Gamecocks’ message stays consistent to top QB recruit Dylan Lonergan
One of the top recruits at Williams-Brice Stadium for the South Carolina spring game Saturday night was the Gamecocks’ top quarterback target in the 2023 class, Dylan Lonergan of Snellville, Georgia.
Lonergan has made multiple visits to see Shane Beamer and quarterbacks coach Marcus Satterfield. Saturday night, along with his dad former Penn State quarterback Dan Lonergan, Dylan got the chance to see the newly retooled offense directed by transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler.
“It was fantastic. Lot of energy at the spring game,” Dan Lonergan said. “I think the way the offense has come around, just from last year given some additional weapons, particularly at quarterback, it’s made a huge difference. It was just a fun place to be around and making a lot of progress.”
Rattler is the key to that offensive progress. He’s athletic with a strong arm, quick release and excellent mobility. Dan Lonergan watched closely and saw a lot of his son in Rattler’s playing style.
“There are a lot of similarities,” Lonergan said. “The quick release, the strong arm, accuracy, good lower body movement — I think those are all characteristics that are commonplace. Those are things that are important to that offense, and both exhibit in a big way.”
The Lonergans, of course, had the chance to visit again with Beamer and Satterfield and talk about the future.
“Their message has always been consistent,” Lonergan said. “Dylan is a priority and they think he’ll fit in well. Coach Satterfield’s offense is very pro-oriented, the opportunity to develop within the system and be a part of something special that has an opportunity to be successful is kind of the key ingredient. That message has been consistent for quite some time.”
Dylan Lonergan is also a big-time baseball prospect, and right now baseball is first on his agenda. The regular season is about to end. After the baseball playoffs, it’s spring football practice. And then Lonergan will take his official visits before coming to a decision.
“Ultimately, it’s try to get to the decision by the end of the summer before football starts,” Dan Lonergan said. “We just want to make sure we touch all bases. We’ll narrow it down to at least five and go from there. Got a pretty good idea (on official visits), not definitive yet. I think over the next week or two, Dylan will probably get that settled in his mind. I would suspect Carolina would definitely be one of them.”
Dan Lonergan said some other schools showing strong interest at this point in his son include Stanford, Alabama, Ohio State and Florida.
Gamecock recruiting news and notes
▪ USC welcomed a large group of prospects to campus Saturday for the spring game. Among those on hand were targets in the 2023 and 2024 classes and several others who are under evaluation. At the top of the wish list among the 2023 targets in attendance was running Treyaun Webb.
Webb has set his commitment announcement for June 30 after his official visits to USC, Florida, Baylor, Arkansas and Penn State. Webb was at Florida’s spring game Thursday night.
▪ Based on social media posts and photos from the game, other prospects at USC’s spring game were: WR Christian Hamilton, LB Pup Howard, DE Zavion Hardy, DE Neeo Avery, TE Grant Scott, DB Jalon Kilgore, OG Ethan Fields, OT DJ Geth, OT Oluwatosin Babalade, DL Xzavier McLeod, WR Cayden Lee, OL Trovon Baugh, DE Monteque Rhames, LB Jaden Robinson, OL Markee Anderson, OL Zech Owens, SAF Amare Ferrell, WR Apollos Cook, CB Sharif Denson, DE TJ Searcy, WR Ibraham Barry, OT Paul Mubenga, LB Mikey Rosa, SAF Zach Hagedon, TE Jack Moseley, TE Vance Bolyard, OL Chris McCullers, RB Vaughn Blue, LS Finn Qualls, 2024 OT Andrew Rosinski, 2024 DB Jalyn Crawford, 2024 LB Wendell Gregory, 2024 LB Andrew Hines III, 2024 QB Luke Dobbins of Palmetto, 2024 WR Mazeo Bennett, 2024 LB Mason Curtis, 2024 QB Jayden Bradford, 2024 QB Trey Petty, 2024 DL Hevin Brown-Shuler, RB Trey Thompson, 2025 TE Brock Feinberg, 2025 LB Gavin Nix, 2025 OT Hunter Taylor, 2025 Chanston Crosby and 2025 DE Kelan Butler.
▪ USC target TE Jayvontay Conner has set Wednesday for his commitment announcement. UCF, Maryland, Florida State, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech are also on his short list.
▪ USC target DT Victor Burley cut Alabama and Oregon from his top 12 and added LSU and Miami. The others on the list are Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Florida State, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
▪ USC made the top 9 with DE Desmond Umeozulu. The others on the list are Clemson, Ohio State, North Carolina, Penn State, Georgia, Texas, Pitt and Maryland.
▪ 2024 OT Kam Pringle of Woodland visited Georgia over the weekend.
▪ 2024 WR Mazeo Bennett of Greenville was offered by Florida State.
▪ USC offered RB Donatavius Braswell (5-11 200) of Sandersville, GA who was in for a visit Friday.
▪ USC offered 2025 TE/DE Kelan Butler of Jefferson, Ga.
▪ USC 2024 DT target Hevin Brown-Shuler was offered by LSU.
▪ Beaufort DT Eamon Smalls has set official visit to West Virginia for June 10.
▪ USC basketball target 6-5 Juwan Gary, a Columbia native, is now at Nebraska for his official visit. He was at USC over the weekend.