Where programs like USC and Clemson stand for these Irmo 4-star football players
Jaiden Bryant and Nate Carson got the routine down to a science.
On Fridays, the two junior standouts and four-star prospects are on the football field helping their Irmo team, which is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the latest SC Class 5A football media poll.
Then either late that night or early Saturday morning, it is off for another college visit.
“I leave right after the game,” Carson said after Irmo’s win over White Knoll last Friday.
Both players were in Alabama last weekend for the Tennessee game. It will be a shorter trip now this week as both plan to be at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday when South Carolina hosts Alabama. The Gamecocks have been heavily recruiting both players since they were offered scholarships during their sophomore seasons.
Bryant and Carson are among the most sought-after Class of 2027 recruits from the Palmetto State. Bryant, a defensive end, moved up to No. 11 in the country in the latest On3/Rivals Class of 2027 rankings released this week.
Bryant’s offer list continues to grow as he picked up an offer from Texas on Wednesday to go with ones from Clemson, Ole Miss and Nebraska earlier this week. He has made visits to Clemson, Alabama, Florida State Texas A&M and now again to South Carolina this week.
“Every school I went to had a great atmosphere,” Bryant said. “I walked through with some of the teams before the game, and they definitely take care of their players. I take notes of all the places when I go there and see different things and compare them.”
‘Hometown hero vibes’
In-state schools Clemson and South Carolina are pushing hard for Bryant. The Gamecocks landed teammate Donovan Murph last year.
“Just hometown hero vibes,” Bryant said of the Gamecocks’ recruitment. “I have a tight relationship with all the coaches there. Clemson, we are still building it but is continuing to grow.”
Bryant is in the midst of a strong season for the Yellow Jackets. He has 46 tackles (8 for loss) and leads the team with six sacks. The junior also has been used on offense in short-yardage situations and caught a pass Friday against White Knoll.
Carson has been one of the anchors of the Irmo offensive line and two-year starter. His recruiting also continues to increase. He was offered by Clemson on Thursday, and he has taken visits to Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia and now a return trip to USC this week.
The Gamecocks recently fired offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, but Carson said that hasn’t affected his recruitment. USC likes him both has an offensive tackle and also on the defensive line, which he played sparingly in high school.
“It is sad that did happen, but you got to move forward,” Carson said. “We have a group chat without all the coaches and they really like me. They just want me to stay home.”
Carson definitely has a checklist of things he is looking for in a program. He also has a target date of July 3 to announce his college choice.
“I am looking for education, how a school develops a player for the NFL and just the relationships with the players and coaching staff,” Carson said.
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM.
