIt really doesn\u2019t matter to me.\u201d Houston said. \u201cI can play quarterback, I could play wideout, DB. Just an athlete.\u201d
He said the brings a blend of speed, length and power to whatever college team he joins. He also spoke highly of South Carolina, not just as a football program and for its atmosphere, but also for its academics.
His plan is to have things locked up by the early signing day in less than two weeks. He had an in-home visit with Wofford before his team\u2019s trip to state.
And there still lingers his choice: School paid for and a chance on a smaller stage, or bet on himself and fight for a spot in big-time football.
\u201cI\u2019ve still got some school that I have right now,\u201d Houston said. \u201cI\u2019ll probably be making my decision soon, before the signing period.\u201d<\/p>\n