It’s a flip! South Carolina signs hometown tight end who had committed to LSU
South Carolina missed out on Mike Tyler’s commitment earlier this year. But the Hammond tight end will be a Gamecock after all.
Tyler announced his final college choice for the hometown Gamecocks on Wednesday at a ceremony at his school on the first day of the early signing period for the 2025 class. He will enroll at USC in June.
“As a family decision I have decided to switch my decision from LSU to USC. Go Cocks,” Tyler said as he revealed a white Gamecocks shirt underneath his gray NIKE sweatshirt.
Tyler, who was joined by his father Mike Sr. and mother Stacey, broke down in tears during his speech before announcing his college choice.
Tyler committed to LSU on Aug. 18. While the Gamecocks weren’t regarded as one of his final schools the first time around, they remained in contact with him throughout the process and during his senior season.
Tyler made several visits to South Carolina games this fall, including against Texas A&M on Nov. 2. And he wore Gamecock-logo gloves during Hammond’s state championship game Nov. 22.
Tyler said he told the Gamecocks coaches of his decision after the Missouri game and told LSU coaches a few days after.
“We weren’t talking throughout the summer (to Gamecock coaches) so I decided to commit to LSU,” Tyler said. “But things picked in September, October and November and things started pointing to South Carolina but I still battled it for a couple of months to be honest.
“I just found it like a family there and enjoyed the culture, practices and games. I just felt it was the best decision.”
In addition to the culture and Gamecocks’ success this season, Tyler also cited he liked how the Gamecock coaches use the tight end position. Tight end Josh Simon leads USC in receiving this year and freshman Michael Smith also provided a spark late in the season at the position.
“I really see myself fitting in there, catching balls, blocking and excelling,” Tyler said. “Plus I get to be close to my family to play football, close to the ones I love and can just excel.”
Tyler becomes the third Hammond player to commit to USC in recent years, joining Alex Huntley and Jordan Burch (who has since transferred to Oregon). Hammond alum Bradley Dunn walked on at USC and was awarded a scholarship in August.
Tyler is the 22nd high school recruit in the Gamecocks’ 2025 class and the 11th from the state of South Carolina. 247Sports Composite ranks him as a three-star prospect and the 13th-best player in-state.
He’s the lone tight end in this year’s class. The Gamecocks lost former tight end commitment Preston Douglas in a flip to N.C. State this fall.
Tyler (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) wasn’t a traditional tight end in high school, as most of the time was split out more as a wide receiver. Hammond coach Jon Wheeler said during the ceremony he told Tyler as a freshman that he has a chance to be one of the best to ever come through Hammond program.
“He is top-notch when it comes to ability and talent,” Wheeler said. “I think with his size and if he commits to it, stays healthy and works his tail off, I think the sky is the limit for him.”
Tyler caught 38 passes for 618 yards and six touchdowns this season, including the game-winning score in Hammond’s SCISA 4A state championship victory over Porter-Gaud. It was the Skyhawks’ eighth-straight state championship.
It was also the second-straight year Tyler caught the game-winning pass in the state championship game. He had a 32-yard grab in the state title win over Laurence Manning in 2023 and finished with 33 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns that season.
South Carolina Class of 2025 signees
- Anthony Addison (Edge), Sumter High (6-3, 230)
- Damola Ajidahun (OL), Duluth, Ga. (6-6, 300)
- Taeshawn Alston (LB), Henderson, NC (6-3, 230)
- Malik Clark (WR), Rock Hill High (6-2, 185)
- Lex Cyrus (WR), Harrisburg, Pa. (5-10, 175)
- Kendall Daniels (DB), Norfolk, Va. (6-4, 205)
- Donovan Darden (LB), Havelock, NC (6-4, 225)
- Jaquavious Dodd (Edge), Eastside High (6-6, 240)
- Kyler Farrow (LS), Hartland, Wisc. (6-3, 200)
- Jordon Gidron (WR) Ridge View High (6-2, 185)
- Zavion Hardy (DL), Macon, Ga. (6-5, 285)
- Chris Hatfield (DB), Ludowici, Ga. (6-3, 195)
- Jaquel Holman (ATH) Blackville-Hilda High (6-1, 205)
- AJ Holloway (LB), Buford, Ga. (6-2, 235)
- Christian Ingram (DL), Conyers, Ga. (6-6, 285)
- Damarcus Leach (DB), Abbeville High (6-2, 185)
- Max Kelly (PK), Gallatin, TN (6-2, 210)
- Brian Rowe (WR), Concord, NC (5-11, 170)
- Kobby Sakyi-Prah (DE), Roswell, Ga. (6-3, 230)
- Shedrick Sarratt (OL), Gaffney High (6-4, 310)
- Jayden Sellers (WR), South Florence High (6-0, 170)
- Josh Smith (LB), Dutch Fork High (6-1, 225)
- Mike Tyler (TE), Hammond (6-4, 220)
- Cutter Woods (QB), Westside High (6-3, 205)
- Caleb Williams (DL), Chesterfield, Va. (6-6, 275)
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 1:12 PM.
