South Carolina spring game springboards program to next phase of recruiting efforts
With spring football practice over, it’s back on the recruiting trail for the South Carolina coaching staff.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said he had meetings planned with recruits on Sunday, hours after Saturday’s spring game finished up. The Gamecocks coaching staff will then hit the road to visit prospects during the spring evaluation period that began Saturday and runs through May 31. Head coaches aren’t allowed on the road during that period.
“It’s a great time,” Beamer said after Saturday’s game. “It was great to be on the road in January because of the excitement about this program — same thing now in the spring as well. There were a lot of guys here tonight and a lot of guys excited about Gamecock football. I know the assistant coaches are excited to get on the road and promote what we are doing.”
The spring and summer are busy times for the recruiting calendar. South Carolina hosts camps throughout the month of June. The Gamecocks added 15 commitments in June, July and August of last year.
USC this year will try to continue the momentum it has built for the Class 2024 and beyond. The Gamecocks picked up another big in-state recruit on Friday when Dillon High School offensive lineman Josiah Thompson committed to Beamer and USC.
South Carolina is No. 11 in the 247Sports recruiting rankings for Class 2024. Six of USC’s seven commitments are ranked as four-star prospects.
Several of the 2024 commits — including Thompson, Woodland offensive lineman Kam Pringle, Greenville’s Mazeo Bennett and QB Dante Reno — were in town for the spring game on Saturday. Reno posted a picture of the group to Twitter with the caption “Future.”
Some Class of 2023 signees not yet enrolled also were spotted at the game, including CJ Adams, Oluwatosin Babalade and Nyckoles Harbor.
“The vibe was elite,” Reno told The State. “We had a bunch of committed guys there along with the top recruits in the country. This class is really going to be special.
“... Coach Beamer really has us rolling right now and I think a lot of people have bought into it and it’s showing in recruiting and on the field. We will have a really special class.”
The Gamecocks on Saturday also hosted many other Class of 2024, 2025 and 2026 prospects, including five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart, four-star running back Daniel Hill and four-star defensive lineman Jordan Thomas.
With the spring game being held at night, the USC coaching staff was able to spend a lot of extra time with recruits leading up to the contest.
“It was an awesome group of young men that were here today. Some elite players,” Beamer said. “It was awesome to be able to visit with them throughout the day.”
South Carolina Class of 2024 Football Commitments
July 2, 2022: QB Dante Reno — Windsor, Conn.
Jan. 22: OT Kam Pringle — Dorchester, SC
Jan. 24: TE Michael Smith — Savannah, GA
Jan. 27: LB Wendell Gregory — Marietta, GA
Feb. 3: WR Mazeo Bennett — Greenville, SC
March 31: OL Blake Franks — Greenville, SC
April 14: OL Josiah Thompson — Dillon, SC
