McCombs: Blackshear's future is all that matters

It doesn't matter if Shameik Blackshear did anything wrong or not.

Not in any practical way, a least.

The charge of petit larceny that had been levied against the Bluffton High School football star and University of South Carolina signee was dismissed Tuesday after the alleged victim in the case asked that the charges be dropped and didn't show up for his trial.

Even the record of his arrest will be expunged.

There are no more questions about whether Blackshear will ever make it to Columbia. He reports May 30, according to his attorney, Thomas C. Taylor.

Gamecocks head football coach Steve Spurrier expects him.

"As far as I know, he is clear to come with the rest of the team," Spurrier told the State. "He was falsely accused."

So the only thing that matters now is what the four-star defensive end does going forward. His future will be what he makes of it.

There will always those who will believe justice was served. And there will always be those who believe he got away with something. And neither group are likely to ever change their opinions.

I don't claim to know either way. And at this point, I'm not that interested.

What I and a lot of others will be waiting to see, is what kind of football player the Gamecocks are getting. Blackshear will soon be testing his knee to see if he's a full go for fall practice.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior was a top recruit before injuries marred his final two high school seasons. He tore the ACL in his left knee during Bluffton's second game last season.

We never got to see Blackshear progress as a senior. So it's hard to know what he'll do when he finally hits the field in Columbia.

Personally, I never want to see any local kid fail. I hope he's successful.

"I am proud of Shameik," Taylor said outside the courtroom on Tuesday. "He's done a lot to make Bluffton proud, and he's going to do a lot to make Bluffton proud."

We'll all be watching.

Related stories

• Larceny charge dropped against USC football recruit Shameik Blackshear , April 24, 2015
• USC's Spurrier speaks about status of Bluffton's Shameik Blackshear , Feb. 27, 2015
• Witnesses allege Shameik Blackshear took items, left 'without saying a word' , Feb. 16, 2015
• Update: USC issues statement following Shameik Blackshear's arrest , Feb. 14, 2015

This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 8:40 PM with the headline "McCombs: Blackshear's future is all that matters."