Big defensive tackle from Georgia picks the Gamecocks on signing day
South Carolina got another surprise on signing day.
On Wednesday morning, three-star defensive lineman Christian Ingram went live on Instagram and announced he was heading play for Shane Beamer at South Carolina.
Ingram, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive tackle, entered the day with his top three schools down to South Carolina, Southern California and Kentucky.
He took his South Carolina official visit two weeks ago during the weekend of the Wofford game. He liked what he heard from defensive line coach Travian Robertson.
“Their message to me is that they need a player like me,” Ingram told Phil Kornblut of SportsTalkSC radio. “I see how well they are doing, and the only group they are losing people in is the D-line. They need guys to come in and make an impact early and they think I can do that. With my skillset and Coach T-Rob’s experience, they think I can come in and make a major impact as a true freshman like Dylan Stewart and be a very productive player for them and play across the whole D-line.”
The 247Sports Composite that factors in all recruiting sites lists Ingram as a three-star recruit. He’s considered a four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals.
He told 247Sports that Robertson compares him to South Carolina redshirt junior T.J. Sanders, who is actually smaller than Ingram at 6-4, 290 pounds. But because Sanders has a year of eligibility left, the two could line up next to each other next year.
Playing for Heritage High in Conyers, Georgia, Ingram totaled 38 tackles this season, including 15 tackles for loss and a half-dozen sacks.
He is the third defensive lineman who committed to South Carolina on Wednesday, joining Caleb Williams and Zavion Hardy — a top junior college player who originally committed to South Carolina for the 2023 class. Hardy was committed to Mississippi State for 2025 but signed with the Gamecocks instead.
Ingram said he made a strong connection with South Carolina’s Robertson, himself a former standout on the defensive line.
“I just bonded with him so well, better than any coach I’m talking to,” Ingram told Kornblut. “He just seems like such a down to earth guy that I can really relate do.
“And then Coach Beamer, talking to him, it’s just something about him. He’s like a real dude. He’s the only head coach I’ve really been in contact with. Me and him talk on the regular. I haven’t done that with any other head coach that offered. Me and Coach Beamer, I feel like we are very locked in. Team-wise, I love them players. Just being around them, they are cool people. I just felt more comfortable with them for sure.”
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 10:56 AM.
