Gamecocks offer ‘elite and freak athlete’ who is one of state’s fast-rising recruits
Hilton Head Island High football coach B.J. Payne has been telling people for months about Jaylen Sneed. Colleges around the country are taking notice.
In the past few months, the Hilton Head sophomore linebacker has picked up offers from schools such as Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan and Tennessee. On Thursday, Sneed picked up an offer from South Carolina.
New Gamecocks linebackers coach Rod Wilson is handling Sneed’s recruitment and the two spoke on the phone. Sneed attended the Gamecocks’ junior day earlier this year.
“I meant a lot to receive that offer just to see that I grew up watching them. Carolina told me they liked my physicality and my ability to explode to the ball. I love their staff and campus they made me feel welcomed,” Sneed said. “The last few months have been amazing and a little bit overwhelming but I am staying humble to grateful for all of it. I liked the whole experience there and I biggest strength is probably my versatility and my speed.”
Texas, Alabama and LSU also have shown interest in Sneed and offered him. Sneed was born in Texas and moved to South Carolina at a young age and has a lot of family still in the Lone Star State.
247Sports ranks Sneed as a four-star prospect and the fourth-best recruit in South Carolina. He also is No. 230 in the 247Sports Top247 for the Class of 2022.
“I said months ago he has a chance to be the most recruited kid to come out of Beaufort County,” Payne said. “He just pops on film. He is elite and a freak athlete.”
Sneed is part of a talented rising junior class in South Carolina, which has four players ranked as four-stars by 247Sports — Greer’s Jaleel Skinner, Mauldin’s Jaedyn Lukus and Myrtle Beach’s Adam Randall. Skinner and Lucas have USC offers.
Sneed just turned 16 and has plenty of room to grow on his 6-foot-2, 205 frame. He played quarterback on junior varsity during his freshman year before being moved up to varsity, where he played mostly defense.
Sneed, who also plays basketball, had 76 tackles, 20 for loss, eight sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles this past season for the Seahawks. He can play either inside or outside linebacker, and Payne said he could see him as an edge rusher in college.
Payne compares Sneed’s skillset to LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson and Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons. He also plays very physical and has earned the nickname “The Sandman” for his hard-hitting nature.
“Biggest thing is the violence he brings to the game,” Payne said. “Been a head coach for 15 years and he is the most violent kid. He finishes every play. I call him ‘The Sandman’ because he knocked out four of five guys this year — and not anything dirty. He just finishes plays. He loves contact and is a downhill type of guy.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 5:16 PM.
