Newberry is forced to stay home after the events of Helen | Colombia

Despite the success, head coach Cedric Jeter said the team should not be happy with the result. He stated that they will not shy away from competition and will be ready for anything.

House used his coach’s words as another reason to stay motivated throughout his career.

“It really motivated us because we know last season could have been a lot better,” House said. “You always have to go through something, so we know we’ll get better as the season goes on.”

Newberry’s head coach also felt the effects of Hurricane Helen. During his absence, he shared some words with his team.

“(Just) really doing the little things right,” House said. “This is something we really need to do a lot of.”

“I’m home”

After graduating from high school, Jamel House will play football for the Gamecocks. The recruiting rate for USC has been impressive and they have been able to attract many players from the state.

Malik Clark, a top-20 wide receiver from Rock Hill, South Carolina, committed to South Carolina the same day as House. USC has the eighth-best 2026 recruiting class, according to 247sports.

Columbia is just a short drive from Newberry, so Hawes will still feel like home. This played a big role in his decision to get engaged.

“All colleges should have good coaches, but the coaches (at USC) are close to home,” House said. “If I need to go somewhere, my grandmother lives in Colombia, so I can go there.”

He is ready to showcase his leadership skills as well as his personality in South Carolina.

“I’m a good person and a team leader, I can do a lot.” – House said.

The SEC is the highest standard in college football. From Alabama to Georgia, the conference always has teams vying for the championship.

When Hawes joins the Gamecocks, he will be ready to take a competitive leap.

“I want to show that I can do anything.” – House said.

It helps that House has Derrick Hamilton coaching him at Newberry High. Hamilton has professional and college experience under his belt, giving him the opportunity to share what he has learned with the team.