Gamecock QB commit up to 18th-best player in the country by one recruiting service

South Carolina 2019 quarterback commit Ryan Hilinski saw his recruiting stock take another jump on Friday.

The 6-foot-4, 222-pound passer from Southern California was rated the No. 18 player in the country in the latest national rankings from ESPN. That makes him the top pro-style passer and No. 2 player in the state of California.

He is still a four-star in those rankings, as there are only 11 five-stars.

That should bump up his 247 composite ranking, which was No. 47 before ESPN’s latest came out. He is No. 55 in the Rivals rankings.

Gamecocks defensive end commit Zacch Pickens came in at No. 21 in ESPN’s update. Wide receiver Jamario Holley was at 268 and defensive end Joseph Anderson was at 278.

Last season, Hilinski threw for 3,749 yards, 33 touchdowns and six interceptions, playing in one of the toughest conferences nationally. That included 538 yards in one game.

He committed to South Carolina in early April, after spreading the ashes of his brother Tyler in Hawaii. Tyler Hilinski was a quarterback at Washington State who took his own life early this year.

“I asked Tyler, ‘Hey Ty, do you think South Carolina’s the place?’” Ryan Hilinski said at the time. “I got a yes from him, and ever since then, I think it’s the right decision.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2018 at 12:21 AM.