Best bets for the Gamecocks football recruiting class

With the South Carolina Gamecocks football recruiting class off to a hot start, GamecockCentral.com is bringing a popular feature back for its subscribers.

This look at the best bets to join Shane Beamer’s 2024 class will be just a bit different than previous installments, however.

Instead of a position-by-position look, we have generally selected the five most likely prospects to join the class. These distinctions are based on available information as of this writing, and are subject to change as visits continue this summer.

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Meridian (Mississippi) ATH Daniel Hill

Listed as an athlete, this Magnolia State product is a running back all the way for the South Carolina staff.

The four-star prospect took another visit to Columbia for the spring game and gave that trip a strong review. Even heading into that visit, there had been some very positive feedback as to the Gamecocks’ chances.

USC assistant Jody Wright knows Hill’s father – who’s also a coach – from his days at Mississippi State. Hill seems to really like Wright and running backs coach Montario Hardesty.

While Alabama is still in the mix, Auburn has come on as of late, and Tennessee’s in there according to On3’s Chad Simmons.

At this time, South Carolina should be considered the front runner.

Tampa (Florida) Carrollwood Day RB Anthony Carrie

This four-star running back from the Sunshine State has been in Columbia this year and has long had heavy interest in what Shane Beamer is doing.

The staff is currently juggling interest from a few backs, including Hill, Carrie, and Virginia’s Peyton Lewis.

It’s tough to make a firm call on precisely which two the staff will end up with, as there’s a chance with each. Right now, Carrie likely has the highest interest of any based on feedback.

Burlington (North Carolina) Cummings WR Jonathan Paylor

USC has been involved with this pass-catcher, described by On3’s Charles Power as “lightning in a bottle”, for some time.

In the last several months, the returns have gotten better and better for the Gamecocks.

Paylor’s named USC as his public leader at times, and has at others described NC State as being right up there with South Carolina.

It’s expected he’ll take a slate of official visits this summer, and South Carolina will get one.

Lawrenceville (Georgia) Mountain View EDGE Justin Greene

Here’s another prospect that USC’s staff got in early on and has hosted for more than one campus visit.

The Peach State four-star is among the uncommitted prospects that will take an official visit to USC this summer. South Carolina has been publicly mentioned as a favorite in the past by Greene.

Georgia does have an offer out and is certainly one to watch as well; that could end up being the primary competition. There’s a high trust level between Greene and the USC staff.

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Washington (D.C.) Friendship Academy EDGE Dylan Stewart

If Gamecocks fans are not already excited, this inclusion should do the trick.

Let’s be clear: this one is not over. No program lands five-star talents uncontested. It was expected that the heat would turn up this summer, and that’s happened as the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State have been involved and drew visits this summer.

Lead recruiter Sterling Lucas has been content to play the long game here. This five-star has been a prolific visitor, traveling all around the country since he was a sophomore to check out schools.

His most common stop has been in Columbia, a place he’s seen more than anywhere else.

He was on hand once again for the spring game earlier this month, where he hung out with USC commitments and others who ended up committing the Wednesday after the spring game.

Stewart will make yet another visit to South Carolina this summer in the form of an official in the month of June.

This is one that USC will have to survive and finish out, but there are plenty of reasons to be positive.

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