Amare Adams is the top 2025 SC football recruit. Will the Gamecocks land him?
The highest-rated junior football player in South Carolina will soon decide where he wants to play in college.
Defensive lineman Amare Adams of South Florence High School, a four-star recruit according to 247Sports, said on X that he will announce a college commitment this Sunday.
Adams has already indicated his top seven schools are Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Florida State and Tennessee.
Outlets like 247Sports predict Adams will commit to the Gamecocks, putting the likelihood at 100%. Adams’ father, Stan Adams, said USC gave Amare an offer before his sophomore season after attending a summer camp.
USC head coach Shane Beamer and Gamecocks defensive line coach Travian Robertson frequently call. Stan Adams, who had high praise for Beamer, said the South Florence junior has a deep emotional connection to the Gamecocks, as he grew up a USC fan.
If he were to commit to USC, it would be the second consecutive year the Gamecocks under Beamer landed the top high school football player in the Palmetto State.
But many other schools are pining for Adams to anchor their defensive line, and the competition is fierce. Adams has met with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Amare also donned the pads in promotional photos for LSU and Florida State. The Seminoles in particular are pushing aggressively to secure Amare, Stan Adams said in October, calling two to three times a day.
Stan Adams said that Amare committing to USC is not a done deal.
“I’ll say that there have been some schools that have come to the forefront, at least two. I won’t say, I’ll let y’all ponder on that,” Stan Adams said in October. “(South Carolina’s) not the clear-cut favorite of his services.”
Adams, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 290 pounds, hasn’t indicated which school he’s leaning toward.
South Florence head football coach Drew Marlowe, who generally avoids involving himself in his players’ recruiting process, reiterated that.
“I’ve asked him point blank, ‘Amare, do you have a school that you really like more than others?’ And when I asked him that, he lists six or seven schools,” Marlowe said in October. “I really don’t think that he is leaning one way or another.”
The only condition Adams set was he wanted to play as soon as possible.
“What I’m looking for is to see if I can play (and) get on the field as a freshman,” he told The Sun News in October.
Stan Adams added that program continuity is also an important factor.
“Stability is big because I know him, and he’s not going to go to the school because of the brand,” Stan Adams said. “He’s probably going to go to the school because of the relationship he has with a coach, and I want him to understand that sometimes coaches leave, and if that’s a main thing for you, you have to look into a program with stability.”
Stan Adams said that schools like Georgia Tech were probably no longer under consideration because the programs lacked stability.
Amare Adams is a raw talent with NFL potential, his coaches say
The play that stands out to Stan Adams occurred early this season against Myrtle Beach High School.
Stan Adams, who is also an assistant coach at South Florence, recounted that the opposing team’s quarterback attempted to extend a play, but Amare greeted him instead.
(The quarterback) ran into the paws of a bear,” Stan Adams said in an October interview with the Sun News. “Amare cleaned him and put him out the game ... I don’t wish injuries on anybody, but yeah (Amare) cleaned him up pretty good.”
Amare’s performance, who previously played for Lake City High School has grown during his time at South Florence.
“Before he got to South (Florence), he was raw. I think he is in a transition to learning the little nuances that will make the transition to college easier,” Stan Adams added. “I don’t think he’s tipped the iceberg... 6’3 6’4, 295 pounds that can move sideline to sideline like that is kind of a special gift that everybody’s not blessed with. The only thing he’s lacking is the perfection of the techniques.”
Adams’ strength is already impressive. Coach Marlowe said Adams, who just turned 17, power-cleaned 265 pounds, and his max squat was 420 pounds.
“The Lord doesn’t make too many as big as he is,” Marlowe said. “I have no doubt that he’ll continue to do that over the next year with us and then continue on for another four years at the college level and probably for another 10-12 years after that.”
This story was originally published November 28, 2023 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Amare Adams is the top 2025 SC football recruit. Will the Gamecocks land him?."
