South Carolina and Clemson in a ‘two-horse race’ for top recruit. Who’s got the edge?
Another big domino in the state’s recruiting class of 2024 is about to fall — and Clemson and South Carolina are the top contenders.
Three-star Greenville High School offensive lineman Blake Franks is on the verge of a commitment, and it’s “definitely looking like a two-horse race” between the Tigers and the Gamecocks, according to a report last week from SportsTalkSC.
“Right now, they are standing out the most to me,” Franks told the website. “They are definitely my top two. It’s still up in the air right now.”
Franks, who projects as a guard at the college level, is one of three rising senior offensive linemen across the state of South Carolina who hold offers from Clemson and South Carolina.
The Gamecocks won the first of those three recruiting battles in prominent fashion Sunday afternoon when four-star Woodland High School offensive tackle Kam Pringle committed to South Carolina and coach Shane Beamer over Clemson, Florida, Georgia, N.C. State and Tennessee
The 247Sports composite, which factors in multiple websites’ rankings, deems Pringle the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country as well as the No. 46 overall recruit in the class of 2024. If rankings hold, he’d be the highest rated USC offensive lineman signee in program history.
South Carolina is also the favorite for four-star Dillon High School offensive tackle Josiah Thompson, who ranks as the No. 58 recruit nationally and has four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions to ultimately choose the Gamecocks.
Will Franks make it a clean sweep?
It’s unlikely, according to expert predictions. Franks has held four Crystal Ball predictions to pick Clemson since last November, and those haven’t budged as of Monday, despite the lineman pushing back a planned December commitment and twice more visiting South Carolina.
Franks hit South Carolina’s Junior Day over the weekend, but that trip is sandwiched between two Clemson visits. After taking in a Clemson men’s basketball win on Jan. 14, he’ll return for the Jan. 28 Elite Junior Day.
‘A lot of pluses’
The latter visit, scheduled right before the NCAA enters a recruiting quiet period, essentially guarantees Clemson the last word before Franks’ mid-February commitment.
The Tigers have a few things working in their favor with Franks, who’s ranked No. 7 in the state, No. 32 at his position and No. 420 nationally, according to the 247Sports composite. Namely, proximity and familiarity.
Not only is Clemson 40 minutes from Franks, but the roster includes a number of his former Greenville High School teammates. Offensive lineman Collin Sadler, tight end Josh Sapp and wide receiver Tyler Brown will all be suiting up for coach Dabo Swinney’s program come 2023.
Franks is also close with Clemson second-year offensive line coach Thomas Austin, and said he meshed well with new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, whom he met earlier this month.
But he’s also intrigued by playing in the SEC and South Carolina’s “homey vibe,” he said, and is welcoming communication from other schools such as Auburn as he finalizes his decision — leaving some wiggle room for fireworks even if Clemson is the favorite.
“There’s a lot of pluses that I have when it comes to South Carolina,” Franks told SportsTalkSC. “There’s also pluses that I have when it comes to Clemson. I think I came down to those two, but then you’ve got schools that are still interested in recruiting me, which I’m completely fine with.”
