Mid-August Update: Where South Carolina stands with their 2024 recruiting class
While South Carolina is two weeks away until they kick-off a new season, the Gamecocks are looking to continue to add to their 2024 recruiting class.
Since landing five-star EDGE Dylan Stewart earlier this month, USC hasn’t picked up anymore commitments for ’24 but they were able to land 2026 quarterback Landon Duckworth.
As of Saturday morning August, 19, South Carolina has landed 15 commitments for their 2024 class. They are currently ranked 18th by On3’s 2024 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings.
The Gamecocks will look to add four-star running back Daniel Hill who is set to make his commitment on Wednesday, Aug. 23. As of this story being published, On3’s RPM has USC at 75.7% to land the Mississippi product. Alabama currently has the second best odds at 22.7%.
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5-star EDGE Dylan Stewart
Hard Commitment Date: 8/1/23
The third highest ranked commitment in program history, Stewart is considered the No.10 prospect in the class of 2024 by On3. At 6-5, 250 pounds, the D.C. native is a combination of speed and power. Recording 16 sacks as a junior, he’s ranked at the No.2 EDGE in the nation. He chooses the Gamecocks over a long list of Power 5 schools including Ohio State, Miami, and Georgia.
4-star OT Josiah Thompson
Hard Commitment Date: 4/14/23
Thompson remains rated as the top prospect from the state of South Carolina. Standing at just under 6-foot-7, 275 pounds, the Dillion High School product received a bump in his On3 rankings. He’s now listed as the No.1 offensive tackle in his class and the No.18 overall prospect in the nation. One thing worth noting is that heading into the 2023 season, there are no offensive lineman that are listed as five stars. That is expected to change in the coming months and Thompson could find himself bumped up to a five-star when it’s all said and done.
4-star OT Kam Pringle
Hard Commitment Date: 1/22/23
Pringle was originally the consensus No.1 rated offensive tackle for the class of 2024. As of today, he’s listed as the No.5 OT. He announced his commitment to play at South Carolina in January. A rising senior at Woodland High, the SC native stands at 6-8, 340 pounds and is rated as the consensus No.61 overall prospect in the nation. Pringle was one of the first players in his class that Shane Beamer offered a scholarship to. That came just three months after Beamer arrived at USC. Like Thompson, Pringle is another offensive lineman who could be ranked as a five-star when the season comes to an end.
4-star TE Michael Smith
Hard Commitment Date: 1/24/23
Standing at 6-4, 245, Smith has added 20 pounds of good weight in the past season. As of today, he’s ranked as the No.10 tight end for his class by On3. USC was the first to offer Smith, which as we’ve said many times before with other commits, that loyalty from day one played a big role in this prospect choosing the Gamecocks. The Georgia native chose USC over schools such as Alabama, Florida, Ohio State,Tennessee and Texas.
4-star EDGE Wendell Gregory
Hard Commitment Date: 1/27/23
Originally listed as a linebacker, On3 has recently recognized Gregory as an EDGE. Two months ago, he was rated by On3 as the fourth top linebacker in his class and the 57th overall player in the nation. His new ranking by On3, last month, has him listed as the tenth top EDGE and the 100th overall player. Gregory’s success on the track translates over to the football field with the speed he demonstrates. His scouting report highlights his excellent closing speed and ability to move quickly from sideline to sideline. But don’t let his speed fool you, he also brings power with his On3 scouting report saying, “high upside prospect who has every chance to become a top-tier NFL prospect.”
4-star WR Mazeo Bennett
Hard Commitment Date: 2/3/23
Originally listed as an “Athlete,” Bennett’s position was updated to “wide receiver” by On3 this spring. As it’ll come as no surprise, that’s the position that he committed to play at South Carolina in February. Bennett has been like a yo-yo on On3’s WR board. After moving up eight spots recently to No.24, he remains ranked at 29 since last month. The nearly 6-0, 180-pound wide out also remains rated as the No.4 overall prospect from South Carolina. He decommitted from Tennessee in December before ultimately choosing the Gamecocks.
4-star S Kelvin Hunter
Hard Commitment Date: 4/19/23
Regarded as the No.16 safety for the class of 2024, Hunter is down one spot this month. Standing at just under 6-feet tall, he’s remains the No.5 overall prospect from the Palmetto State (rated No.4 in April) and is a game-changer on special teams with his knack for blocking kicks. The DB chooses the Gamecocks over schools including Virginia Tech, Michigan, Auburn, Kentucky and Coastal Carolina.
