Shane Beamer had extra voice in Jalewis Solomon’s ear before he signed with Gamecocks
Jalewis Solomon is a four-star freshman with big goals for his first season as a South Carolina Gamecock.
The defensive back from Schley County High School in Ellaville, Georgia enrolled at USC in June, one of just a handful of signees who did not participate in spring practice.
That’s not limiting his goals of playing and excelling as a true freshman.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was highly productive as a high school receiver — 3,400 career yards and 34 touchdowns — but he’ll begin his college career as a defensive back, most likely at the nickel spot.
Solomon made plenty of news with his recruitment, originally committing to Auburn before flipping to Shane Beamer and South Carolina in October. His brother Zykeivous Walker plays defensive line at Auburn.
The State: For people who didn’t follow your recruitment, what did South Carolina do to ultimately win you over?
Jalewis Solomon: “I felt like this was the school that was the best for me. I felt that the fans here were extremely electric. I didn’t want to play in front of anybody but these fans. I love the coaches. Coach Beamer, I felt like he had a good thing about himself, about how he was going to turn this program around. I felt like that reeled me in.”
TS: When you committed to Auburn, who at USC kept recruiting you the hardest?
JS: “Coach Beamer and Dante (Reno) kept recruiting me.”
(Quarterback Dante Reno was another commitment who signed with USC in the 2024 recruiting class.)
TS: What was it about QB Dante Reno’s message resonated with you?
JS: “He was basically telling me, South Carolina, it’s different from every place. They love you. They love what’s best for you. He felt like South Carolina was the best fit for me.”
TS: Tell me about your summer. How has it gone? What’s been funny, what’s been challenging?
JS: “The workouts were challenging for sure. I got here and, the first week, I think I only missed on one thing. And I felt like I took that one thing and I told myself I won’t ever do that again. So after that first week, I was fine. It was somewhat smooth and good. I learned a lot from the players and coaches, the strength staff.”
TS: Do you miss playing wide receiver? Do you think you’re gonna miss it?
JS: “I miss it, for sure. I miss it a lot. We do DB groups almost every day. We’ve gotta guard each other because we both have to get each other better. So me being a receiver and me doing what I do, I miss it. I miss it a lot.”
TS: Do you feel like someone who was a really good receiver maybe gives you an advantage as a defensive back?
JS: “Yeah, for sure. I feel like I know the whole the route tree, so anything that any receiver wants to run at me, I feel like I know what’s coming before they even come at me.”
TS: Do you expect to be at cornerback or at nickel, or both?
JS: “They want to start me off as a nickel. They still say I’m gonna play corner in the future. But they want me at the nickel spot to start off. They say the nickel spot is the hardest one, so they see me starting at nickel as a freshman and learning everything at nickel. And they say it would be easy for me to learn corner if I already know nickel. They want me to be a flexible, defensive guy.”
TS: Any playing time goals as a freshman?
JS: “Yes, sir, for sure, I most definitely want to start a true freshman. I want to try to get freshman All-American. I just want to keep my ceiling high.”
TS: What’s the best advice you’ve got or a funny moment from position coach Torrian Gray?
JS: “Him cussing you out after you don’t know a coverage or a play. He makes sure every one of the DBs knows what they’re doing at all times. That’s one thing I love about Coach Gray, is keeping all his DBs accountable, knowing what they’re doing at all times, and learning their stuff.”
