QB recruit Jayden Bradford gives Gamecock camp experience high marks

The future of the quarterback position at South Carolina will be greatly influenced by what transpires over the four-day period between Thursday and Sunday.

Over that time the Gamecocks will have had on campus for camps Class of 2024 QB targets Jayden Bradford of Chapin/IMG Academy and Dante Reno of Windsor, Connecticut — 2023 target Dylan Lonergan of Snellville, Georgia on an official visit.

Bradford and Reno worked out for quarterbacks coach Marcus Satterfield and head coach Shane Beamer on Thursday. Bradford is off to Texas on Friday, while Reno will be back for another workout with the Gamecocks before heading to Clemson on Saturday. He also has been to Florida as part of his trip.

Satterfield offered Bradford a scholarship in early September. The QB then went on to have a sensational sophomore season for Chapin, passing for 2,028 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for 367 yards and 5 touchdowns. Bradford made a couple of unofficial visits to USC earlier in the year, including for the spring game, and was happy to get the chance Thursday to perform in front of the coaches again.

“It was a lot of fun just getting coached by Satt and Coach (Nick) Coleman, and getting to talk with Beamer was a lot of fun,” Bradford said. “We were out there working. He helped me with my base, just getting wider with my base and just getting more consistent with my throw, Coach Satt. So, it was fun to get coached up by them and I had a great time out there competing.”

It’s been a minute since Satterfield last saw Bradford in action because in January he enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Thursday’s workout gave Satterfield the opportunity to gauge how much Bradford had improved.

“He said I’m a lot more technically sound,” Bradford said. “I’m a lot better with my drops. I’m a lot quicker in my drops. My release has always been good, but he said my release is a lot more consistent and faster and the ball spins off my hand a little bit better than it did last year, which is always a plus.”

Bradford said he and Beamer got the chance to chat Thursday and the message remains crystal clear about how the Gamecocks’ head coach feels about him.

“He was just telling me that they are really interested in me, obviously, and he was really happy that I came up and took the time out,” Bradford said. “I really appreciate coach Beamer and everybody there that showed me some love today that I talked to. I really enjoyed being there. Everybody was super hospitable. It was just a great time to be there and hang out with everybody and throw the football around.”

Bradford also holds offers from Louisville, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Missouri, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Vanderbilt and Georgia State. He hasn’t cut his list yet, but when that time comes the Gamecocks will have a spot.

“They are definitely in my top schools, if not my top school,” Bradford said. “I love going there every time. They make you feel great every time. I enjoy my visits. My family always does. My dad always has a great time. He knows some people on the staff there. He loves going there. We all love going there, and they are definitely one of my top schools.”

This camp season, Bradford has also been to Georgia and LSU and is going to Texas on Friday. He might visit Baylor on the 18th, and he plans to visit Louisville June 21.

Along with USC, Bradford said the top schools with him right now are Penn State, Louisville and Missouri. He wants to get to Missouri for a visit.