4-star QB Dante Reno
Hard Commitment Date: 7/2/22
Reno remains regarded as the consensus No.23 QB in the nation. Despite his performance at the Elite 11 Finals in June, he’s yet to see a boost from On3 boost. He has climbed two spots, which puts him at No.42. Reno was the first player to commit to the Gamecocks 2024 class. The 6-1, 200-pound quarterback is down 15 pounds, according to On3. In February he transferred high schools and now attends Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. The move will allow him to enroll early at South Carolina next January. A plan that wouldn’t have been possible if he had stayed at his previous high school, Loomis Chaffee (Conn.).
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4-star CB Braydon Lee
Hard Commitment Date: 4/19/23
After seeing a slight drop in his rankings these past few months, Lee remains rated as the consensus 34th top cornerback in the nation for his class. Like we’ve said many times before with this year’s recruiting class, South Carolina was one of the first schools to offer the 6-foot tall, 160-pound DB. He chooses South Carolina over schools including Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, Miami, Texas A&M, Auburn and Alabama.
3-star OL Blake Franks
Hard Commitment Date: 3/31/23
Standing at 6-5, 325 pounds, Franks saw a bump to his rankings in July. He moved up one spot as both an IOL for his class (40th) and for the state of South Carolina (seventh). Mid-way through August, that’s where he remains. He’s also added ten pounds since last season. A teammate of fellow Gamecock commit Mazeo Bennett at Greenville High School, he became the third of five in-state prospects to commit to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. Franks chooses the Gamecocks over schools including Clemson and Alabama.
3-star LB Fred Johnson
Hard Commitment Date: 6/17/23
There are some guys who come on recruiting website radar’s late who go on to become hidden gems. The 6-3, 225-pound Johnson is just that. Up 30 pounds from his last On3 official measurement, the athletic backer plays on all three phases at Maury High School, a 5A school that reached the state championship last season. Listed as the No.32 linebacker in the class of 2024, last week Johnson officially accepted his invitation to the 2024 All-American Bowl. Last month, 247Sports bumped Johnson up to a four-star rating and the 13th overall linebacker in the nation.
3-star ATH Zy’marion Lang
Hard Commitment Date: 7/30/23
South Carolina’s lone commit for the month of July, Lang is a wide receiver who could also make the jump to defensive back, if needed. Regarded as the 92nd top wide out in the nation, he joins Mazeo Bennett as the first two WRs for the Gamecocks 2024 class. Standing at 6-3, 170 pounds, Lang has the size, length, and speed to make an impact at the next level.
3-star RB Matthew Fuller
Hard Commitment Date: 6/23/23
On3 has been higher on Fuller in recent months but now other recruiting sites are starting to feel the same. Since his commitment, Fuller has been bumped up from a three-star to a four-star by On3 and now ESPN. But, the consensus ranking still has him as a three-star, hence why you see it next to his name in this story. On3 has also moved him up to being regarded as the No.23 running back in the nation. At 6-0, 210 pounds, Fuller rushed for over 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for over 100 yards in ten different games. A big part of his game is speed. Running a 10.79 in the 100-meter dash this past spring, Fuller came in second at regionals. A rising senior, Fuller plays at Wayne County High School for Jaybo Shaw, the brother of Gamecock great Connor Shaw.
3-star DB David Bucey
Hard Commitment Date: 6/24/23
Last month, Bucey was officially listed as a defensive back by On3. He’s considered a three-star prospect and the No. 99th linebacker in the country by On3. Named the Georgia 3A Athlete of the Year this past season, he had over 100 tackles, four sacks, and five interceptions. He also hauled in over 700 yards as a receiver.
3-star P Mason Love
Hard Commitment Date: 6/12/23
Rankings for specialist can be tricky. But one thing that can’t be questioned is that Love is considered one of the top punters in the class of 2024. Love is listed as the consensus No.4 punter in the nation. At the Kohl’s Kicking Camp, which is considered the premier clinic for specialist in the country, he’s rated as the No.4 punter in the land and a five-star. The point is, Love is the real deal. He chooses the Gamecock over schools including Cal, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Arkansas State.
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