Two former Gamecocks appear, two USC commitments shine at South Carolina football camp
Camp season is in full swing.
South Carolina hosted an offensive/defensive line camp and a 7-on-7 tournament throughout Thursday at Williams-Brice Stadium and the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility.
Here are a few notes and nuggets from the day:
- Former Gamecocks linebacker Damani Staley is back with the program, working with the strength and conditioning staff as a summer intern. Staley, the son of former USC star and NFL assistant coach Duce Staley, played for South Carolina from 2017-21. He evolved into a starter at linebacker as a super senior after an injury to Sherrod Greene and recorded a game-changing fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown in the 2021 win at East Carolina.
- Speaking of ex-South Carolina players, former Gamecocks receiver Trey Adkins was at camp with the 7-on-7 group from Wren High. Adkins is now working at the school as a wide receivers coach after finishing his college career at Mercer, where he was forced to medically retire from football due to concussions. The Simpsonville product initially walked on at South Carolina but was put on scholarship ahead of the 2021 season.
- The South Carolina offensive staff got a significant look at Class of 2026 quarterback Faizon Brandon. The North Carolina product looked sharp and showed some serious zip playing in the 7-on-7 tournament for Grimsely (Greensboro, N.C.). Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and analyst Sean Ryan, who coached quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers the last two years, spent the bulk of Thursday’s camp watching Brandon and chatting with him to the side. The Gamecocks have yet to extend him an offer, but Loggains has previously said he prefers to watch signal-callers in person before doing so. Brandon does already boast scholarship offers from N.C. State, Louisville, Duke, UNC, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
- USC staffers also received a nice look at Brandon’s teammate, receiver Alex Taylor. The four-star recruit is rated the No. 296 player and No. 46 receiver in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite. Taylor received a Crystal Ball prediction for Clemson in April but isn’t committed. He does not currently list a South Carolina offer.
- A pair of South Carolina commits out from Greenville High were spotted at Thursday’s camp. Class of 2024 three-star offensive lineman Blake Franks worked out with the Gamecocks staff at the stadium before joining the rest of his teammates across the road at the 7-on-7 tournament. Franks chose South Carolina over Clemson earlier this spring and spent time chatting with offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley when he arrived at Williams-Brice.
- Class of 2024 four-star commit Mazeo Bennett joined Franks in Columbia. Bennett flashed some next-level speed during the 7-on-7 tournament, helping Greenville to the championship game before falling to South Pointe. Bennett is rated the No. 199 player in the 2024 class and the No. 3 recruit in the state, per the 247Sports Composite.
- South Pointe 2026 defensive back J’Zavien Currence received some gazes from the Gamecocks’ staff. Currence, who already boasts offers from Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and Virginia Tech, among others, looks the part of an elite defensive back. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, but figures to be able to put weight on that frame as he ages and gets into college.
Ben Portnoy
The State