Josiah Thompson brings high ranking and 5-star loyalty to South Carolina football
Every five-star has a moment, a clear line of demarcation between the time they blended in and the time they knew they were different. Perhaps Josiah Thompson’s moment came before he was a teenager.
He’d sprouted north of 6 feet before middle school, which is a monumental advantage everywhere … except for a South Carolina all-you-can-eat buffet that is quite stern about its kids-eat-free policy.
But Thompson, like he did for years on the football field, figured out a way to get the job done. His mom carried in Thompson’s birth certificate and the youngster stuffed himself at no expense.
These days, Thompson’s buffet is largely just a box of Uncrustables, the little peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches he usually devours six of daily. And he’s picky about it. His dad will get an earful if they end up in the fridge. Cold Uncrustables don’t go down the same.
But, in two weeks, Thompson will be eating on South Carolina’s dime. The Dillon High School star and top-ranked player in the state of South Carolina — a five star recruit, according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings — Thompson signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday. He was up at dawn, one of the first USC players to submit their National Letter of Intent once the early signing period opened at 7 a.m.
“I just knew I’d be able to trust the coaches with my future,” Thompson said of his reasons for inking with the Gamecocks. “They just see that potential. They see the craft, the work ethic. They see a lot in me that they can bring out.”
There’s not much that needs to be brought out. Thompson needs plenty of refining — and the body transformation that every offensive lineman has when they get introduced to a college weight and nutrition program.
But a 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive lineman with the length and athleticism Thompson possesses doesn’t need a miracle to see the field. If all goes to plan, he’ll be blocking for the Gamecocks’ quarterback in no time.
“He’s born with that length, but he’s able to move as such a large guy,” said Dillon football coach Kevin Roller. “That’s what’s rare. You can find big guys, but they don’t move as well as other linemen. He’s really nimble on his feet.”
When he was a freshman, already 6-foot-4, Thompson went to an Under Armour camp in Charlotte. He was growing frustrated. No matter what he did, coaches weren’t taking notice. You’ve got time, his dad kept telling him, they’re not recruiting guys four years out.
Less than a year later, then-South Carolina coach Will Muschamp gave Thompson his first offer. When Shane Beamer took over ahead of the 2021 season, one of his first priorities was talking with Thompson and making sure he knew the Gamecocks still wanted him.
“It just started taking off,” said his father, Robert. “He always told me the relationship was the key piece. It’s surreal.”
As a senior at Dillon, he was named Mr. Football for the state of South Carolina. He was a Shrine Bowl selection and will play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 6 in San Antonio, Texas.
Even with a late push from Clemson and new offensive line coach Matt Luke, Thompson stayed firm and signed with the Gamecocks.
“South Carolina has been there for a long time,” Thompson said. “I can actually represent my state. If I go far (to the NFL), I just know that I went to South Carolina and I was born in South Carolina and I can represent.”
This story was originally published December 20, 2023 at 1:44 PM.
