Prized commit Gunner Stockton now highest-rated QB recruit in Gamecocks history
If everything holds, Gunner Stockton will enter some rarefied air with South Carolina football.
The five-star quarterback committed on Thursday night, and he is currently ranked as the No. 24 recruit in the country in the 247 Sports rankings for 2022. There’s a lot that will happen between now and when those are locked in, but at this moment, the ranking would make him the highest-rated QB recruit in program history and seventh-highest rated recruit ever by the Gamecocks.
Here’s the batch of passers he beat out.
1. Gunner Stockton, No. 24 player in his class currently, 0.9861 rating
2. Stephen Garcia, No. 56 player in his class, 0.9759
Garcia was a multi-year starter and led the program to its only SEC East title. He was at times inconsistent, but still ranks third in career passing yards and fifth in touchdowns.
3. Ryan Hilinski, No. 64, 0.9695
The California product was forced into action by injury and had an up-and-down first season. He’s currently battling transfer Collin Hill for the starting job.
4. Luke Doty, No. 86, 0.9633
A versatile dual-threat passer and Mr. Football winner, Doty had a chance to win back-to-back state titles cut short by injury. He’s currently splitting time between receiver and quarterback as a true freshman.
5. Syvelle Newton, No. 119, 0.9319
The speedy dual-threat passer was used all over by both Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. He played receiver, defense and QB, finishing with more than 2,400 passing yards, 786 rushing yards and 673 receiving yards.
6. Brandon McIlwain, No. 175, 0.9273
The dual-threat passer out of Pennsylvania was thrown into the starting lineup early, but eventually lost the spot when Jake Bentley took the reins. McIlwain eventually transferred to Cal, switched to running back and ultimately gave up football to focus on baseball. He signed with the Mets organization this offseason.
7. Dakereon Joyner, No. 206, 0.9199
A dual-threat passer out of the Charleston area, Joyner moved to wide receiver at the start of last season, but ended up the backup QB because of injury. He led the team to its win against No. 3 Georgia and is now competing for a starting receiver job.
8. Jake Bentley, No. 263, 0.9068
He would likely have been higher had he not reclassified and enrolled a year early. He took over the starting job, leading South Carolina to a bowl in his first year, nine wins in season two and seven more as a junior. A broken foot ended his 2019 season after one game, and he transferred to Utah this offseason.
9. Blake Mitchell, No. 138, 0.9000
The first Elite 11 passer to join the program, Mitchell sat for a few years as Lou Holtz tried to move the team back to the option. Once Steve Spurrier arrived, Mitchell threw for more than 5,900 yards across 28 games in his final three seasons.
10. Connor Mitch, No. 335, 0.8903
The productive and big-armed four-star waited behind Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, but his time in the spotlight was brief. He started the first two games of 2015 before getting hurt. He left as a transfer that spring, went to James Madison for a short stint and then left there as well.
And here’s the top 10 recruits in program history, per 247 Sports, and where Stockton slots in.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, No. 1, 1.0000
2. Jordan Burch, No. 8, 0.9954
3. Marcus Lattimore, No. 9 0.9953
4. Zacch Pickens, No. 8 0.9946
5. Demetris Summers, No. 9 0.9946
6. Ricardo Hurley, No. 17 0.9924
7. Gunner Stockton, No. 24, 0.9861
8. Stephon Gilmore, No. 34, 0.9812
9. Cliff Matthews, No. 36, 0.9812
10. Chris Culliver, No. 38, 0.9810
