South Carolina commitment Maxwell Iyama of Siegel is No. 9 on 2017 Dandy Dozen

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

There are numerous factors that can decide why a high school football player commits to a college program.

Siegel's Maxwell Iyama

Success, proximity, facilities, playing time and academics can all factor into the recruiting process.

For Siegel senior offensive tackle Maxwell Iyama, it was about relationships.

"What stood out to me was that I was looking for connections I could make with the coaches," said Iyama, who committed to South Carolina on April 2.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder, who is No. 9 on The Tennessean's 2017 Dandy Dozen, chose the Gamecocks over offers from Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Memphis and Louisville.

► More: See who else made the 2017 Dandy Dozen

The Dandy Dozen is a collection of the top 12 college football prospects from the Nashville area who are seniors as named by The Tennessean.

Iyama, a three-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in Tennessee and 39th nationally at his position in the 2018 class, according to 247Sports.

His combination of speed and size made him one of the most sought-after linemen in the area.

Siegel's Maxwell Iyama

"He obviously has a special talent that God gave him," said first-year Siegel coach Michael Copley. "It's something you can't coach.

"The things I feel good about is that he doesn't think he's arrived (yet). Stars think they've arrived and he's not like that. He's a good teammate. He's not just for Maxwell but for Siegel. He's mature beyond his years.

"He works hard and accepts coaching and tries to get better. I wish I had him more than one year."

Iyama said the best part of the recruiting process was the different cultures at each place he visited.

"(The recruiting process) was really fun," Iyama said. "I enjoyed seeing different places and getting a feel of how it is at every place. I liked talking to the coaches and seeing the different plans they had for me."

Despite the commitment to the Gamecocks, Iyama is still receiving interest, including LSU and Georgia.

"A lot of coaches have backed off," he said. "They told me if I don't show interest in them they won't recruit me."

His junior teammate, defensive end/linebacker Joseph Anderson is also being heavily recruited. Iyama had a little advice for Anderson to help through the process.

"I told him to just be patient and pay attention to every detail," Iyama said. "Ask questions. If you see players, ask them questions, because you'll eventually be in their shoes. Ask them how life is on campus."

Siegel offensive lineman Maxwell Iyama

Iyama's top priority now is helping Siegel break a three-year streak of losing seasons. The Stars are 9-24 since enjoying an 8-4 campaign in 2013.

"It's about getting better mentally and physically," Iyama said. "I think we're going to be pretty good."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

Maxwell Iyama

Siegel, Offensive tackle

Height: 6-5 Weight: 299
247Sports composite: 3 stars
College: Committed to South Carolina (4/2/2017)
Key stat: All-Region 2-6A performer will anchor the Stars' offensive line, which will try to improve on its 17.4 points per game from a year ago.